Scottish secondary school teachers to take strike action in dispute over pay in December

Secondary school teachers in Scotland are to take strike action in a dispute over pay.

They will walk out during two days of targeted action on December 7 and 8.

It comes ahead of all schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow closing on Thursday, November 24, in the first wave of industrial action.

Strikes have also been announced by the EIS on January 10 and 11.

The latest strike action was authorised by the executive committee of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA).

The union has claimed that not a single penny has been put forward in any fresh offer since the last one in August.

They insisted that “teachers have had enough” and are now being forced to act.

Catherine Nicol, SSTA president, urged the Scottish Government to make a new offer to avoid strike action.

“The executive committee felt it had no option but to move to strike action due to the failure of the employers, COSLA, and the Scottish Government to make an improved pay offer,” they said.

“The last pay offer was made on August 19 and was quickly rejected by the teacher unions.

“Despite a series of engagements not even one more penny has been put on the table.

“Teachers have had enough of fine words and are being forced to take strike action to achieve an improved pay award.

“I hope the Scottish Government will step up and help to avoid teacher strikes that nobody wants.”

A spokeswoman for COSLA said there were “extremely challenging” financial decisions to be made.

“Scottish local government values its entire workforce, of which teachers are a key part,” they said.

“Making an offer that is affordable enables councils to protect the whole of education services and ultimately improve outcomes for children and young people.

“Along with the Scottish Government, we are working closely and at pace to ensure a revised offer can be brought forward.

“However, there are extremely challenging financial decisions that must be made and the consequences must be understood.”

Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said she is keen to work with COSLA to allow them to make a new offer.

“I spoke to trades union representatives on Friday and restated that I am keen to work with COSLA, as the employers, to allow them to make a revised pay offer and avoid unnecessary strikes,” she said.

“I have been clear, however, that the Scottish Government has a fixed budget and if we are looking to fund public sector pay offers, then that money must come from somewhere else in the budget.”