Strike looms as 98% of teachers reject pay of fer
TEACHERS moved closer to national strike action yesterday after voting almost unanimously to reject a pay deal.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said the ‘landmark’ 98 per cent vote was ‘one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history’.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) said 97 per cent of members voted against the deal.
Almost three-quarters of members in both unions voted, with turnouts of 74 per cent and 73 per cent respectively.
A third union, NASUWT, said it would now ‘consider a formal ballot for industrial action’ in the pay row after a survey of more than 1,000 teachers found 54 per cent backed the move.
Tens of thousands of teachers took part in a protest march in Glasgow last month.
Yesterday, Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘This is a humiliating moment for a government that claims education is the top priority and pretends to value our teachers.
‘The astonishing turnout and vote against the offer is a stinging rebuke to SNP Education Secretary John Swinney and his atrocious handling of pay negotiations.
‘He was supposed to be a safe pair of hands. Instead, teachers took to the streets to march against his pay deal while he desperately tried to circumvent trade unions by attempting to cut them out of the process.’
Mr Swinney has said that while teachers are being offered a 3 per cent pay rise across the board, restructuring of the main pay grade scale and annual progression meant most teachers would receive a rise of between 5 per cent and 11 per cent.
The EIS is demanding a 10 per cent rise for all teachers.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: ‘Today’s near unanimous rejection of the pay offer is a landmark result, one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history and one which is indicative of the current mood of Scotland’s teachers.’
SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said it was a ‘resounding rejection of the pay offer’, adding: ‘It is time for the Government to return to the negotiating table, treat teachers with respect and seek a meaningful settlement.’
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: ‘We will be conveying the outcome of the survey to employers and the Government and will consider a formal ballot for industrial action on pay, depending on their response.’
Gail Macgregor of local government body Cosla said: ‘The trade unions’ claim for 10 per cent cannot be met within the resources we currently have available.’
Mr Swinney said: ‘This was the best pay deal in the UK for 201819, so it is disappointing that teachers have rejected what I believe was a strong and fair offer.
‘We will engage positively with the unions and Cosla to seek to strike a pay deal.’
‘Humiliating moment’