Hundreds of staff at Scotland’s exam body have voted to take strike action over “a brutal real-terms pay cut” - with their union warning that as a result up to 22,000 exam result appeals will likely be “severely delayed”.

The Unite union has today confirmed that its Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) members have voted to take strike action, with walkouts planned for three days in September - on 8, 15 and 16 September.

Earlier this week, it was announced that schools could be forced to close in nine Scottish council areas as support staff including caterers, cleaners and early years practitioners are poised to go on strike for three days next month in another row over pay.

Scotland’s largest teaching union, the EIS, said it supported the support staff industrial action, adding: “We may shortly be in a similar position ourselves.”

A total of 86.7 per cent of SQA Unite members supported strike action on a 78.9 per cent turnout; 95.9 per cent of members also voted to take action short of a strike. Unite represents hundreds of SQA workers across all levels of staff and functions.

An overtime ban and a ban on accrual of time off in lieu will also be in effect from 8 September to 30 November.

The SQA will confirm the results of priority appeals to university application body UCAS on 6 September. In terms of standard appeals, the appeals service opened on 9 August and the deadline for centres to submit these is 2 September. 

Unite says its industrial action will now disrupt the standard appeals stage of the process with the trade union estimating that up to 22,000 standard appeals will be “severely delayed”.

In a consultative ballot in July, Unite announced that 95 per cent of its SQA members rejected a pay offer worth between 1.7 to 4 per cent depending on job grading.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s SQA members have emphatically supported strike action due to a derisory pay offer which is worth as low as 1.7 per cent for some workers.”

She added that there were also serious concerns among SQA staff over the Scottish government’s education reform plans and the proposed disbanding of the SQA.

The union says there has been a lack of assurances over job roles and locations, conditions and pay of the existing SQA workforce in any new organisation. 

Ms Graham added: “There are serious concerns over education reform in Scotland, and specifically what this means for the jobs of our members going forward. These concerns have in no way, shape or form been addressed. Unite will always defend our members’ jobs, pay and conditions.”

In 2021, the Scottish government announced it would disband the 1,000-strong SQA. It charged Professor Ken Muir with bringing forward several proposals for the reform of Scotland’s education and qualifications system. 

Three new national bodies are to be created: a qualifications body, a national agency for Scottish education and an independent inspection body. The Scottish government has committed to delivering an operating model for these new bodies by the winter of this year, with the new bodies to be fully operational in 2024.  

However, Unite maintains that it will be impossible for the new operating model to be in place later this year without the legitimate concerns of its members being addressed - it called on the government to “meaningfully consult” with trade unions.

Unite industrial officer Alison MacLean said: “Tens of thousands of student appeals will be severely delayed by Unite’s industrial action at the SQA. Our members are disillusioned, frustrated and angry. Not only have they been offered a brutal real-terms pay cut but they have in effect been locked out of the ongoing discussions surrounding education reform.

“Meaningful dialogue and an opportunity for staff to shape the discussions was promised to us in light of the vast experience of our members. Hundreds of workers could see their job roles and conditions being significantly altered, yet none of us is any the wiser on what this proposed reform will mean on a day-to-day basis.”

Unite said it had written to education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to reiterate its concerns. 

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “While this is a matter for SQA as the employer, we remain in close contact with them to ensure that resolution talks resume. We hope that any potential disruption can be avoided through further negotiation.

“The Scottish government remains committed to ensuring that workers’ rights are protected throughout the process of Education Reform and when the SQA is replaced by a new qualifications body.

“We will continue to engage with SQA management, staff and unions to try to address the concerns raised.”

An SQA spokesperson said: “We fully recognise the impact that the cost of living is having on staff and remain in close dialogue with the trade unions with a view to reaching a fair outcome on pay. As a public sector employer funded by the Scottish government, we are working with the Scottish government to seek an agreement to improve our pay offer.

“We are very disappointed that industrial action has been called before the dispute resolution process has concluded. However, as always our primary focus is on learners, and it is important to stress that anyone waiting for the outcome of a priority appeal to secure a university place or job will be unaffected.”