Scottish teachers reject 3% pay offer

Teachers’ unions in Scotland have rejected a pay offer of three per cent from councils.

The offer, made at the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), falls well short of the 10 per cent demand made by trade unions the EIS, the SSTA, Voice and the NASUWT.

The unions say this would reflect the fact pay rises have not kept pace with inflation in the years since the financial crash.

Speaking on behalf of the unions, a representative of the teacher’s side of the SNCT said they remained committed to negotiations and were not yet considering industrial action.

“There is a growing crisis in teacher recruitment and retention across Scotland, and declining rates of pay is one of the key factors contributing to this problem,” the spokesperson said.

“Pay for Scotland’s teachers is continuing to decline in comparison to other graduate professions and to teacher salaries in other European countries. This simply must be rectified.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Industrial action in our schools is not in the interest of anyone, least of all pupils and parents.

“Negotiations are now underway and the government will play its part. We urge everyone table to take a constructive approach.

“We will also, alongside employers and unions, take part in a strategic review of pay and reward.”

Scottish Labour Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and skills, Iain Gray, said: “Scotland’s schools are heading for industrial action unless John Swinney wakes up and takes action on teacher’s pay and workload, and he has been given plenty of warning.”

Talks between the SNCT will reconvene after Easter.