Educational Institute of Scotland reject 2% teachers pay increase offer tabled by COSLA

A teaching union has unanimously rejected a 2% pay offer by local authority group COSLA.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country’s largest teaching union, said the offer was “completely inadequate” and would constitute a pay cut amid the spiralling cost of living crisis.

The offer was unanimously rejected by the teachers’ side at a meeting of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Extended Joint Chairs.

EIS added that if a significantly improved offer is not tabled quickly, members will move towards a ballot for industrial action.

Des Morris, EIS salaries convener and chair of the teachers’ side of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), said: “More than three months after the teachers’ pay claim for 2022-2023 was submitted, the employers’ side has finally come back with a completely inadequate pay offer which has now been summarily rejected by the teachers’ side.

“With inflation running at 9%, COSLA is effectively offering Scotland’s teachers a massive pay cut at a time when the cost of living is soaring. This is completely unacceptable, and the EIS expects COSLA to come back with a significantly improved offer before the next SNCT meeting on 21 June.”

Mr Morris added: “Scotland’s teachers deserve a fair pay increase, and they deserve it now. In previous negotiations, the employers have adopted delaying tactics by responding to pay claims at a glacial pace. Our members are simply not prepared to accept that any more.

“This pay increase should have been applied at the start of April but we have only just received their opening, totally inadequate, offer. The EIS is seeking settlement before the summer, but the employers must come back with a far better offer.

“The EIS Council has already agreed that we will move towards a ballot for industrial action should a fair pay settlement not be achieved. The clock is ticking; COSLA must move more quickly, and far more positively, if industrial action is to be avoided.”

Teachers’ pay in Scotland is negotiated via the tri-partite SNCT, involving teacher unions, COSLA and the Scottish Government.

A COSLA spokesperson said: “We are in active discussions with our Trade Union partners regarding their pay claim.”