With the issue looking increasingly unlikely to be resolved, nursery nurses across Scotland voted by 81% to 19% in favour of the strike earlier this week. But, according to UNISON, there is still time to avoid disruption to children and parents if COSLA return to negotiations.

Fife branch chairman Stevie Murray said, “Fife’s nursery nurses are united in their support for an all-out, indefinite strike but this action can be averted.”

Up until last autumn, Fife managed to avoid action because the union was involved in talks with the council.

An interim deal was reached, but when the final package was presented, it was rejected by nursery nurses by a three-to-one majority.

“COSLA should come back to the negotiating table and talk about a fair national settlement,” Mr Murray added.

UNISON argues that because nursery nurses’ pay has not been reviewed for 15 years, they are on an unfair wage.

A basic grade nursery nurse earns £10,000 a year at the beginning of her career – moving up to £13,800 a year after 10 years service.

The union is looking for a rise in this basic grade to £14,000 to £18,000.

During next week’s action, the branch will implement its usual policy of emergency exemptions and agree with Fife Council cover to ensure no child is put at risk.

Six councils have reached local deals with their nursery nurses and this fact could make the union’s aim of reaching a national agreement more difficult, says Fife Council’s children’s spokeswoman, Councillor Kay Morrison.

“The union would like to have national bargaining and are really holding out for that, but it’s difficult to see how that can happen, given that those local authorities have already settled,” she said.

Councillor Morrison added that the local authority’s door would remain open for further negotiations and that there is “some leeway” for future talks.