Scottish First Minister John Swinney has branded union moves to “single out” his constituency for school strikes “absolutely unacceptable.”

Members of Unison, Scotland’s largest public-sector union, recently voted to reject a Cosla pay offer amounting to 3.6 per cent or 67p an hour, whichever is higher, but now face it being imposed.

The union has announced plans for two weeks of strike action from October 21 at schools and early years centres in Mr Swinney’s Perth and Kinross constituency in a bid to take their fight for a better deal to the First Minister’s doorstep.

Challenged by Tory MSP Murdo Fraser on how he would avoid the “damaging action,” Mr Swinney offered no answer, but stated he  took “this issue deadly seriously as a parent.” 

He added: “For my constituents to be singled out for treatment just because their MSP happens to be the First Minister is absolutely unacceptable.”

Unison Scotland local government committee chairwoman Colette Hunter hit back, saying: “John Swinney needs to stop making inflammatory accusations against hard-working council staff and reflect on what he can do to help us find a solution.

“As First Minister of Scotland he has the power and the means to resolve this dispute and avoid school closures.

“Council workers have seen their pay cut by 25 per cent over the past decade or so.

“This year, teachers got a pay rise of 4.6 per cent, NHS staff received 5.5 per cent, MSPs received 6.7 per cent and some councillors got a pay rise of 13.8 per cent.

“Council staff are being left behind again — they have every justification in pressurising the Scottish government to find a solution.”