Some Scottish teachers could be in line for a pay boost of more than 10 per cent as the Scottish government has agreed to stump up an extra £35 million in order to reach a pay settlement.
Under the deal, £25 million would be invested in overhauling the main grade teacher pay scale, with a further £10 million on the table to extend the 3 per cent rise offered earlier this year to teachers earning between £36,501 and £80,000. Originally the offer applied only to teachers earning up to £36,500 and was rejected by teaching unions.
Now the Scottish government has come back with a new deal that it hopes will pacify the unions, whilst improving teacher recruitment and retention.
The local authorities’ body, Cosla, is understood to have given its backing to the government plan. However, it has cautioned that the deal could still be rejected by unions, which are demanding a 10 per cent rise for all staff.
Teaching union ‘will gamble or settle’
Papers from Cosla leaked to The Herald on Sunday said the new plan would not “guarantee a settlement” with the unions, and stated: “What it would do, however, is force a decision by the EIS [teaching union] to gamble or settle. Gambling on getting a mandate for industrial action in pursuit of an unachievable claim when 3 per cent is on the table and a desirable restructuring of the main grade is on offer would be a bold move by a trade union not known for foolhardy decisions.”
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Teachers’ pay is a matter for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) and negotiations for 2018-19 are now well underway and making progress.”
An EIS spokesman said an amended pay offer had been proposed. He added: “The teachers’ side of the SNCT will now consider the offer in detail. A further negotiating meeting of the extended joint chairs is scheduled for September 18, where the teachers’ side will respond formally to the offer.”
