Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said just before 5pm this afternoon that no new pay offer for teachers would come from the Scottish government after talks with education unions today.
The EIS teaching union will conclude 16 days of rolling strike action on Monday, as part of its campaign for a 10 per cent pay offer.
More strike dates are scheduled for the months ahead.
Following a meeting with teaching unions today, Ms Somerville said: “While four offers have been made to date, these have been rejected by teaching unions. Further compromise is clearly required in order to secure a fair and sustainable settlement.
“Today’s discussion was focused on progressing opportunities for compromise. There was a shared understanding that a new offer would not be made.
“Only [local authorities’ organisation] Cosla, as the employer, can make a new pay offer, through the structures of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).”
Yesterday the EIS said that first minister Nicola Sturgeon could end the dispute.
‘Only improved teacher pay offer will settle dispute’
EIS salaries convener Des Morris said: “While the EIS Salaries Committee very much shares the first minister’s ‘hope’ that a resolution to the pay dispute can be reached ‘soon’, we would also point out that the ability to settle the dispute is very much within the first minister’s power.
“The only thing that will settle this dispute is an improved offer to Scotland’s teachers, one that is both fair and affordable to them, which will involve additional new money from the Scottish government. This is what was done to settle disputes with other local government workers.”
Mr Morris added: “It is the first minister who has ultimate control over the purse strings so, if she wishes this dispute to be settled soon, the first minister should authorise the cabinet secretary and her officials to release the comparatively modest additional funding needed to end this dispute.”
He said that “little or no” progress had been made over pay in recent months and claimed there were no further meetings of the SNCT planned.
Mr Morris added: “As ever, the EIS remains ready and willing to re-enter discussions with the Scottish government and Scottish local authorities to discuss a new pay offer for teachers.
“We are not, however, willing to continue discussing the same offer that has now been rejected by teachers twice.
“The Scottish government and Cosla must come up with an improved offer to allow pay discussions to progress towards an agreement that genuinely reflects both the soaring cost of living and the value of Scotland’s teachers.”
