A UNION has warned of further industrial action as a pay dispute which saw schools in Inverclyde close for three days this week rumbles on.

Unison members staged strikes in 24 local authorities earlier this week.

All schools in Inverclyde were closed as a result of the walk out, as well as most nurseries.

The union, which reported a surge in membership over the past week, has now written to COSLA and the Scottish Government as it steps up its payrise battle.

Unison’s head of local government Johanna Baxter said: “The strength of feeling amongst Unison school staff has been clear for all to see on picket lines across Scotland.

READ MORE: Inverclyde Unison members begin strike action in pay row

“There’s also been a surge in membership, which is testament to the strength of local government workers’ resolve to continue their fight for fair pay.

“The union will consult its council workers on the latest offer.

“But COSLA must come clean about how the offer will affect revised pay scales and clarify precisely where the money will come from.

“There’s considerable concern that channelling money from the Redress Scheme and Pupil Equity Funds will affect jobs and the services provided to vulnerable children.”

Mark Ferguson, chair of the local government committee at Unison, added: “For COSLA to tell council staff to ‘sign up now and we’ll tell you how much you’ll get later’ just adds insult to the injury of the ongoing wait for a pay deal that should have been in wage packets in April.

“Most council staff want to know ‘what does this offer mean for me?’, but if the pay scales aren’t published, it’s impossible to know.

“COSLA must explain. And if it has any confidence its offer is fair, it would be putting pay scales on billboards rather than keeping them secret.”