Striking teachers target schools in key politicians’ constituencies
TEACHING unions have announced “an escalation” of strikes over a pay dispute that will lead to targeted industrial action in the constituencies of Nicola Sturgeon and other key decision-makers.
To mark a year since teaching unions first submitted their pay claim for the 2022/23 financial year, the EIS has now announced days of targeted action aimed at politicians.
But Education Secretary Shirleyanne Somerville has insisted that “targeting pupils, parents and carers in certain parts of the country does not change the financial reality the Government is operating in”.
Unions have rejected a deal that which would see most classroom staff receive a five per cent pay increase, although the lowest earners would get a 6.85% pay hike.
Instead, the EIS union is demanding a 10% increase.
As well as the already-announced national strike action on February 28 and March 1 and 20 rolling strikes from March 13, the EIS will target strike action in the constituencies of the First Minister (Glasgow Southside), Deputy First Minister John Swinney (Perthshire North) and Education Secretary Shirley-anne Somerville (Dunfermline).
The union has also announced the targeted action will include Greens’ education spokesperson Ross Greer’s “constituency”. However, Mr Greer is a regional MSP for the West of Scotland.
Cosla resources spokesperson Katie Hagmann, who is a councillor in Dumfries, will also be targeted, despite her acting on behalf of the 32 leaders of Scotland’s local authorities.
Details are yet to be finalised, but EIS members in four of these five areas will be called out on three consecutive days from Wednesday, February 22 until Friday, February 24.
All five areas will be targeted for a further three days of action from Tuesday, March 7.
EIS general secretary, Andrea Bradley, said: “It is deeply regrettable that the continuing inaction, obfuscation and spin from the Scottish Government and Cosla on teachers’ pay has led to an escalation of our programme of strike action.
“It has now been a year since our pay claim was submitted, and teachers should have had their pay rise in their pay packet last April.
“Instead, the Scottish Government and Cosla initially offered a pathetic 2% pay settlement – at a time when inflation was nearly four times that amount. Since then, the Scottish Government and Cosla have dithered, delayed and dragged their feet while the cost of living has continued to soar.”
She added: “The latest offer, for a well-below inflation 5%, has now been kicking around for six months, and has been rejected by Scotland’s teachers twice.
“The response from the Scottish Government and COSLA has been, essentially, nil – and this now has forced an escalation in our action. The offer of a 9% real-terms pay cut, which is what is on the table, will never be acceptable.”
Scottish Conservative education spokesperson, Stephen Kerr, said: “The EIS’S targeted strike action – in the constituencies of Shirleyanne Somerville, John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon – leaves the public in no doubt as to who they hold responsible for the repeated failure to resolve the pay dispute.”
In response, Ms Somerville said: “We have been clear that a 10% pay increase for all teachers is unaffordable within the Scottish Government’s fixed budget.
“We’ve also been very clear about the need to progress opportunities for compromise, so we can reach a fair and sustainable settlement for all involved.
“Escalation of strike action by targeting pupils, parents and carers in certain parts of the country does not change the financial reality the Government is operating in.”
A Cosla spokesperson said: “We regret any strike action and even more so when it is targeted at individuals, especially given that any decision taken in Cosla is a collective one taken by the 32 council leaders. Specific targeting is a matter for the EIS to explain, as it is their decision to do it.”