Planned strike action by teachers at Perth and Kinross schools have come to an end after Scotland’s largest teaching union voted to accept the latest pay offer.
Teachers with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) backed the deal which will see a seven per cent pay rise backdated to April 2022, a further five per cent next month, and another two per cent in January 2024.
One Perth teacher, however, says the deal still represents a pay cut for faculty members against inflation.
Some 90 per cent of EIS members who took part in the vote backed the pay offer, with 10 per cent rejecting it. There was a turnout of 82 per cent.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) union also agreed to the deal.
This was the sixth offer tabled by COSLA and the Scottish Government after teaching unions rejected a previous offer of an 11.5 per cent pay rise over two years.
The new agreed pay bump raises the salary of the lowest paid teachers from the current £28,113 to £32,215 come January 2024.
In the same time period the lowest grade qualified teachers will go from £33,729 to £38,653.
Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville labelled it a “historic offer” which she said would see teacher pay “increase by 33 per cent from January 2018 to January 2024”.
She believes it is “affordable and sustainable for everyone involved” adding the Scottish Government is supporting the deal with total funding of over £320 million across this year and next.
But Andrea Bradley, EIS general secretary, said the agreement is a “pragmatic decision” adding it “does not meet our aspirations” but is the best deal that can “realistically be achieved” in the current political and financial climate without further industrial action.
EIS Perth and Kinross local association secretary Carolyn Weston said: "Turnout in the ballot was 82 per cent in Perth and Kinross and this only confirms that our teachers believe that it is now time to accept the offer and bring an end to the programme of industrial action in schools.
"While it does not meet our aspirations in respect of a restorative pay settlement, it is the best deal that can realistically be achieved in the current political and financial climate without further prolonged industrial action.
"It is deeply regrettable that it took a sustained industrial dispute but it was required in order for the Scottish Government and COSLA to finally come up with an acceptable pay offer for Scotland’s hard-working teaching professionals.
"Scotland’s pupils, parents and teachers deserve better, and the Scottish Government and Scotland’s local authorities must commit to ensuring that education is properly funded, and that teachers are fairly paid, in all future years in order that Scottish Education can provide as it should for our young people and for the good of our whole society."
Matthew Mackie, computing teacher at Perth High School and the Perth and Kinross SSTA district secretary, is grateful to see the dispute end but adds that the deal still represents a pay cut for teachers against inflation.
He explained: “The SSTA ballot result was clear with 85.3 per cent of our members voting to accept the latest offer and 14.7 per cent voting to reject.
“At this stage, I think most parents, pupils and teachers will appreciate that there’s finally an offer on the table that is acceptable to a majority of teachers, particularly as we enter this crucial time of the secondary school year preparing for SQA qualifications and exams.
“SSTA members across Perth and Kinross have been determined to achieve a fair pay settlement and it is regrettable that it has taken a prolonged period of industrial action to get here.
“Let’s not forget, this pay deal should have been agreed 12 months ago.
“SSTA members have been left frustrated and angry at the apparent lack of urgency from COSLA and the government to avoid strike action, to prevent school closures and to reach a fair settlement.
“Let’s also remember that whilst the majority of teachers have voted to accept this offer, many have done so reluctantly.
“Ultimately, this deal represents yet another real terms pay-cut for teachers against inflation.”
The EIS members’ approval of the deal came after a breakthrough in negotiations last week which saw the union pause strikes set to be staged in the constituencies of senior politicians.
Faculty members at schools in MSP John Swinney’s Perthshire North area were to walk out on March 7-9 but were called off.
The union had also planned a 20-day campaign of rolling strikes in every part of Scotland but they have now also been scrapped.
The pay dispute between councils and the teaching unions became bitterly contested with the first national walkout taking place in November 2022.
Mr Swinney is “pleased” that EIS members overwhelmingly backed the pay offer.
He added: “The deal, which for most teachers will mean a 33 per cent rise in pay since 2018, represents a significant financial outlay and once more demonstrates the value we place in teachers and the work they undertake.
“I know that the ongoing industrial action was disruptive and a source of worry for families across the region.
“I am also particularly pleased that Perth and Kinross Council have confirmed that money saved as a result of industrial action is being re-invested into schemes to help pupils, such as study clubs during the Easter holidays.
“This is a measure that I have publicly called for and I believe will be welcomed by parents and pupils alike.”
UK union NASUWT is currently balloting its members on the deal.
