Unions ‘united in rejection’

All teaching unions in Scotland have rejected the latest pay offer as strike action looks set to continue. The Scottish Government submitted a pay offer to teachers last week which was summarily dismissed by the unions.

Under that proposal, teachers earning under £40,107 would receive an increase of £1,926 per year – 6.85% for those on the lowest salaries – while those on more would get 5%.

In a letter released yesterday, the teacher panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) – the body that brings together staff, councils and government to negotiate pay – said the offer was “wholly unacceptable” and unions are “united in rejection”.

Des Morris, chairman of the panel, said: “In rejecting this proposal, we have highlighted the lack of improvement on the previous offer, which was itself rejected unanimously some three months ago.

“In addition to offering no tangible improvement, this proposal is also worse for many experienced teachers in promoted posts compared to the previous offer.

“This proposal also quite absurdly, given employers’ responsibilities around fair work and SNCT conditions of service, suggests that even more demands of teachers could have been made, adding to their already intolerable workloads, had employers chosen to do so.”

Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-anne Somerville has repeatedly said there is no more cash for teachers’ pay, and any increase would have to come from elsewhere in the education budget.

But Mr Morris tasked local authority body Cosla and the Scottish Government to come back with a better offer.

The NASUWT union plans to strike on December 7 and 8 – along with the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association – with action short of a strike due on December 9.

.A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “It is very disappointing that the teaching unions have rejected this fair and progressive offer which mirrors the deal accepted by other local government workers.

“It is simply unaffordable to have a 10% increase which unions are asking for within the fixed budget which the Scottish Government is working in.”

STRIKING AHEAD: The picket line at Grove Academy on the strike day last month.