A teachers’ union has urged Scottish education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to intervene in pay talks.
Teachers have rejected a 5 per cent pay offer from local authorities, bringing the prospect of strike action closer.
On Wednesday, the NASUWT urged Ms Somerville to get involved in pay talks.
Negotiations for teachers are handled by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), a tripartite body comprising the Scottish government, local authorities and teaching unions.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “It is extremely disappointing that, despite our best efforts, the cabinet secretary has failed to prioritise talks to avert future industrial action in schools.
“The government and employers need to demonstrate that they are serious about addressing the deepening crisis in teacher morale, recruitment and retention.
“Nine out of 10 teachers are worried about their finances, or taking on second and third jobs to make ends meet, using food banks, struggling with rent and mortgage costs, and using up their savings to pay monthly bills.”
Dr Roach went on to say the union was acting “on the very clear mandate of our members to step up our campaign to secure a real-terms pay award for teachers”.
He said: “The continuing delays and procrastination by the government and the employers are rubbing salt into the wounds.
“Teachers deserve better than this. Industrial action in schools will be the fault of government and employers alone.”
Earlier this month, the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, held late-night talks with unions and local authorities body Cosla in a bid to avert strike action from waste workers and non-teaching education staff, eventually reaching a deal that saw walk-outs cancelled.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Strikes are in no one’s interest, least of all pupils, parents and carers who have already faced significant disruption over the past three years.
“The cabinet secretary holds regular meetings with all teachers’ unions to discuss a range of issues, including pay. These meetings have taken place over the past week, with more talks scheduled next week, which will include the NASUWT.”
The spokesperson added: “This government has a strong record of support for teachers and is proud to have the best-paid workforce of anywhere in the UK. It is disappointing that unions have rejected the latest pay offer. Accepting the offer of 5 per cent would have meant that teachers received a cumulative pay increase of 21.8 per cent since 2018.
“We are absolutely committed to supporting a fair pay offer for teachers through the SNCT, the body that negotiates teachers’ pay and conditions of service.
“It is for local authorities, as the employer, to make a revised pay offer.”
