Rally backs Scottish nursery nurses

Public services union UNISON organised a march and rally in Edinburgh last month in support of the long-running nursery nurses dispute.

The march coincided with a new series of two-day strikes across Scotland last month with the union angrily rejecting a "sham offer" from the CoSLA employers' association.

CoSLA had set up a working party in June to recommend a job description and grade for nursery nurses. However, UNISON's Scottish organiser Joe Di Paola said that it had already become clear that the employers: "would not make an offer to the nursery nurses that could settle the dispute. Instead we were told they would recommend it to their councils but could go no further."

The nursery nurses have been taking strike action on and off since May. They want their salary to reflect their two-year training and additional duties they have taken on. They can currently earn only up to £13,800 at the top of their grade.