Union asks ‘Where is Humza?’ as Nicola Sturgeon appears on picket line with striking school staff

Nicola Sturgeon has increased the pressure on Humza Yousaf to intervene in a dispute that has closed schools across Scotland, after she posed with striking workers on a picket line.

The former first minister was pictured on Thursday with Unison staff outside the Royal Mile Primary School near the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Workers including janitors, cleaners and support staff were staging a third consecutive day of strike action over a pay dispute, which has closed hundreds of schools this week.

The union has called for Mr Yousaf to intervene to prevent further strikes, but the First Minister has insisted it should be left up to council leaders to negotiate.

Ms Sturgeon personally intervened in a similar dispute involving unions representing cleansing staff and councils last year, while she was still first minister.

Sharron Macaulay, who was among the workers outside the primary school, took a photograph of Ms Sturgeon with the staff.

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She said: “It was great to see Nicola this morning, she was very friendly. I hope she didn’t feel ambushed, as we shouted her over from the other side of the street.

“But she didn’t have to come over or have her photo taken with us, we are delighted she did, and she wished us all the best of luck.

“I just hope she still has some influence in Government to get Humza around the table to help settle this dispute.”

Unison’s Scottish secretary, Lilian Macer, added: “At least when Nicola was first minister she got around the table with Unison to negotiate a settlement. Where is Humza?”

Asked if Mr Yousaf planned to intervene in the strikes, the First Minister’s spokesman said: “If you’re asking me if the First Minister should unilaterally step in and just take pay negotiations off a national body, we wouldn’t do that.”

A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said: “Unison members outside Royal Mile Primary school asked Nicola to stop to speak and have a photo with them when she passed on her way to work this morning. She was happy to do so.

“The Scottish Government continues to do all it can to support workers with decent pay rises in the face of Westminster austerity and cost of living crisis.

“Nicola, like the SNP, hopes that constructive dialogue will bring resolution to this dispute to prevent any further disruption to children, parents and education staff, and knows that everyone is working to achieve that.”