Fife schools closed as thousands of teachers go on strike

By Sheanne Mulholland

November 24 2022, 7:30am

Fife teachers, including those at Glenrothes High School, are on strike today along with nearly 40,000 other teachers across Scotland.

Schools in Fife are closed today as thousands of teachers across the country take to picket lines.

Armed with placards, teachers are taking a stand against ‘real term pay cuts’ and demanding a 10% rise.

Nearly 40,000 teachers are taking part in the national strike, organised by Scotland’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

Earlier this week the union refused a pay offer of 6.85% from the Scottish Government and Cosla, with 5% for top earners.

On the picket line at Glenwood High School, Glenrothes. Image: supplied.

The Association of Head Teachers and Deputes Scotland (AHDS) union is also taking part in the strike.

Teachers ‘disappointed’ and ‘angry’

In Fife, more than 3,000 teachers are on strike. Some stood outside their own schools before gathering outside Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville’s Fife office.

Paul Jeffery, an ASN support teacher at Levenmouth Academy, said: “We are disappointed it has got to this stage.

“Teachers don’t want to go on strike, we have the best interests of pupils at heart. That is what we do, we don’t want to put any obstacles in their way.”

Striking teachers outside Shirley-Anne Somerville's office in Dunfermline — Striking teachers outside Shirley-Anne Somerville’s office in Dunfermline. Image: David Ward/DC Thomson.

Paul says teachers feel they have been left with no other choice, adding: “The strike shows people teachers’ determination and anger at the way we have been treated.”

Graeme Keir, an English teacher at Glenrothes High School, said: “Pupils suffer the most when teachers and schools are not valued.

“In the long-term, if we can’t recruit teachers, and we can’t retain teachers, then it will be students and families who lose out.

“Retainment and recruitment are becoming real issues and it’s because workload and stress are growing at an enormous rate, while real pay is plummeting.”

Teachers hold up signs about pay during strike. — Teachers send message to Scottish Government outside Woodmill High School in Dunfermline.

Pauline Stewart, EIS Fife’s president, said: “We’re very angry at the poor effort made by the Scottish Government, we had hoped to get a fair pay offer.

“It’s like a lot of jobs, they expect a lot from you but expect it for nothing.

“A head teacher is contracted to 35 hours a week but very few head teachers stick to that and are even answering emails throughout the summer holidays.

Striking teachers at Bell Baxter High School, Cupar. Image: supplied.

“Teachers are being assaulted physically and verbally by pupils in schools – Covid has resulted in a surge of anxious behaviour and pupils are lashing out.

“You think it’s a well paid job but there are teachers out there having to use foodbanks and unable to afford mortgage increases.”

‘A fair offer’

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the latest offer was “fair and progressive” and mirrored those accepted by other local government workers.

She said: “It is simply unaffordable to have a 10% increase which unions are asking for within the fixed budget which the Scottish Government is working in.

“I recognise the strength of feeling within the unions but they also need to recognise that the Scottish Government budget is fixed and is already committed.

“Any new money for teacher pay would have to come from elsewhere in education.”

More school strikes to follow

The EIS has announced two further strike dates if resolution cannot be made on January 10 and 11.

Pickets on the gate at Glenrothes High School. Image: David Ward/DC Thomson.

Two other teaching unions, the NASUWT and SSTA, have announced their members will strike on December 7 and 8.

Mike Corbett, national official for NASUWT Scotland, said: “Our members are angry, demoralised and have had enough.

“They are sick of being expected to put up with declining wages while working ever harder to meet the increasing challenges being faced in our schools.”

Industrial action at universities

Staff at universities across Scotland are also taking industrial action today, including at the University of St Andrews.

The University and College Union is calling for a “fair pay rise” and a reversal of cuts to pensions and benefits which they say will see the average member lose 35% from their retirement income.

A spokeswoman at St Andrews said the university would remain open despite the strike.

She said: “We hope that colleagues who choose to take industrial action do so in ways which minimise the effects on students after two years disrupted by the pandemic and previous strikes.”