A proposal by local authorities set out two increases of 1.5 per cent back-dated for the 12 months to March 31, 2016, and a further one per cent to March 31, 2017.
The settlement is still to be agreed by all sides of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers but last week the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association “reluctantly agreed” to accept the deal. The Educational Institute of Scotland is balloting its members over the “disappointing” offer. but has also recommended acceptance.
However, the NASUWT’s Salaries Committee has labelled it “inadequate and unacceptable”.
General secretary Chris Keates said: “On canvassing members’ opinion on the offer there was overwhelming support for a rejection. The offer does not make any progress towards restoring teachers’ pay to pre-2011 levels, despite the fact that teachers are thousands of pounds worse off as a result of the year-on-year real-terms cuts to their salaries.”
The EIS and SSTA are accepting the offer because of the aspects related to workload and a commitment to maintaining teacher numbers. However, Ms Keates maintained that the offer “will not address the deeply worrying trend of teacher shortages, to which pay and workload are continuing factors”.
Jane Peckham, the NASUWT’s national official in Scotland, said: “Members are clear that they do not accept this pay offer. There is clear anger and frustration at the refusal by employers and the Scottish government to act to reverse the attacks on their pay and conditions which are driving up stress levels and contributing to a record low in teacher morale.”