SSTA rejects 5% pay offer and moves closer to striking

The SSTA, which represents more than 6,500 members in Scottish secondary schools, has found that 80% of its members reject the pay 5% pay offer from COSLA, with 70% saying they are reluctantly prepared to take strike action in pursuit of a realistic pay deal.
 
Seamus Searson the SSTA General Secretary said: “SSTA members have given everything in the last number of years to keep education going and to ensure that all young people did not lose out during these difficult times. Teachers are walking away from the job because of the excessive workload and a poor pay offer only adds insult to injury.”
 
“The Scottish Government must step up to the plate and be prepared to put in place a pay offer that will retain teachers and recognise their tremendous efforts over the last few years. Teachers are already struggling to keep schools running with morale very low and COSLA’s disparaging pay offer only adds to their feeling of being grossly undervalued.”
 
Paul Cochrane, SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Convenor said: “Pay negotiating has repeatedly delayed to the detriment of teacher health and wellbeing.  The SSTA members have comprehensively indicated that they are prepared to take strike action.”