All South Lanarkshire schools are closed today (February 28) as teachers continue to strike over pay disputes.
Schools across the area will be closed today and tomorrow due to them taking to the picket lines and demanding a 10 per cent pay increase.
Today, an EIS representative at Hamilton’s St John Ogilvie High School, said: “We are striking because the last pay offer that we were given was very disappointing. We are very concerned not just for our own livelihoods but for the education of the young people of Scotland.
“We can’t attract young dynamic talented teachers into the profession because the pay conditions aren’t good enough compared to other professions, it’s the young people of Scotland who are suffering.”
Both primary and secondary schools will be closed today and tomorrow and school breakfast clubs will not be open on these days.
Teaching union EIS announced this week’s strikes after rejecting the Scottish Government’s recent pay offer of six per cent for 2022/23 with a further uplift of 5.5 per cent.
The pay offer was made on February 14, but the EIS branded it as ‘inadequate’.
The EIS is also planning a further 20 days of rolling walkouts from March 13 until April 21 if pay negotiations are not met.
In an open letter, the Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville addressed the industrial action and outlined the support for pupils during the strikes but hopes the pay dispute will come to a resolution before exam times.
She wrote: “I would like to reassure you that I am doing everything I can to resolve the pay dispute with the teaching unions and bring an end to industrial action.
“I have written to councils asking them to consider how secondary schools can remain open on strike days for learners preparing for exams.
“We are also continuing to work with partners, including the SQA and councils, on contingencies for the exams themselves, should industrial action continue.
“We very much hope, however, that the pay dispute will be resolved soon and that these contingencies will not be required.
“The Scottish Government, our agencies and your council will continue to do everything we can to support you in the run up to and during the exam diet.”
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