We have to increase the pressure on local authorities and their paymasters, the Scottish Executive

Carol Ball, Unison

There are 7,500 nursery nurses working in Scotland's council-run nursery schools, day nurseries and special schools.

However, they are paid different rates in different establishments and in different parts of the country.

Unison says the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) has failed to provide a national pay structure.

It also argues that grades and conditions have not been reviewed since 1988.

The union wants a four-level career structure, with salaries ranging from �16,000 to �20,000 a year and staff working a 35-hour week.

National framework

Carol Ball, who chairs Unison's nursery nurse working party, said: "We have been left with no alternative but to raise the same claim separately in each authority.

"Despite the fact that there are supposed to be Scottish-wide terms and conditions, and that the Scottish Executive has recently created a national framework for nursery nurses, the failure of Cosla to accept their responsibilities means we have to pursue claims in all 32 authorities.

"We have to increase the pressure on local authorities and their paymasters, the Scottish Executive."

However, the local authorities said that Unison had pulled out of a national pay negotiating agreement only three years ago.