New pay offer for teachers expected later this month

A new pay offer is expected to be made to teachers before Christmas.

The EIS teaching union has indicated that COSLA and the Scottish Government will be making a fresh offer at a meeting scheduled to take place on December 17.

This follows a meeting of the joint chairs of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) earlier this week which failed to put any new offer on the table.

Teachers have previously been offered a three per cent rise, but members of the EIS – which is the largest teaching union – and the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) overwhelmingly rejected this.

They are calling for a ten per cent pay rise.

Unions labelled the latest meeting as “deeply disappointing”.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: “No new offer was made by Scottish Government and COSLA, despite both acknowledging the strength of the rejection of the previous offer by teachers in the ballot result.

“The EIS expressed its anger and frustration at their stance.

“We were informed that both are in ongoing discussions around next year’s Scottish Government’s budget, including the local government settlement, and that they hoped to be in a position to make a fresh offer, potentially a multi-year deal, after December 14th, when a special COSLA leaders meeting has been convened.”

Flanagan added: “The EIS made clear that a multi-year deal had not been part of our considerations; our view is that the 10 per cent claim is justified as a single year settlement.”

Teaching unions have warned that they may ballot on strike action in January.

Seamus Searson, general secretary of the SSTA, said: “The SSTA is determined not to allow the 2018 teachers’ pay rise to be delayed much longer and we need to be prepared for the potential for a postal ballot for industrial action.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are engaging positively with the unions and with COSLA to agree a pay deal and will meet again later this month.

“Industrial action in any of our schools would not be in the interest of teachers, pupils or parents.”