Members of another teaching union have backed the latest pay offer made to Scottish teachers.
Some 52 per cent of NASUWT members responding to a survey consulting them on their views said the union should accept the latest offer, while 48 said it should reject the offer.
However, the NASUWT said today that it remains in dispute with the Scottish government and local authority employers.
On Friday it was announced that members of the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, had voted overwhelmingly to accept the latest teacher pay offer, by 90 per cent to 10 per cent, based on a turnout of 82 per cent. The day before the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association reported an 85 per cent vote in favour of the offer, on a turnout of 80 per cent. The NASUWT has not yet revealed the turnout for its survey.
Unions vote in favour of teacher pay offer
The teacher pay offer made last week will result in most teachers receiving 7 per cent from 1 April 2022, 5 per cent from 1 April 2023, and 2 per cent from 1 January 2024. Also, thereafter, the pay year will be aligned with the school year (rather than the financial year starting each April) with effect from August 2024. However, those earning over £80,000 will get a flat pay rise of £11,200.
NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach said today: “Our members have voted in almost equal measure on acceptance and rejection of the latest offer, indicating that this belated deal is not good enough.
“We cannot overlook the fact that this pay award is almost a year late in coming, and follows months of dither, delay and game-playing by the employers and the Scottish government. During that time, our members were left to struggle with rising cost-of-living pressures and deepening financial hardship.”
Dr Roach added: “The failings of the current negotiating machinery must be urgently addressed to ensure that teachers are never again left in limbo as they were this year.
“The Scottish government and [local authorities’ body] Cosla need to take responsibility for the breakdown of industrial relations seen over recent months and for the disruption it caused.”
Mike Corbett, NASUWT national official for Scotland, said that “these proposals would not have been forthcoming without the determined and responsible stand taken by our members - it was their willingness to take action which led to improved pay offers being tabled, despite the Scottish government advising on numerous occasions that no further funding was available for any enhanced offer”.
Mr Corbett added: “We will continue to speak up for teachers who continue to feel let down by the government and employers, whether that is on pay, workload or teacher wellbeing.
“We will not allow our members or the profession to be taken for granted.”
