Teachers in 32 council areas in Scotland being balloted over strike action
The EIS union is demanding a 10% rise to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
Last updated 12th Oct 2022
Teachers in all 32 council areas in Scotland are being asked if they want to strike for more money.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is balloting members after they rejected a "wholly inadequate" 5% pay offer.
It follows a recent consultative ballot, where 94% of EIS members voted to reject a 5% pay offer and 91% said they would be willing to move to strike action.
The union is urging members to vote yes to strike action in the postal ballot, which opened on Wednesday October 12.
"We hoped not to get to this point"
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: "In opening this statutory ballot for strike action today, the EIS is acting in the best interests of Scotland's teaching professionals.
"We had hoped not to get to this point, but a series of much delayed and sub-inflation level pay offers from the employers have angered our members and forced this move towards strike action.
"Our members responded magnificently to our recent consultative ballot, turning out in huge numbers to reject the wholly inadequate 5% pay offer and to indicate a strong willingness to take strike action in pursuit of a fair settlement.
"The statutory ballot that we are opening today will provide us with a clear mandate to commence a programme of strike action later this autumn, should no satisfactory offer have been received by the time the ballot closes next month."
"The growing cost of living crisis is impacting on people across the country"
EIS members have until November 8 to use their vote.
Ms Bradley added: "The EIS is urging its members to vote Yes for strike action, so that we can secure another overwhelming result that will make Cosla and Scottish Government think hard about the kind of improved offer that they need to bring to the negotiating table if strike action by teachers is to be averted.
"The growing cost of living crisis is impacting on people across the country, and our members are not prepared to accept a sub-inflation level pay award that represents a deep real-terms cut to their pay."
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and the Scottish Government said they are disappointed the offer has been rejected.
A Cosla spokesman said: "Scottish Local Government values its entire workforce, including teachers.
"The offer being made is one that not only can be afforded with the additional monies being provided, but critically enables councils to protect education services and those other services that support its effective running.
"Along with Scottish Government, we are disappointed that the teaching unions have rejected it. Accepting the offer of 5% would have meant that teachers received a cumulative pay increase of 21.8% since 2018.
"For example, a teacher on point 5 of the main grade scale would have seen their annual salary increase from £36,480 at the start of 2018 to £44,454 from April 1 2022."
"This Government has a strong record of support for teachers"
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Strikes are in no one's interest - least of all for pupils, parents and carers who have already faced significant disruption over the past three years.
"This Government has a strong record of support for teachers and are proud to have the best paid workforce of anywhere in the UK.
"It is disappointing that unions have rejected the latest pay offer. Accepting the offer of 5% would have meant that teachers received a cumulative pay increase of 21.8% since 2018.
"The Cabinet Secretary holds regular meetings with all teachers' unions to discuss a range of issues, including pay. These meetings have taken place over the last two weeks.
"We are absolutely committed to supporting a fair pay offer for teachers through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, the body that negotiates teachers' pay and conditions of service.
"It is for local authorities, as the employer, to make a revised pay offer."
How prices are going up
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.