Nursery nurses are striking over pay

It comes as the result of a ballot for all-out strike action is expected later this month.

The dispute involving local authorities and the public sector union Unison began in May last year.

Nursery nurses, who earn about �13,000 a year, want an increase of �4,000 to reflect the extra duties they say they have had to undertake.

Local government body Cosla has offered a new grading system which would enable fully qualified nurses to earn �18,000.

But Unison said the offer was unacceptable.

National agreement call

Six of Scotland's 32 councils - Stirling, Perth and Kinross, South Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Shetland and Highland - have so far agreed a local pay deal.

That covers about one fifth of the country's 5,000 nursery nurses.

Unison is calling for a national agreement but Cosla said this is not an option.

It is outrageous that, rather than face up to their responsibilities, Cosla would rather nursery services faced shutdown Carol Ball Unison

Joe Di Paola, the union's Scottish organiser for local government, said it was time to bring the two-year pay claim to a conclusion.

"Despite days of action and selective strikes, petitions and concentrated lobbying by Unison nursery nurses and parents, Cosla has continually failed to recognise the value of the nursery nurses' job, and the need for their grading to be tackled," he said.

"Nursery nurses are not being intimidated by the employers' tactics of reaching local agreements and are going ahead with industrial action.

"They are sending a clear message that the issue is not going away."

He warned that the current action might be a precursor to all-out industrial action across Scotland by nursery nurses.

Carol Ball, chair of Unison's nursery nurse working party, added: "It is outrageous that, rather than face up to their responsibilities, Cosla would rather nursery services faced shut down."

The union has called for a minimum starting salary of �18,000, rising to �21,000 for a promoted post for all nursery nurses.

But Cosla president Pat Watters said: "A national deal is not appropriate and we are disappointed they have not taken the offer of local negotiations."

Unison said most of the nursery nurses employed by Scotland's 32 local authorities still backed its call for a national settlement.

Its bosses have balloted 6,000 nursery nurses for all-out strike action.