Schools across Dundee, Fife, Angus and Perthshire face more possible closures due to continuing strike action by teachers.
Strike action has already resulted in several days of school closures and partial closures since November.
More industrial action is planned between now and April as four teaching unions – the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA), NASUWT and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) – continue their fight for better pay.
The latest pay offer from the Scottish Government and Cosla on February 14 has been rejected.
As a result, the current programme of strike action is to continue.
Here we give the latest information on how and when local schools could be affected and why teachers are striking.
Next school strike dates
This is the full list of upcoming strike dates affecting Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth and Kinross council schools:
- Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday March 1 – All areas primary and secondary schools
- Tuesday March 7 to Thursday March 9 in Perthshire North and Dunfermline constituencies
- Monday March 13 – Angus secondary schools
- Tuesday March 14 – All Angus schools
- Wednesday March 15 – Angus primary schools
- Friday March 17 – Dundee primary schools
- Monday March 20 – All Dundee schools
- Tuesday March 21 – Dundee secondary schools
- Monday April 17 – All Fife schools
- Tuesday April – Fife secondary schools
- Wednesday April 19 – Fife primary schools
- Wednesday April 19 – Perth and Kinross secondary schools
- Thursday April 20 – All Perth and Kinross schools
- Friday April 21 – Perth and Kinross primary schools schools.
The strike dates on February 28 and March 1 and between March 13 to April 21 are part of a further 22 days of action announced by the EIS on January 13.
The three-day strikes from March 7 are part of EIS action announced on February 7 targeting the constituencies of Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and other key politicians.
Why are school teachers striking?
Teachers in all four unions are striking for better pay.
The EIS is campaigning for a 10% pay rise – NASUWT is seeking 12% – and has rejected the latest offer of 11.5% over two years.
The February 14 offer from Cosla and the Scottish Government was:
- 2022/23 – 6% (or £4,800 for those earning over £80,000)
- 2023/24 – 5.5% (or £4,400 for those earning over £80,000).
Currently fully-qualified, non-promoted teachers are paid between £33,729 and £42,336.
Reasons the EIS, the largest of the four unions, argues that salaries must be increased include:
- the cost-of-living crisis
- dedication of teachers through the pandemic
- more excessive than ever workload
- gender pay equity in a majority female profession
- to attract the best graduates and provide quality education.
The Scottish Government and Cosla say a 10% rise is unaffordable.
Conversation