Teachers call off strike plan

A strike next month by Forth Valley teachers will not now take place after their trade union accepted a new pay offer from the Scottish Government.

Teaching union Educational Institute for Scotland has agreed in principle with ministers a 13 per cent deal.

The planned statutory ballot on strike action for Monday was called off.

Teachers were to vote on whether or not they would strike on Wednesday, April 24 - just days before pupils across the country sit their Higher exams.

Now, however, it is expected that the new pay offer will go to a ballot of EIS members later this month.

If accepted, the deal will see teachers receive an additional three per cent in pay backdated to April, 2018, seven per cent from April this year and another three per cent from April next year.

Unions have argued that the real-term value of teachers’ pay has fallen by up to 20 per cent over the last decade, and they demanded a significant rise to ensure the retention of staff and recruitment of new teachers.

Following the new pay offer for teachers, trade union Unite has written to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to request the re-opening of the pay order for local authority workers.

Under the recently-agreed deal, council workers’ wages are to rise by nine and a half per cent over three years.

Unite now say that all local authority workers should receive a pay deal similar to that agreed with the teachers, and that negotiations should reopen.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of EIS, called the teacher pay agreement a “significant success” for Scottish teachers and education.

He said: “By standing together and remaining united, our members have secured a strong deal for Scotland’s teachers which will also deliver stability and security for Scottish education.”

Education secretary John Swinney welcomed the decision to suspend strike action and a wider agreement reached with EIS to reform the education system.

He added: “This landmark agreement brings together a partnership with local authorities and professional associations to tackle critical issues, in tandem with a settlement on pay.

“It is an agreement that removes the threat of industrial action, will provide the stability we need to make the reform Scotland’s education system needs and deliver the best possible outcomes for our young people.”