The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), the nation's largest teaching union, is on the brink of holding a formal strike ballot after overwhelmingly rejecting the Scottish Government's most recent pay offer. The union's members voted by a staggering 94% to throw out the proposal, which they deem insufficient amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
This decisive rejection signals a significant escalation in the long-running dispute over teachers' pay and working conditions. The union has now entered a statutory dispute with the Scottish Government and local authority body COSLA, setting the stage for a potential wave of industrial action that could disrupt schools across the country.
A Union Pushed to the Brink
Seamus Searson, General Secretary of the SSTA, did not mince words, stating the offer was "simply not good enough" for the dedicated professionals who have been instrumental in supporting pupils through the immense challenges of the pandemic. The union argues that the proposed increase fails to keep pace with soaring inflation, effectively amounting to a real-terms pay cut for its members.
The SSTA's move follows a similar path taken by other teaching unions, including the EIS, which is also consulting its members on the offer. This collective action underscores the deep-seated frustration within the profession.
Government Response and Mounting Pressure
A Scottish Government spokesperson reiterated its commitment to a fair and sustainable pay deal, highlighting that its offer remains on the table. However, with unions representing a vast majority of teachers now in formal dispute, pressure is mounting on Ministers and COSLA to return to the negotiating table with a substantially improved proposal.
The prospect of coordinated industrial action across multiple teaching unions presents a serious challenge for the Scottish Government, threatening widespread disruption to education just as schools continue to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
All eyes are now on the outcome of the impending ballot. A vote in favour of strike action would see teachers across Scotland walking out of classrooms, a scenario all parties will be keen to avoid but one that is looking increasingly likely.
