Secondary pupils across Glasgow who take part in climate emergency strikes this month will not be disciplined provided they have permission from their parents.
Teachers and staff will not be allowed to take part in the upcoming Global Climate Strike, which runs from Friday, September 20 until Friday, September 27.
It comes after Green councillor Allan Young asked the city convenor how the city would support its staff and school pupils who choose to take part in the forthcoming strike at full council on Thursday.
SNP councillor Chris Cunningham said that pupils who took part in the event, which is encouraging young people to join together in the streets to demand an end to the age of fossil fuels, would be recorded as an authorised absence provided they had permission from their parents.
Children who did not have permission from their parents but took part anyway would be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Councillor Cunningham said: “All secondary schools were advised earlier in the year that no punitive action should be taken if young people chose to participate in the action against climate change.
“Similar to any other absence, if they participate with parental permission, it will be an authorised absence. If it is without parental permission, then it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
“We have no reports of any difficulties from schools with the previous actions. I don’t believe that it is for schools to authorise strike action. An authorised action by pupils can hardly be portrayed as strike action in pursuit of a cause I hope many of us, if not all of us in this chamber would support.
“Equally any absence by teachers or other staff would also be unauthorised. Our school staff are there to educate or support the education of our young people, including I might add, education on the issues of or surrounding climate change.”
Councillor Young then asked if council staff would be able to take part in a 30-minute solidarity climate stoppage organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
He said: “Can I confirm that this will apply to council staff?”
Councillor Cunningham replied: “I can make no such commitment but I am happy to look into these things.”
Labour councillor Stephen Curran also asked if young people would be able to take part in these protests after September 20. Councillor Cunningham said that he hoped that would be possible.
Millions of people are expected to walk out of their workplaces and homes to support the young protesters next week. They will be demanding a climate justice for everyone.
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