A teachers’ union in Scotland has ignored a call to suspend rolling strike action as talks continue to settle a dispute over pay.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union began 16 days of industrial action on Monday with teachers set to demonstrate across the country.

A union chief claimed while there had been talks, “there has been little action” in terms of an improved over.

The protests, which will be held in two of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas each day until 6 February, kicked off in Glasgow and East Lothian before moving to Perth and Kinross and North Ayrshire.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville called for the strikes to be halted as talks continue between teaching unions, the Scottish government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

However on Wednesday, teachers in Orkney and Fife formed picket lines outside their schools as the strike action continued.

EIS said it is continuing to receive “strong support” from parents, carers and the wider public in its campaign.

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‘Plenty of talk but little action’

Andrea Bradley, EIS general secretary, said: “Scotland’s teachers want to see this dispute settled, to allow full focus on education recovery and closing the poverty-related achievement gap.

“It remains the case, however, that the Scottish government and COSLA must come back with a new and improved pay offer that includes a significant amount of new money for Scotland’s teachers.

“We gained an overwhelming strike mandate from our members, who were greatly angered by the 5% offer – considerably below the rate of inflation – that was made some six months ago and then brought back to the table three months later.

“Since that time, we have heard plenty of talk from the Scottish Government and COSLA, but there has been little action in terms of improvement to their offer.

“Our strike action will continue until a new, suitably improved and fair offer is put onto the table.”

The dispute has been ongoing since February last year.

Unions have rejected a pay offer which would see most teachers receive a 5% wage rise, although the lowest earners would get an increase of 6.85%.

A further 22 days of EIS protests are also scheduled to start at the end of February.

The Scottish government has previously insisted the 10% rise teachers are demanding is unaffordable.

‘Recent discussions have been constructive’

Education Secretary Ms Somerville said: “Strikes in our schools are in no one’s interest – including for pupils, parents and carers who have already had to deal with significant disruption over the past three years.

“It is disappointing that the EIS has proceeded to escalate industrial action – we are continuing to urge teaching unions to reconsider their plans while talks are ongoing.

“Recent discussions have been constructive. There has been a shared understanding that talks have been focused on discussing potential areas for compromise – not on tabling a new offer at this stage.

“To date we have made four offers, all of which have been rejected, but we remain absolutely committed to reaching an agreement on a pay deal that is fair and sustainable for all concerned.”

A COSLA spokesperson added: “COSLA leaders are clear that given the financial pressures being faced it remains the case that the 10% ask of the trade unions remains unaffordable and therefore we still remain a distance apart in terms of a settlement.”

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