Strike looms as teachers reject final pay deal
● Ballot results ‘humiliation’ for SNP, says Labour
Scotland’s schools could be hit by strikes after two teaching unions voted almost unanimously to reject the pay deal from Scottish ministers.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said the “landmark” 98 per cent vote against the deal by his union was “one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history”. A second union, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, announced 97 percent of its members who took part in a ballot voted to reject the offer.
Scotland’s schools could be hit by strikes after two teaching unions voted almost unanimously to reject the pay deal from Scottish ministers.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said the “landmark” 98 per cent vote against the deal by his union was “one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history”.
A second union, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA), announced 97 per cent of its members who took part in a ballot voted to reject the offer, with only 3 per cent prepared to accept it.
Last night Scottish Labour shadow cabinet secretary for education Iain Gray said the votes were a “stinging rebuke” to deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney.
Almost three-quarters of eligible members in both unions took part in ballots, with turnouts of 74 per cent and 73 per cent for the EIS and the SSTA respectively.
A third union, the NASUWT, said it would now “consider a formal ballot for industrial action” after a survey of more than 1,000 teachers found 54 per cent were so angry about the pay deal they were prepared to take action.
Mr Swinney said while teachers were being offered a 3 per cent pay rise across the board, restructuring of the main pay grade scale and annual progression meant most teachers would receive ariseofbetween5percentand 11 per cent.
Gail Macgregor, resources
spokeswoman for local government body Cosla, said: “The trade unions claim for 10 per cent increase in one year cannot be met within the resources we currently have available.”
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Today’s nearunanimous rejection of the pay offer is a landmark result, one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history and one which is indicative of the current mood of Scotland’s teachers, increasingly agitated on pay, but angry also at excesthe
LARRY FLANAGAN EIS general secretary
sive workload, mainstreaming on the cheap and austerity driven cuts to resources.”
SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said there was a “resounding rejection of the pay offer” from his members. “The government and employershaveunderestimated teachers and tried to create division within different grades of teachers,” he said.
“With 97 per cent of respondents rejecting the pay offer, it is a strong message to the government as to the feelings of teachers.”
Mr Gray said: “This is a humiliating moment for a government that claims education is the top priority and pretends to value our teachers.
“The astonishing turn-out and vote against the offer is a stinging rebuke to Mr Swinney and his atrocious handling of pay negotiations.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “This is an extraordinary and brutal rebuke to the education secretary’s handling of the teaching profession.”
Mr Swinney said: “This was
best pay deal in the UK for 2018/19, so it is disappointing that teachers have rejected what I believe was a strong and fair offer.
“All teachers on the main grade scale were offered at least a 5 per cent annual increase, with some receiving up to 11 per cent in conjunction with their annual progression.
“I am pleased there will be further talks and we will engage positively with the unions and with Cosla.”
“Today’s nearunanimous rejection of the pay offer is a landmark result, one of the strongest rejections of an offer in EIS history”