SQA staff balloted on industrial action after ‘unacceptable’ pay offer

Hundreds of workers at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are to be balloted on potential industrial action following what a union described as a “totally unacceptable” pay offer.

Around 400 staff across the education body – including administrators, managers, processors and researchers – will begin voting on Friday, September 5, with the ballot closing on September 25.

The row centres on a proposed 3% pay rise for 2025, at a time when inflation was running at 4.8% in July.

Unite argued that the deal represents a real-terms pay cut and said that any increase was due to take effect from April 1, making it five months overdue.

A consultative ballot earlier this summer saw 97% of Unite members back a move towards strike action if no improved offer was made.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s SQA members are being forced down the road of industrial action by senior management. The pay offer amounts to a real terms pay cut and that is totally unacceptable

“We will support our members every step of the way in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

Members of Unite at the SQA took industrial action last year before accepting a 5.75% pay rise for 2023, and a 3.15% rise plus a £1,000 lump sum for 2024.

The SQA is set to be scrapped on December 1 and replaced by the newly-created Qualifications Scotland.

It will be led by former teacher Nick Page, who was appointed interim chief executive of the SQA in June.

Alison Maclean, Unite industrial officer, said despite being under new management, the SQA is ignoring the “fair pay aspirations of its workers”.

She added: “Workers have had years of uncertainty due to the replacement of the SQA by Qualifications Scotland and they feel completely undervalued and taken for granted.

“Scottish Government ministers also are suggesting the pay dispute has nothing to do with them when everyone knows they are the paymasters.

“If our members have to take industrial action the blame will lie squarely with management and ministers.”

The SQA and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.