Nursery nurses say they are not being paid enough

Officials from Unison agreed the move at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

The nurses have been arguing for more pay for the last two years. And for almost 10 months there has been a series of one and two day strikes.

The dispute's escalation follows a ballot of 6,000 nurses in which a majority voted for "all-out strike".

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.

Speaking after the announcement, Carol Ball, chair of Unison's nursery nurses working party, said "There has been a year of industrial action of various types, which has disrupted nursery education across Scotland.

But we cannot be taken for granted any longer. This is the only way that this dispute is likely to be resolved Carol Ball Unison

"Faced with the refusal of Cosla to negotiate with nursery nurses representatives about the level of their Scottish grade, nursery nurses reluctantly feel that they have no alternative, but to take all-out strike.

"It is disgraceful that employers still refuse to negotiate and would rather disrupt children's education and parent's working lives than pay Scottish nursery nurses for the job they do.

"No nursery nurse wants to disrupt the education of any children in their care. We know how important the work we do is in children's development.

"But we cannot be taken for granted any longer. This is the only way that this dispute is likely to be resolved."

Union officials were due to discuss at the meeting whether to exempt members who work at special schools from the long-running nursery nurse strike.

The parents of children who go to special schools have complained that there has been no exemption so far.

Phil Cullis, whose son attends special school, believes the strikers should show compassion to the most vulnerable.

Local settlement

Council-run nurseries have been affected, along with special schools.

Mr Cullis' son Alex, a seven-year-old epileptic with severe learning difficulties, has lost out on almost three weeks of schooling because of the strike.

The youngster attends Prospect Bank School in Edinburgh where a teacher, classroom assistant and nursery nurse are needed for each class.

Mr Cullis said that each time the nursery nurses are on strike Alex is unable to attend school.

The 36-year-old added: "His school is extremely important, it is a very, very good school and we do believe it provides him with the best chance possible to maximise his abilities."

However, six councils have agreed local settlements, including Stirling, Aberdeen and South Lanarkshire.