Primary school teachers across Lanarkshire have gone on strike today in pursuit of a pay rise.
All primary schools and special schools in the area are closed as teachers take to the picket line to protest for a pay increase.
Strikes have been arranged by EIS, AHDS and NASUWT and unions will also strike in secondary schools tomorrow (January 11).
Members of the EIS are asking for a ten per cent increase, whereas members of the NASUWT are requesting 12 per cent.
Teachers at Woodside Primary school in Hamilton, who are members of the EIS, were out on the picket line demanding the pay increase.
Teachers from Woodside Primary told Lanarkshire Live: “The last place we want to be is outside of the classroom, but at this point it is absolutely necessary for the future of education.
“This is us fighting for last year’s pay deal, so that’s a year we’ve waited for and we’ll still be a year behind.
“We’re looking for a ten per cent pay rise, that’s the bare minimum.
“We’d rather be inside the classroom than out here but at this point and time, a year on from when we should have got a pay rise, we’re still waiting for a decent offer.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman told us: “Strikes in our schools are in no-one’s interest – including for pupils, parents and carers who have already had to deal with significant disruption over the past three years.
“We value our teaching workforce and recognise the vital importance of an agreement on pay, but we cannot escape the unprecedented pressures facing Scotland’s budget.
“While we have been clear that a 10 per cent pay increase is unaffordable within the Scottish Government’s fixed budget, we remain absolutely committed to a fair and sustainable pay deal.”
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