Teachers across Dumfries and Galloway have accepted a new pay offer.
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) – the country’s biggest teaching union – overwhelmingly voted in favour of the latest deal from the Holyrood Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
It means planned strike action due to take place in Dumfries and Galloway later this month has been cancelled.
More than 80 per cent of EIS members took part in the ballot, with 90 per cent voting in favour of the offer - which also covers next year.
The union’s local association secretary Andrew O’Halloran said: “The 90 per cent backing by EIS members to the latest pay deal is very, very positive.
“Pay stagnation in the context of a cost of living crisis has been a real serious issue for teachers in schools across Dumfries and Galloway.
“Now we have a deal that goes into 2024, the EIS and its members can now focus on the other issues that concern teachers – pupil discipline, the pandemic recovery, workload and additional support needs.
“Support for strikes across the region has been strong. There were more pickets at schools than ever before.”
Teachers staged their first strike action last year, with walkouts continuing ever since.
They had been due to take further action in the Mid Galloway and Wigtown West ward of COSLA resources spokeswoman Councillor Katie Hagmann last week but that, along with action at schools across the region planned at the end of March, was suspended to allow members to be consulted on a new offer.
And they have overwhelmingly voted to accept the deal – a seven per cent pay rise backdated to April, a further five per cent at the start of next month and another two per cent at the start of next year. They had been hoping for a 10 per cent increase.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association have also accepted the offer as has the NASUWT union – despite branding the offer “a paltry improvement”.
Councillor Hagmann said: “COSLA welcomes today’s news that EIS members have accepted the most recent pay offer for teachers, and look forward to receiving formal acceptance from the SNCT teachers panel so that settlement can be finalised.
“This positive news means that there will be no further disruption to children and young people’s education, and will be welcomed by teachers, parents and carers across Scotland.”
“A resolution to this dispute and an end to the threat of further strike disruption in our schools will be a huge relief for children, young people, parents, carers, and teachers too.”
