As the school year draws to a close in Scotland, teaching unions are warning that “further delay and prevarication” over teacher pay next year will be “completely unacceptable”.
The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) issued the warning as it confirmed it will now be impossible for unions, councils and the Scottish government to reach a pay deal by the new settlement date of 1 August.
It urged both the local authorities’ body Cosla and the Scottish government to use the summer holidays - which get underway in Scotland this week - wisely and undertake all work required to ensure that Scottish teachers receive an appropriate pay uplift without any further delay.
Chair of the SNCT Des Morris said: “The SNCT Teachers’ Panel has, for months, called on Cosla and the Scottish government to commence meaningful negotiations on pay and avoid yet another situation where an implementation date is missed.
“This scenario is made all the more disappointing by the fact that the new date of 1 August 2024 was agreed by both Cosla and Scottish government; it should have given more time for a settlement to be agreed.
“Any further delay in the new school year will be completely unacceptable to the SNCT Teachers’ Panel and the ball is now firmly in the court of Cosla and the Scottish government to avoid such a position becoming a reality.”
In January, Scottish teaching unions put in a pay claim for 6.5 per cent for teachers across all grades for 2024-25.
Earlier this month they unanimously rejected an offer of 2 per cent from August 2024, followed by a further 1 per cent in May next year.
At the time, Cosla said this year’s local government settlement from the Scottish government meant its hands were tied and going further would mean job losses and service cuts.
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