Threat of teachers’ strike now ‘significantly closer’

Union says offer fails to address its major concerns

The prospect of strike action by teachers has moved “significantly closer” after the failure of talks on pay and conditions, a union has said.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said a ballot of its members, including on the prospect of industrial action, would be “inevitable” unless substantial movement towards a settlement is made.

Scotland’s largest teaching union issued the warning after rejecting an offer at a meeting of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which includes representatives of teaching organisations, councils and the Scottish Government.

After the meeting, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “We’ve rejected the offer that was placed on the table by the employers’ side. It fails to address our major concerns on excessive teacher workload, safeguarding teacher numbers and restoring short-term supply teachers’ pay and conditions, while also falling short on a fair pay settlement for all teachers.

“We remain open to further dialogue with employers over the summer months in the hope of making progress on each of these elements.”

Scottish Labour’s acting leader Iain Gray said the SNP administration had “lost the confidence of Scotland’s teachers”.

However, a spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “While it is disappointing that agreement has not yet been reached, we will continue to work with councils and unions over the summer to seek to secure it.

“We want to see a fair, affordable deal.”