Teachers threaten strike action over pay

● Union issues warning as members say they are prepared to walk out

A second union has warned of the potential for industrial action to secure above inflation pay for teachers this year.

A survey conducted by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) found 96 per cent of its members were prepared to take industrial action and 64 per cent were prepared to strike.

Earlier this month the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) also threatened industrial action in schools, warning that a below inflation pay rise would be “unacceptable”.

The 2018-19 pay settlement for Scotland’s teachers will be decided by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), which includes members from teaching organisations, councils and the Scottish Government.

Last month a backdated deal on teachers’ pay for 2017 was reached, including a one per cent pay rise backdated to April 2017, and a further one per cent uplift from January until the end of March 2018.

SSTA, which surveyed 1,359 members, found that 77 per cent were not content with the 2017 pay increase and 89 per cent did not believe it would encourage teachers to remain in the profession.

A further 68 per cent of teachers said they were considering or had considered a career outside of teaching, while 50 per cent were expecting a “substantial” pay offer in 2018.

Finance secretary Derek Mackay has committed to lifting the one per cent public sector pay cap and providing for a three per cent pay rise for NHS staff, police, teachers and others earning up to £30,000 and two per cent for those earning more than £30,000.

Seamus Searson, SSTA general secretary, said: “The SSTA member survey highlighted the lack of recognition and the unhappiness of the teaching profession.

“Although pay is critical in retaining teachers, the neverending workload is pushing many teachers away from the profession.

“It is very worrying in a time of teacher shortage that 68 per cent of teachers have considered or are considering leaving the profession.

“The government must see its priority to retain the experienced teachers we have now.

“This will only be achieved with a substantial pay rise in 2018 and a radical change to cut teacher workload.

“The government must be prepared to ask if it can afford to lose more of its experienced teachers if it wishes to maintain education standards.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Industrial action in our schools would not be in the interest of anyone, least of all pupils and parents.

“This government was the first in the UK to commit to lift the one per cent public sector pay cap, and the teachers’ pay deal for 2017-18 reflects this commitment.

“This deal also commits members of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) to undertaking a strategic review of pay and reward to ensure teaching remains an attractive career, and we will play our part in those discussions.”