SCOTLAND largest teaching union has rejected an improved pay deal from employers, moving schools across the country closer to possible strike action.
Leaders of the EIS trade union will hold talks today to consider their next steps after members voted against the deal by 57% to 43%. The local government body Cosla is offering a 9% increase, with a further 3% next year, to be funded with Scottish Government cash.
More than fourth-fifths (81%) of eligible members took part in the ballot, with the union having demanded a 10% rise.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said union members “have voted, by a very clear majority, to reject this pay offer”.
He added: “They have also expressed their willingness to move to a ballot for industrial action in pursuit of an improved pay settlement for Scotland’s teaching professionals.
“Although this was not a strike ballot, both the turnout and the number indicating a willingness to move to industrial action would have exceeded the strict thresholds set by the UK Government in its restrictive Trade Union Act.”
The result of the ballot was announced shortly after leaders of the SSTA teaching union revealed its members had voted in favour of the deal. Almost two-thirds (64%) of STTA members voted to accept the pay rise, on a turn out of 76%.
But its general secretary Seamus Searson said: “The Government must not see this decision as a boost to teacher morale as many members were voting to get a pay rise that has been long overdue.”
Thousands of teachers and their supporters marched through Glasgow in October as part of their campaign for a larger pay hike.
With the EIS executive committee due to meet today, Flanagan said they were still “open to further negotiations”.
But he was clear: “Failing an improved offer, we will be initiating the process towards strike action.”
Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: “Nobody wants to see industrial action in our schools but this is a result of the SNP’s mismanagement of schools over the years, and a failure to listen to legitimate concern of teachers over the erosion of pay and the increase in workload.”
He demanded Education Secretary John Swinney “start listening properly to teachers now, and come up with an acceptable offer which shows he really does value teachers and that education actually is this Government’s top priority”.
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