UNION leaders today warned that strikes which have closed schools in Inverclyde could escalate if bosses decide to impose the pay-rise deal members have rejected.

Non-teaching support staff walked out for a fourth day in the district yesterday after turning down a 5.5 per cent increase.

A large crowd of protesters waving placards gathered outside Notre Dame High School in Greenock, which was closed by the industrial action except for senior pupils.

Greenock Telegraph:

Around 750 Unison members across the district took part in the walkout.

Two other unions have already signed up to the pay-rise on the table and a crunch meeting of employers COSLA on Friday could see that current deal imposed on Unison members.

But Robin Taggart, Unison Inverclyde branch secretary, said: "We are aware that council leaders will consider imposition of the pay offer at their meeting on Friday.

"If agreed this really would be desperate stuff and a clear indication that they have simply given up the ghost as far as resolving this dispute goes.

"Ninety per cent of Unison members have rejected this offer and this represents a clear majority of all council employees."

Greenock Telegraph:

He said that the union would step up their industrial action if a pay offer is imposed.

Mr Taggart said: "Unison will continue with strike action and quite probably escalate to other areas if the pay offer is imposed.

"Imposition is such a confrontational approach to pay negotiations so if anything this will galvanise our members even more and increase our determination to reach a satisfactory outcome."

Mr Taggart says he agrees it was unfair for children to miss another day at school due to the strike, but insists it could have been averted.

He said: "I have said throughout this dispute that strike action and disruption for parents and children is completely avoidable.

"As a trade union, strike action is clearly the most effective tool we have when faced with this type of dispute."

When asked if Unison's position had been weakened because Unite and the GMB had accepted the pay offer, he replied: "We fully respect that colleagues in the other trade unions have agreed to accept this offer.

"However Unison is by far the biggest trade union, not just in schools and early years but in councils as a whole. I don’t believe that our position is weakened."

All primary schools and some nurseries were closed yesterday while secondary schools were disrupted due to the strike.

The non-teaching staff, who are predominately pupil support assistants and clerical staff, say they are holding firm.

One PSA on the picket line said: "I've been with the council in education for 17 years.

"It was great at the start then more and more things get piled onto you, which is fine, as we want to help the kids. But we're not getting paid enough for what we're doing."

Another worker, 35, said: "Try paying £770 childcare costs and taking home £780 a month. I am struggling on what I'm earning.

"I have a three-year-old and am not entitled to free childcare, so I have to pay for private childcare out of that wage." 

One striker said if the pay offer was imposed it 'would be like living in a dictatorship.'

When asked by the Tele how they were coping with losing a day's pay, another union member said: "You have got to fight for your rights at the end of the day."