A new teacher pay offer is likely to “infuriate” the profession, a union has said.
The offer on the table in Scotland is for a 1 per cent increase backdated to April 2021, and a further 1 per cent from January 2022, plus a one-off payment of £100, Henry Hepburn reports.
The previous offer was for a 1.22 per cent pay rise backdated to January 2021.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS teaching union, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, told Tes Scotland: “It’s a disappointingly marginal improvement on previously rejected offers, but the EIS salaries committee will consider it in full when it meets on Thursday.”
The NASUWT teaching union said it would be consulting with members over the latest offer, “but the continuing failure of ministers and employers to bring forward a pay offer for 2021-22 which addresses the rising cost of living and which recognises the significant contribution teachers have made...during the ongoing pandemic is only likely to further infuriate members”.
Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, said: “Shamefully, the SNCT [Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers] seem prepared to preside over the continuing real-terms erosion of teachers’ salaries.”
Dr Roach added: “Teachers are angry and frustrated by the failure of the SNCT to recognise the extraordinary pressures they are currently working under. Teachers are working to maintain education provision and recover pupils’ learning against a backdrop of high Covid rates in schools which is impacting on their own health and safety, as well as their workloads, wellbeing and morale.
“This derisory pay offer is not one that demonstrates to teachers that decision makers understand the realities of their workloads and the challenges they face.”
Mike Corbett, NASUWT Scotland national official, said: “This pay award fails to take into account the rising cost of living pressures and will impact adversely on recruitment and retention.
“The government’s ambitions for education recovery will be in serious jeopardy unless additional investment is made on teachers’ pay.”
A spokesperson for local government body Cosla said “constructive negotiations” were continuing.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “While it is for local government as the employer to make any revised offer of pay, we are committed to supporting a fair pay offer for teachers through the SNCT.”
