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Court staff hold strike over pay Court staff hold strike over pay
(10 minutes later)
Hundreds of court staff in Scotland are holding a day of strike action in a dispute over pay.Hundreds of court staff in Scotland are holding a day of strike action in a dispute over pay.
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said the action could cause the justice system to "grind to a halt".The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said the action could cause the justice system to "grind to a halt".
The Scottish Government said it expected some small courts to close, while services at other courts would have to be reduced.The Scottish Government said it expected some small courts to close, while services at other courts would have to be reduced.
SportScotland and the National Museums of Scotland will also be affected by the strike.SportScotland and the National Museums of Scotland will also be affected by the strike.
They will be joined by members working at the Scottish Courts Service, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.They will be joined by members working at the Scottish Courts Service, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
In total, the PCS estimates 1,700 of its members in justice, sportScotland and the National Museums of Scotland have joined the action.
The action, which is being held the day before a walkout by local government staff, is part of an ongoing campaign by the union against a 2% pay cap introduced by Scottish ministers.The action, which is being held the day before a walkout by local government staff, is part of an ongoing campaign by the union against a 2% pay cap introduced by Scottish ministers.
Eddie Reilly, PCS Scottish secretary, said: "This is the first departmental strike in the Scottish Courts Service for 30 years.Eddie Reilly, PCS Scottish secretary, said: "This is the first departmental strike in the Scottish Courts Service for 30 years.
"As further sections of Scottish ministers' workforce express anger over pay, it seems that Salmond and Swinney are hibernating."As further sections of Scottish ministers' workforce express anger over pay, it seems that Salmond and Swinney are hibernating.
"Unless they resolve these disputes, they are locking themselves into three years of industrial unrest with their own Scottish workforce.""Unless they resolve these disputes, they are locking themselves into three years of industrial unrest with their own Scottish workforce."
Staff taking part in the action, as well as those working at the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, are also to impose a two-week overtime ban.Staff taking part in the action, as well as those working at the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, are also to impose a two-week overtime ban.
The union said that at Glasgow Sheriff Court, the busiest court in Europe, four out of seven courts were closed.
Elsewhere, court cases have been deferred, with juries and witnesses told not to come in. The National Museum of Scotland has also been shut to the public.
A Scottish Court Service spokesman said: "We anticipate that a few of the smaller courts may close and that others will experience a reduced level of service - for example the closure of public counters - but we are unable to confirm the likely impact on individual courts.A Scottish Court Service spokesman said: "We anticipate that a few of the smaller courts may close and that others will experience a reduced level of service - for example the closure of public counters - but we are unable to confirm the likely impact on individual courts.
"Arrangements are being made for all essential court business to be dealt with.""Arrangements are being made for all essential court business to be dealt with."