Dumfries and Galloway teacher strikes set to continue after pay talks break down

[ad_1]

Teachers in Dumfries and Galloway are set to go on strike again next week.

Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) talks involving unions, the Holyrood Government and COSLA on Thursday afternoon ended without a deal being reached.

The meeting was arranged after two days of strike action closed primary and secondary schools last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) stayed away from classes as they push for a 10 per cent pay rise.

The failure to agree a new deal on Thursday meant schools closed in Glasgow and East Lothian yesterday with those in Perth and Kinross and North Ayrshire impacted today as part of a 16 day period of rolling strike action across Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway schools will be targeted on Monday, January 23.

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Despite their warm words over the past week, the Scottish Government and COSLA have again failed to come to the table with a new pay offer to Scotland’s teachers.

“Our members are not prepared to accept the repeatedly reheated sub-inflationary offer that has now been sitting around for six months and that is neither fair nor affordable for teachers.

“In the absence of an improved offer, our members will continue with strike action this week in their struggle for fair pay.”

COSLA and the Government insist a 10 per cent pay claim is unaffordable.

Following Thursday’s talks, education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This week’s SNCT meetings have provided a crucial opportunity to further discuss potential areas for agreement.

“There is a shared understanding that these latest talks are focussed on examining options for compromise, rather than tabling a new offer at this time.

“While talks are ongoing, the Scottish Government continues to urge the teaching unions to reconsider their plans for industrial action.”

She added: “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.

“We remain absolutely committed to a fair and sustainable pay deal.”



[ad_2]

Source link