Local Labour politicians have warned that lessons must be learned by Dumfries and Galloway Council over the recent shambolic handling of school closures during industrial action before the next round of likely strikes.

The Council were widely criticised by parents and trade unions when they announced with less than a days’ notice that all schools and early learning centres in the region would close for three days due to industrial action last month- just days after many parents were told their children’s’ school would remain open.

Now members of the Trade Union UNISON have overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer to low pay workers and announced a rolling programme of strikes in schools . A consultative ballot by the union of their members in local government closed on Monday (16 October) with 89.92 % voting to reject the offer.

No dates have yet been set for the strike action but Labour politicians have urged the Scottish Government and Council Leaders to get round the table with Unions to agree a deal to avoid strikes. They have also called on the council to make parents aware far earlier of school closures and put in place home working for their own staff where childcare can’t be secured, should the strikes go ahead.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “The Council’s handling of the school closures was an utter shambles. Uniquely in Scotland they caused the maximum inconvenience for parents by leaving decisions on closures until the very last minute and then treated their own staff with contempt by ignoring national agreements to allow them to work from home when childcare couldn’t be secured.

“It is vital that the Council learn lessons should there be any future strike action. However, I’ve still not received a proper reply from the Council’s Chief Executive to my detailed questions from parents and staff over the decisions the Council took, which shows the dismissive attitude the council have to genuine concerns. It does not fill me with confidence that they recognise and understand what they did wrong and won’t make mistakes again.

“I know from speaking to workers on the picket line that no one wants to be on strike, but they are angry at the way the lowest paid staff are being treated and I have no doubt that the handling of school closures added to this anger. The Scottish Government need to intervene to properly fund a pay deal so we don’t have a repeat of those school closures.”

Leader of the Labour Group on Dumfries and Galloway Council Arche Dryburgh said, “It took the opposition Labour Group to secure a report to the last meeting of full council over the misleading of school closures. The Tory administration Leadership were posted missing when decisions were made. If there are future strikes, the Council Leader and Deputy Leader need to get a grip and make sure parents are properly informed well in advance of any closures, council staff are supported when they face childcare difficulties and all councillors are kept fully briefed so we can do our job of representing our constituents and scrutinising decisions.

“Most importantly, following the resounding rejection of the pay deal by Unison members the Leader should now be calling on COSLA and the Scottish Government to get round the table with the Trade Unions to thrash out a deal to avoid future action. Instead of throwing money at having more and more Council Managers, the Leader of this council should be prioritising fair pay for our lowest paid workers”