A third teachers’ union has announced plans for more strikes in the new year.
NASUWT members will retire next month in an ongoing pay dispute.
The union confirmed that primary school teachers will go on strike on January 10, while secondary school teachers will go on strike on January 11.
The Scottish Government has previously said wage demands are “unaffordable”.
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NASWUT is demanding a fully funded 12% salary bonus for 2022/23 after rejecting Cosla’s improved offer, valued at 5% to 6.85%.
It said the salary offer currently being presented amounts to a real pay cut as inflation hit 10.7% in November.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has already announced nationwide strikes for January 10th and 11th, followed by 16 consecutive days of action – spread across all councils across the country – starting the following week.
The SSTA union will go on strike in the secondary schools on January 11th.
With all three unions taking part in the action, widespread school closures across Scotland are inevitable.
dr Patrick Roach, Secretary General of NASUWT, said: “We were left with no choice but to strike nationwide for two more days as Ministers and Cosla failed to make an improved salary offer.
“At a time when teachers are facing the greatest financial pressure in a generation, offering another real-world pay cut just isn’t good enough.
“Our members are unwilling to see their salaries fall and their cost of living rise.”
He added the dispute would not end until a “significantly improved salary offer” was put on the table.
Mike Corbett, national union officer for Scotland, said: “Members are determined to continue our industrial action campaign and will join teachers from other unions in sending a common message to the Scottish Government and employers that they deserve a fair wage settlement.
“Teaching is a critical job that is unique and increasingly challenging.
“Teachers simply want a salary level that reflects the years of their education, the heavy workload that comes with it, and the ability to meet the needs of all students.”
Mr Corbett added that his members wanted salaries that would both allow experienced teachers to stay in the profession and encourage newcomers to join.
NASUWT’s new strike dates mean widespread school closures are now safe unless teacher pay offers are improved.
The EIS – which represents 80% of teachers – was due to strike as early as January 10th and 11th. The SSTA, representing some secondary school teachers, had announced a strike for the 11th.
Unions seem to have concluded that coordinated action is most effective.
It also ensures there is no risk of teachers feeling pressured to work in one union while their colleagues in another are on strike.
But is it possible that the wage dispute will be settled by then?
The First Minister last week defended the current offer, which ranges from 5% to 6.85% for teachers on the main tariff.
Aside from the issue of affordability, some would also highlight the issue of fairness to other community workers.
The teachers’ salary offer is broadly in line with the offer accepted earlier in the autumn by others working for the municipalities – including janitors and school canteen staff.
However, when a union wants to stand up for its own members, this does not generally mean that it wants worse terms for others.
If teachers were given a higher pay rise, it would almost certainly be taken into account by unions when submitting their next salary claim.
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