Most Scottish secondary teachers ready to strike over pay, survey suggests

The Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) has found that 64 per cent of teachers are prepared to take strike action.

The SSTA conducted a survey of 1,359 members and found that a further 32 per cent are prepared to take action short of strike action should the 2018 pay increase be below the rate of inflation.

Seventy-seven per cent of teachers are not content with the 2017 pay increase; 49 per cent were prepared to take strike action on the 2017 pay increase; and 50 per cent are expecting a substantial pay offer in 2018.

Seamus Searson, SSTA general secretary said, “At this early stage 96 per cent of SSTA members are prepared to take industrial action for an above inflation pay award in 2018. Sixty-four per cent were prepared to take strike action with a further 32 per cent were prepared to take action short of strike action”

“The survey showed 90 per cent of teachers believed the current pay increase would not encourage teachers to remain in the profession.”

“The SSTA member survey highlighted the lack of recognition and the unhappiness of the teaching profession. Although pay is critical in retaining teachers the ‘never ending’ workload is pushing many teachers away from the profession”.

Seamus Searson added “It is very worrying in a time of teacher shortage that 68 per cent of teachers have considered or are considering leaving the profession. The government must see its priority to retain the experienced teachers we have now. This will only be achieved with a substantial pay rise in 2018 and a radical change to cut teacher workload.

“The government must be prepared to ask if it can afford to lose more of its experienced teachers if it wishes to maintain education standards”.