Members of the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, have voted to accept the latest teacher pay offer.
Some 90 per cent of EIS members voted to accept the offer, while 10 per cent voted to reject, based on a turnout of 82 per cent.
The EIS tweeted: “Pay offer will be accepted. All strike action in pursuit of an improved teachers’ pay offer cancelled. An email with more info will go to members ASAP.”
The EIS result was announced shortly after the union’s ballot closed at 10am, with the EIS general secretary saying the deal would result in a 14.6 per cent increase in pay for most teachers by January 2024.
Meanwhile, Tes Scotland understands that secondary school leaders have also voted to accept the offer but by a narrow margin, and based on a turnout of just 39 per cent. A total of 56 per cent of School Leaders Scotland members who voted, voted to accept and 44 per cent voted to reject. Primary school leaders’ body AHDS had previously accepted the deal.
Yesterday the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association revealed that its members had voted overwhelmingly to accept the offer - although general secretary Seamus Searson hit out at the £80,000 cap to the offer, saying it was “a ‘slap in the face’ to teachers in senior positions in schools”. The NASUWT union has also been balloting its members but has not yet announced a result.
Strike action over teacher pay called off
The EIS had been campaigning for a 10 per cent pay rise this year and when industrial action got underway in Scotland in November of last year, the best offer on the table was worth 5 per cent to most teachers.
The new offer will result in the majority of teachers receiving a 7 per cent increase from 1 April 2022, a further increase of 5 per cent from 1 April 2023, and another increase of 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.
Speaking after the ballot result was announced at a meeting of the EIS national council in Edinburgh this morning, general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “EIS members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the current pay offer, with 90 per cent of those voting opting to accept in an online ballot. Turnout in the ballot was also high, confirming that Scotland’s teachers believe that it is now time to accept the offer and bring an end to the programme of industrial action in our schools.”
Ms Bradley added: “The acceptance of this offer will mean that, for most teachers, their pay will increase by 12.3 per cent by next month in comparison to current pay levels. This includes a backdated 7 per cent increase from April 2022, and a 5 per cent increase from this April. Teachers will also receive a further 2 per cent increase in pay from January next year, with the next pay settlement then scheduled to be negotiated and payable from August 2024 onwards. The total current package will amount to a 14.6 per cent increase in pay for most teachers by January 2024.”
Ms Bradley said that EIS members had “taken a pragmatic decision in voting to accept the current pay offer”, adding: “While it does not meet our aspirations in respect of a restorative pay settlement for Scotland’s teachers, it is the best deal that can realistically be achieved in the current political and financial climate without further prolonged industrial action.
“It compares favourably with recent pay settlements across the public sector, and does provide pay certainty for Scotland’s teachers for the next 16 months until the next pay settlement is scheduled to be delivered in August 2024.”
Ms Bradley concluded: “It is deeply regrettable that it took a sustained industrial dispute, and the first programme of national strike action on pay by teachers in 40 years, for the Scottish government and [local authorities’ body] Cosla to finally come up with an acceptable pay offer for Scotland’s hard-working teaching professionals.
“Scotland’s pupils, parents and teachers deserve better, and the Scottish government and Scotland’s local authorities must commit to ensuring that education is properly funded, and that teachers are fairly paid, in all future years in order that Scottish education can provide as it should for our young people and for the good of our whole society.”
Teacher strikes have been a feature of Scottish education since the first national walkout took place on 24 November and closed the majority of Scottish schools. Since then there have been a number of walkouts - some national and some targeted at key decision makers like the first minister Nicola Sturgeon and the education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.
After today’s EIS ballot result, Ms Somerville said: “I am very pleased that EIS and SSTA members have voted overwhelmingly to accept this historic offer and I look forward to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers giving it formal consideration in due course.
“It is the most generous offer to teachers in more than 20 years and one that is fair, affordable and sustainable for everyone involved.
“Teachers in Scotland are already the best paid in the UK and this deal will mean a salary rise of £5,200 in April for most teachers, and a cumulative rise of 33 per cent since January 2018.”
Ms Somerville added: “A resolution to this dispute and an end to the threat of further strike disruption in our schools will be a huge relief for children, young people, parents, carers and teachers, too.”
