FIFE school children could be forced to take a day off next week - only one day into the new school term.
The up-coming council strike means school children may be asked to stay at home on Wednesday, August 20, because janitors and office staff will not be there to oversee the running of the school.
Although teachers are not involved in the pay disput
es which have prompted Scottish-wide industrial action by local government workers, other workers in the schools, including cooks and cleaners, will not be there to carry out their usual duties.
Almost 10,000 Fife Council workers across all sectors are due to take industrial action after refusing to accept a 2.5 per cent pay offer.
Eric Byiers, community and housing services chief, said: "We are continuing to work with the Trades Unions to ensure that essential services, protecting the most vulnerable people in Fife, can be maintained as far as possible.
"We have asked the unions to exclude staff working in such areas from the strike. This includes home care services, residential and day care services and transportation officers on emergency standby to deal with issues such as floods.
"However, the majority of services will be affected and it's likely that most council-owned buildings will be closed to the public, including Local Services Centres and libraries.
"Although teachers aren't involved in the strike, many support staff such as education assistants and catering and cleaning staff are.
"We will only close schools on Wednesday if it is absolutely necessary, but parents should be aware of possible disruption."
Parents are being asked to contact their school to check arrangements next Wednesday, while an e-mail and text service will be used to inform parents who are registered to receive alerts.
UNISON's Fife branch secretary Linda Erskine said: "Members are angry that the employers want to lock them into 2.5 per cent increases for the next three years, while inflation is still rising and is set to continue.
"The 2.5 per cent pay offer is already a pay cut. Food is up six per cent, transport seven per cent, mortgages eight per cent, electricity and only recently gas up by an additional 35 per cent."
The Fife branch is organising a rally outside Fife House on the day of the strike, while full council services are due to resume the next morning.
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