SCOTLAND’S largest teaching union has unanimously rejected the latest pay offer from the Scottish Government and councils.
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said the proposal was “another inadequate offer to Scotland’s teachers”.
The union will now continue with the strike action it had already planned.
The latest offer involved a 6% pay rise in the current year and a further 5.5% in the new financial year, which begins in April.
The government said it had found £156 million to fund the two-year deal.
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However, the EIS said the 6% raise for 2022-23 was insufficient as inflation is currently sitting at 10.5%.
The EIS has already demanded a 10% rise this year.
Bradley explained: “The 6% offer for this year is only 1% less of a pay cut than that previously offered, twice, by the Scottish Government and Cosla.”
She added: “The suggested year two component of 5.5% hasn’t been negotiated via the appropriate forum, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SCNT), at all.
“Indeed, teaching unions haven’t even submitted our pay claim for 2023/24 yet, as a consequence of the current dispute.
"In attempting to tag on next year's pay settlement, without any negotiation at all, the Scottish Government and Cosla are attempting to tie the hands not just of teacher trade unions but all public sector unions – and this is unacceptable to the EIS."
The next national strike is due to be held on February 28 and March 1.
Prior to these dates, the EIS is also planning to target action in a number of areas including the constituencies of Shirley-Anne Somerville and Nicola Sturgeon.
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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