Strikes set to close Perth and Kinross schools for two weeks

As far as councils are concerned, this year’s pay rise is not open to renegotiation.

The offer – made to see off the threat of bin strikes – was accepted by members of two of the three big council unions.

Councils agreed to put the offer into practice so staff should get their increase soon, along with backpay to April.

Council body Cosla and the Scottish government are adamant there is no more money for pay this year.

But as far as Unison is concerned, the issue remains far from resolved.

It wants action to deal with what it sees as a big decline in the value of council pay in recent years.

Action in Perth and Kinross has the potential to cause disruption in First Minister John Swinney’s constituency.

Unison knows this. But the action there might only be a taste of things to come.

It intends to ballot council staff across Scotland to see if they will strike over pay.

A mandate for action is not a given. The turnout may be too low, even if a majority of those who vote support striking.

The stakes in this dispute are high for councils, the Scottish government and Unison.

Will this year’s pay offer be reopened? Will undertakings be given about next year’s? Or will strikes simply highlight how some council staff feel that the services they provide are not properly funded?