Scottish teachers reject 3% pay rise

Teaching unions in Scotland have rejected a pay offer which would have resulted in a three per cent rise for most teachers, describing it as "derisory".

The EIS, SSTA and others sit on the Scottish Negotiating Council for Teachers (SNCT) alongside the Scottish Government and councils umbrella body COSLA.

The pay offer was made last month and was put to union members.

At its AGM, the largest union the EIS voted to strike unless they saw a ten per cent uplift to make up for years of an enforced freeze.

The teachers' side of the SNCT said: "It was made clear by the teachers' side that this was a derisory offer and that it failed to redress the decade of detriment to teachers' pay.

"It was also made clear that whilst changes to the Main Grade Scale would be welcomed, recruitment and retention of all teachers needed to be improved and all should receive a 10per cent pay rise, in addition to any other changes."

A Scottish government spokesman said: "Teachers' pay is a matter for the SNCT and negotiations for 2018-19 are continuing."

Meanwhile, COSLA has warned local government jobs may be at risk if pay offers exceed three per cent, but unions representing local government workers have also said they will advise members reject the offer.

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland's local government committee said: "A decade of austerity has led to staffing shortages in key areas of local government like social care and school staff. And many of our members are relying on foodbanks to get by. The Government and COSLA must do more to address these issues and we would urge them to get back around the table with the trade unions."

 James O'Connell, Unite Regional Organiser said: "Our members are just as deserving as teachers. COSLA promised parity of treatment and need to deliver it"