OUTRAGED parents have blasted East Dunbartonshire Council for a “lack of communication” over school industrial action.

The local authority announced all its schools, early learning centres and Kelvinbank Adult Day Care Centre would close for four days, beginning today, late yesterday afternoon.

However, parents have criticised the school for the short notice, despite a ballot held last week confirming the staff’s intention to strike.

Chad Davidson, whose daughter attends a Bearsden primary school, was horrified to receive notification of closure at 1.38pm yesterday and is now forced to find care for the 10-year-old until school resumes on June 27.

He told the Evening Times: “I received a text and email today at 1.38pm notifying me that my daughter’s school is closed due to strike action starting today for the next four days.

“As a single parent who works full time I think it’s a disgrace that East Dunbartonshire Council have given me such short notice to arrange child care for the next four school days.

“Clearly there has been no consideration for parents to arrange suitable childcare in such a short time and the disruption this causes us.”

Other parents took to social media to voice their anger after the council promised to update its Twitter page at 1pm yesterday following 11th-hour talks with union Unite.

In a statement posted to a social media page, the council said it was involved in “intensive discussions” in a bid to stop the strike from taking place.

However, such an update – which confirmed the talks had failed and a strike would go ahead – was not posted online until 2.23pm, prompting parents to brand the communication a “disgrace”.

Ann Davie, depute chief executive, Education, People & Business, said: “All parents from the council’s schools and Early Years establishments received a letter on Friday, June 15, advising of the proposed industrial action planned for this week and confirming that the council was doing all it could to avert that action. Intensive negotiations continued with the trades unions with a further offer made this morning to avert strike action which was regrettably not accepted and at lunchtime the strike action was confirmed.

“We issued an update on social media on conclusion of negotiations and this was followed by communications from schools. I would assure all parents that we made every effort to avert this strike action and are deeply disappointed that it is proceeding.”

The dispute arises from EDC’s plans to reduce annual leave allowances by three days, extend the working day and remove enhanced overtime rates, according to Unite.

Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser for UNISON, said: “These employees are struggling with the impact of needless austerity daily, they have suffered years of real-terms pay cuts and have stretched themselves physically and mentally to try and maintain vital services which have been cut to the bone.”