Scotland’s largest teaching union has today recommended acceptance of a new, improved pay offer of 4.27 per cent to Scotland’s teachers.
The new offer, received yesterday from local authority employers, is for a one-year deal covering August 2024 to the end of July 2025.
The EIS has indicated to its members that a consultative ballot will open tomorrow with a recommendation to accept. It will also confirm its position on the offer at a meeting of the teachers’ panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers tomorrow, which other teaching unions will also attend.
Des Morris, the EIS’ salaries convener, said: “A special meeting of the EIS salaries committee was held this morning, following receipt of the improved offer yesterday. Following discussion, the members of the salaries committee agreed unanimously to recommend acceptance of this offer to members.”
Andrea Bradley, general secretary of the EIS, added: “The collective view of the salaries committee is that the current offer proposes a pay increase for teachers that is above both CPI and RPI rates of inflation and, crucially, marks a first step in the restoration of teachers’ pay to the equivalent of pre-austerity levels. The offer is also undifferentiated, offering a 4.27 per cent pay increase for teachers at all grades and at all scale points.
“It is for all of these reasons that the EIS has agreed to recommend acceptance of the offer.”
Teacher pay ballot opens tomorrow
EIS members have been advised to check their email tomorrow for digital ballot papers. The ballot will close on Wednesday 11 September.
Ms Bradley said: “The EIS salaries committee is very clear that, while their view is that this is the best offer that can be achieved through negotiation and that members should vote to accept, it is ultimately for Scotland’s teachers to decide.
“I would urge every EIS member eligible to vote to use their vote in this ballot, and to make their views heard before the ballot closes next week.”
Another teaching union, NASUWT Scotland, said it was still seeking members’ views on the offer. and that it would be discussed at the meeting of the SNCT teachers’ panel on Wednesday.
Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “I am pleased that the EIS is recommending acceptance of this offer, which will ensure that Scotland’s classroom teachers continue to be the best paid in the UK.
“The Scottish government has been clear that our teaching workforce deserves a pay package that recognises the vital work they do in supporting children and young people across the country - which is why we have provided an additional £29 million to make this offer possible.”
Cosla resources spokesperson Katie Hagmann, said: “Cosla welcomes the positive decision by the EIS to ballot their members with a recommendation to accept the pay offer of 4.27 per cent, which was made...We respect that other teaching unions will be undertaking their respective governance requirements to consider the offer, and we look forward to hearing the outcomes.”
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