By Andrew Argo

THERE WAS slight encouragement of a local solution to the nursery nurses’ strike in Dundee after “productive” talks held in the City Chambers yesterday.

Rory Malone, Unison branch secretary, said the talks with council chief executive Alex Stephen had been meaningful.

“There are still a lot of issues to be addressed and the Dundee nursery nurses’ position is that the only way forward is a national settlement,” he said.

“We are discussing which way would be the best way to go forward. We are moving slightly forward but there is still a long way to go and we will have to wait and see how these productive talks progress.”

Mr Malone said he would meet Mr Stephen again next week. That will come after national delegates gather in Glasgow on Monday to discuss the long-running action.

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said, “After today’s meeting a further meeting has been arranged for Tuesday.”

Nine councils including Fife have reached locally-negotiated settlements—an approach supported by First Minister Jack McConnell—but nursery nurses in Dundee are holding out for a nationally-agreed solution.

They are at the end of a second week of all-out action which has closed nursery schools and departments across the city.

Meanwhile, nursery nurses in Angus are set to join colleagues throughout much of Scotland on strike after rejecting a pay deal, writes Gary Cooper.

The council and union leaders yesterday revealed the spectre of all-out indefinite industrial action after staff snubbed the latest offer in a ballot.

They will man the picket lines on Tuesday, a move Unison said was regretted.

ANGUS Nursery nurses had remained at their posts for the last two weeks as a second offer from Angus Council was put to them.

A council spokeswoman said there were indications the deal would be acceptable but she understood it was rejected by a narrow margin.

Ann Russell, Unison regional officer for Tayside, described the deal as “very much a re-hash of what had been on offer before.”

Ms Russell said, “We are just hoping to get back round the table, we don’t like being on strike, or the disruption it causes.”

Council resources and central services convener Councillor Alex King expressed disappointment.

He said, “The nursery nurses have indicated that they want a national settlement. The council is of the clear view that it expects there will be no national settlement.

“However, should a more beneficial national settlement be agreed, Angus Council has stated it would be prepared to abide by its terms.

“In effect, this means that nursery nurses would have nothing to lose by accepting the council’s offer.”

He added, “We are willing, for the time being at least, to keep the existing offer on the table.”