Teachers in Scotland are set to strike for the second time next month in a dispute over pay.
Members of the NASUWT in primary schools will take industrial action on January 10, while their colleagues in secondary schools will hit the picket line a day later on January 11.
The walkout is set to coincide with action by Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) members who will take strike action over the same two days, the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) will strike on January 11.
The NASUWT union said the current offer on the table from Scottish Government ministers and COSLA amounts to a real-terms cut in wages and called for a 12 per cent rise for the 2022/23 year.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said: "We have been left with no choice but to call two further days of national strike action as a result of the failure of ministers and Cosla to offer an improved pay offer.
"At a time when teachers are facing the biggest squeeze on their finances in a generation, offering what amounts to a further real-terms pay cut is simply not good enough. Our members are not prepared to stand by while their pay dwindles and their living costs rise.
"The Government and employers will need to bring forward a substantially improved pay offer if they want to see an end to this dispute."
Teachers have already rejected a deal which would see most staff in classrooms receive a 5 per cent pay rise, although the lowest earning teachers would get a 6.85 per cent increase.
Mike Corbett, NASUWT national official Scotland, said: "Members are determined to continue with our campaign of industrial action and will stand together with teachers in other unions to send a united message to the Scottish Government and employers that they deserve a fair pay settlement.
"Teaching is a critical job and one that is uniquely and increasingly challenging. Teachers just want pay levels that reflect the years of training they have undertaken, the high level of workload involved and the skill involved in meeting the needs of all pupils.
"They want salaries that enable experienced teachers to remain in the profession long-term and which will incentivise new entrants to join teaching. They want pay levels that demonstrate they are respected and valued as the key workers they are."
The EIS strike action on January 10 will involve members in primary schools, special schools and early years sites. The following day EIS, joined by the SSTA, will stage another strike in secondary schools and secondary special schools.
Responding to the announcement, Katie Hagmann, COSLA's resources spokeswoman, said: "We are disappointed that strikes are going ahead. In an effort to prevent strikes happening, we as employers made a revised fourth offer to our trade union colleagues, that did include additional money.
"It was a fair and affordable offer which recognises the cost-of-living crisis as the priority by focusing on higher increases for staff on lower pay points.
"This means 6.85 per cent for probationers, as well as between 5.71 per cent and 5.1 per cent for those on the lower to middle parts of the pay scale who will also receive their annual increment.
"The offer we have made is in line with the offers made to all other parts of the public sector, including the wider local government workforce. Teachers are a core part of that workforce, and are supported in their roles by other council employees who help keep schools open and clean.
"It was an offer that ensured no additional pressure is placed on teachers themselves, as well as any other parts of our hardworking workforce and the essential services they deliver, and importantly it protects the best interests of children and young people.
She added: "The response of our trade union partners is disappointing given the financial challenges facing everybody, but we remain open to having open and honest conversations about how we can reach a viable and realistic settlement that protects the best interests of teachers, children and young people and our wider communities."
She said that teachers in Scotland are already paid well above their counterparts in England and Wales.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
