SCHOOLS were closed in outgoing First Minster Nicola Sturgeon’s Glasgow Southside constituency today amid the long-running teacher pay dispute in Scotland.

The dispute has entered a new phase this week as the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) focused its strike action on the constituencies of Holyrood ministers.

Schools were also closed in the constituencies of Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville in Dunfermline, Deputy First Minister John Swinney in Perthshire North and Green education spokesman Ross Greer in Milngavie.

The action comes a week after EIS rejected a revised offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and the Scottish government, amounting to 6 per cent for 2022-23, and 5.5 per cent for 2023-24.

Both figures fall well short of inflation – with RPI sitting at 13.4 per cent – and failed to take into account earlier public-sector pay freezes in Scotland.

Cosla resources spokeswoman Katie Hagman will also see schools affected in her ward in Mid Galloway and Wigton West in the next wave of action between March 7 and 9.

Picket lines have been well attended and continue to enjoy wide public support. 

Taking a moment from her tour of Glasgow’s picket lines, EIS Glasgow local authority secretary Susan Quinn said: “No EIS member wants to continue to be on strike.

“The Scottish government and Cosla have it within their power to end the action today by bringing forward a pay offer for April 2022 which is significantly better than what has been on the table.”

Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney described the targeted action as “indefensible” and said his son will not be at school for the next three days.