Perth and Kinross school strikes enter second week

Mr Swinney said: “Although the Scottish government has no formal role in these pay negotiations, we have taken extraordinary decisions within a challenging financial context to identify an additional £77.5m to support local government pay.

“This is at the absolute limit of affordability and there is no more available funding from the Scottish government.”

Mr Swinney added that he did not think it was fair that the education of children and young people in Perth and Kinross was being disrupted “because one of their local MSPs is also the First Minister of Scotland.”

There is currently no sign either councils or the Scottish government will budge on pay.

Some primaries are open but their associated early learning and childcare settings are closed.

Unison has rejected the pay rise which is worth almost £1,300 or 3.6% to staff, whichever is higher.

It was made in August to see off the threat of bin strikes in many council areas. The Scottish government made more resources available to councils to help.

Both the GMB and Unite unions accepted it and councils are now taking steps to give staff the money plus backpay.

It’s likely that staff in Perth and Kinross will get the money in their November wages.

Unison believes the offer does not do enough to deal with its concerns over the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

But the Scottish government has made it clear there can be no more money for council pay this year.

Unison is taking action in Perth and Kinross because it already had a mandate for strike action there. It hopes to put pressure on First Minister John Swinney who is a local MSP.

Mr Swinney has said it is “unacceptable” that Unison is targeting Perth and Kinross and called for talks.