NASUWT rejects latest pay offer for Scotland's teachers
The offer has already been knocked back by the EIS, who are beginning a series of targeted strikes today in the constituencies of high profile politicians
Last updated 22nd Feb 2023
The NASUWT has rejected the revised pay offer tabled last week by the Scottish Government and COSLA.
75% of members responding to the Union’s consultation said that they were prepared to take further industrial action to secure improvement to their pay and conditions.
The offer's already been knocked back by the EIS, who are beginning a series of targeted strikes today in the constituencies of high profile politicians
READ MORE: Three days of teaching strikes begin in Scotland's key constituencies
It means two further days of strike action already planned for next Tuesday (28th February) and Wednesday (1st March) will go ahead.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “The latest pay proposals are a marginal improvement, but would still result in a real terms pay cut for teachers this year.
“The fact that the majority of our members have told us they reject this offer reflects the depth of anger amongst teachers who have endured cuts to their pay, despite rising levels of workload and deterioration in their working conditions.
“Our members expect a real pay rise which reflects the hugely important and challenging nature of teaching.
“We urge Ministers and Employers consider all options and to urgently come forward with further proposals that will address our members’ concerns and avoid further escalation of our dispute.”
It comes after the EIS rejected the latest pay offer put to it by Ms Somerville, the MSP for Dunfermline in Fife, which would have meant a 6% pay boost backdated to April 2022 for teachers who earn up to £80,000 and a further 5.5% from the start of the 2023 financial year, in what is the fifth offer put to them.
Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said: “While we want to resolve this dispute, our members are prepared to continue to take action to secure a competitive and fair pay award for teachers which will support recruitment and retention into the profession.
“Ministers and COSLA must come forward with a further pay offer which addresses seriously the real-terms erosion of teachers’ salaries which they have presided over since 2010.”
Targeted strike action hits constituencies of key politicians
Children attending school in the constituencies of key politicians including the First Minister are missing more days of lessons as teachers begin six days of "targeted" strike action.
Many schools in the five affected areas will be closed for three days from Wednesday as the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) escalates industrial action in the long-running dispute over pay, with a further three days of action planned next month.
The union has singled out areas covered by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Green education spokesman Ross Greer and Katie Hagmann, the resources spokeswoman for local authority body Cosla, for further action.
This will be on top of national strikes on February 28 and March 1, and another 20 days of rolling walkouts across Scotland's local authorities between March 13 and April 21, following strikes earlier in 2023 and late last year.
Parents have voiced concerns over the targeted action, branding it "inequitable and unfair" for pupils in the affected areas.