Further strike dates in Scotland's schools are now inevitable, teachers' leaders warn

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) will walk out tomorrow - in the first national strike over pay for almost 40 years, with the action by teachers expected to close the majority of schools across Scotland.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has warned the Scottish Government's budget is under "extreme pressure" and a 10% rise is "unaffordable".

A last-ditch offer made on Tuesday in a bid to avert strike action would see the lowest paid staff receive a 6.85% increase, with most getting a 5% rise.

But that was rejected by the EIS, and its general secretary Andrea Bradley branded it an "inept rehash" of the offer made to teachers earlier this year.

She said that while the offer will see some lower paid teachers receive 6.85%, that will only involve 8.4% of staff.

Almost three-quarters (74%) would receive a 5% rise, but Ms Bradley said "more than half" of head teachers and deputy head teachers would be worse off.

She claimed teachers had been told the Scottish Government and local government body Cosla had been "going to be looking to see where they could perhaps take money from elsewhere in their budgets", but she added: "All they have done here is take money from some teachers and give it to others."

She said: "We had assurances last week from Scottish Government and Cosla colleagues that they were doing their utmost to find new money. They simply have not done that.

"To us it looks like they simply have not tried hard enough."

The EIS has already announced further strike action on January 10 and 11, and Ms Bradley warned it is "now inevitable that further dates will be announced".

She said: "We will certainly be looking at strikes throughout the months of January and February, and it really depends what happens at the negotiating table as to whether they can be averted and further action beyond that."

Ms Somerville called on the union to "appreciate the context" of the Scottish Government's position, with a fixed budget that is under "extreme pressure".

She told BBC Radio Scotland: "I appreciate the EIS may want to see a 10% rise, but I go back to the simple context that the budget is fully committed within the Scottish Government.

"While I appreciate they may have wished to see more done... this is a year where we are under extreme pressure on a fixed budget that is already committed and it is simply impossible to meet a demand of a 10% pay increase."

She described the latest offer made to teachers as "fair" and "progressive", and voiced disappointment the EIS had rejected it.

She urged union leaders to "come to the table and have a serious discussion about where we can compromise and find a resolution to this".

She added: "During pay disputes everyone has to find a compromise and a spot we can agree on.

"We will of course get back round the table with the EIS and the other teachers' unions - but we have to do that in the realistic context we are all working in."