Striking teachers across East Lothian today took to picket lines as a meeting of local councillors was told industrial action was saving the council around £170,000 a day.
As schools and early learning centres across the county closed for two days as part of an ongoing national pay dispute, elected members met to set the budget for the year ahead.
And they were told by finance officers that it was estimated strikes in schools in the current year had saved the council £500,000 so far.
A report on the council's finances during the third quarter of this year - up to December - said it faced a £16.8 million overspend in the current year with unplanned additional funds needing to be taken from reserves to ensure it can balance its books.
However it acknowledged that savings were coming in from the days of strike action saying: "A number of teachers' strikes have taken place with further planned strikes announced.
"To date financial savings from strike action is over £500,000. Negotiations to agree a pay deal for teachers is ongoing."
Councillor Lyn Jardine, SNP group leader, asked how many days of strike action were involved in the savings and was told a single day's strike across all schools saved the local authority around £170,000.
Councillor Jardine said: "It points to how extensive our staff is in that area."
The strikes are part of a long-running dispute between unions, councils and educators over teachers' rate of pay.
The latest offer from the Scottish Government would see teachers earning up to £80,000 have their pay rise by six per cent from April 2022, and then another 5.5 per cent from the start of the 2023 financial year.
However teaching unions are looking for up to a 10 per cent rise.
Sign up to Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
READ NEXT:
Hundreds sign East Lothian petition calling for action on 'dangerous' road
East Lothian village gala gets booze ban as police voice concern for community relations
Former East Lothian bank to become seaside cafe after house plan rejected
East Lothian chemists to introduce 24-hr cash machine-style prescription dispensers
East Lothian drivers face peak rate fees for charging vehicles
