Exam appeals hit as SQA staff go on strike in pay row
Unite members reject the latest pay offer
Students waiting for the result of appeals on their exam grades are being warned of delays as staff at the Scottish Qualifications Authority strike having rejected the lasted pay offer.
Unite says up to 55,000 exam appeals could be affected by the strike, dismissing the revised pay deal as a "cynical publicity stunt".
The strike at the exams body will begin on September 8 and continue next week on September 15 and 16.
Union officials also announced six further dates for strike action in late September and early October, as well as an overtime ban.
New offer rejected
On Wednesday, SQA chief executive Fiona Robertson appeared at a Holyrood committee and told MSPs a new offer had been tabled.
She said: "I appreciate there's been concern about the impact of potential industrial action at SQA on the appeals process.
"I share that concern.
"I can confirm that following agreement by the Scottish Government a revised pay offer was put to SQA unions on Monday night and I hope they accept."
Unite said the revised pay offer still represented a real terms pay cut for the lowest-paid staff.
The union said for nearly half the workforce the consolidated pay offer was as low as 3.3%.
Scotland's summer of strikes
Rubbish bins overflowing in the Grassmarket due to industrial action by Edinburgh council workers.
An overflowing bin can be seen outside the Waverley Market next to the station.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Tourists walk past overflowing bins, at the height of festival season in the Capital.
The sixth day of the Waste Service Strike has led to central Edinburgh becoming an unsanitary mess.
Rubbish bins overflowing outside Edinburgh Waverley.
Rubbish pilling up in residential streets in Gorgie.
Bins overflowing with rubbish are being taped up as they begin to overflow with waste, at the height of festival season.
Last week three unions - Unite, Unison and the GMB - agreed to suspend a second wave of council worker strikes which were set to hit cleansing services across most Scottish council areas, and also close a number of schools.
55,000 appeals affected
General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite's SQA members are set to take different forms of industrial action due to a pay offer which still represents a substantial real terms pay cut for the lowest paid.
"It is completely unacceptable and we will stand up for our members' jobs, pay and conditions at the SQA because they deserve better."
Alison MacLean, Unite industrial officer, said: "Industrial action will go ahead at the SQA and it will continue until a fair pay offer is on the table.
"This will severely disrupt up to 55,000 student appeals.
"Talks through Acas have barely moved us forward one inch.
"The reason for this is because the SQA have in effect been prevented from tabling an improved offer by the Scottish Government due to the various public sector pay disputes.
"The last-minute offer is nothing but a cynical publicity stunt designed to blame the workers who have no option but to take industrial action due to the procrastination displayed by both the SQA and Scottish Government."
SQA committed to talks
A spokesperson for the SQA said: "Given the significantly improved pay offer that was on the table, we are disappointed that the proposal has been rejected by the trade unions.
"We are acutely aware of the impact the cost of living is having and we have worked hard to secure agreement from the Scottish Government to make the best offer that we believe we can.
"The revised offer represents an overall average value of 7% across the organisation, including pay progression, with increases up to 9.4% for some. Those at the lowest grades will benefit the most.
"We remain committed to ongoing dialogue with our trade unions to resolve this dispute. Industrial action is not in the interests of learners."