Teachers in Stirling yesterday joined the first national walkout from the profession in 40 years in a national dispute over pay.
All of Stirling Council’s primary schools, secondary schools and Additional Support Needs provisions (including Castleview Nursery) were all closed due to the lack of an agreement between the Scottish Government and the EIS union.
They were set to return today after the single day of action, although union chiefs have warned of further possible action to come - with the SSTA union also confirming its intention for its members to go out on strike next month.
A revised pay offer from COSLA and the Scottish Government earlier this week which would have seen rises of up to 6.85 per cent for the lowest paid teacher - was rejected - with the union branding it a “late, cynical” attempt to rebrand a previous five per cent offer.
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “EIS members across Scotland are taking strike action in pursuit of a fair pay settlement from COSLA and the Scottish Government.
“We really did not want to be in this position, and have engaged constructively in talks for many months, but have been forced into this strike by the inaction of the Scottish Government and COSLA who have refused to make any improvement to a pay offer that was roundly rejected by teachers three months ago.
“Instead, what has been offered amounts to a differentiated pay cut whichever way you look at it.
“The tactics of both COSLA and the Scottish Government in this process have been nothing short of disgraceful. They have offered a series of sub-standard offers that fall far below the rate of inflation and far short of the justifiable expectations of Scotland’s hard-working teaching professionals.
“They have dragged the process out endlessly, while soaring inflation has decreased the value of their offers still further.
“And, in their most recent insult, they presented a long-awaited ‘revised’ offer at the last possible minute, which was simply an obvious re-packaging of the same offer that teachers overwhelming rejected three months ago.
“Scotland’s teachers have reacted with great anger to this latest offer, and to the political machinations and spin from the Scottish Government and COSLA in their attempts to sell this is a new, and improved, offer.
“It is not a new offer, simply a lazy re-heating of the offer that our members have already rejected. It is not progressive but divisive, seeking to pit newly qualified teachers against experienced teachers and class teachers against those in promoted posts.”
However, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville branded the union’s calls for a 10 per cent pay rise as “unaffordable” and backed the latest pay offer made to teachers.
Ms Somerville said: “This is now the fourth offer that has been made. In the same time EIS have not changed their request for a 10 per cent pay increase – even for those on the highest incomes.
“I have been clear that we have limited room for manoeuvre.
“The financial situation for the Scottish Government is challenging and additional money for teacher pay means reduced public services elsewhere.
“In these challenging times it is important we focus our attention on those who are most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, as well as ensuring fairness to all public sector workers.
