Are we looking at teacher strikes?

[WynkenBlynkenNod]

Will it really come to that? I have heard that there is a real recruitment crisis and the thread just below mine about Computing Science was

Maybe, but not for ages yet. Lots of discussions and ballot before that could happen.

quite possibly. most teachers won't get a 3% rise based on the version of the public sector pay cap lift described by derek mackay so...

is likely to be a while away yet though considering the stage pay negotiations are at (last year's only got concluded around Nov time I think?).

EIS have asked for a 10% rise...

I was at secondary in Scotland through the teachers' strikes of the 1980s and it was very disruptive. Not so worried about my S1 child, moreso about my S3 who is rapidly heading for his Nat5s and needs a lot of chivvying.

Yep , I just received my backdated 1% and further 1% from the beginning of January. Pitiful. I'm at the top of the pay scale and have watched my pay become worth increasing worth less over the years and very much feel like the squeezed middle.

Both the EIS and SSTA have seeking out their memberships' views on strike action and (following years of action short of striking) teachers are now ready to strike.

The ballot/negotiating process might not take as long as you think.

Teacher salaries are worth in real terms about 25% less than they were 10 years ago and progression routes within the profession are practically non existent. That said I love my job but I am married and in my 40s.

Would a career where salaries have stagnated and opportunities are few and far between appeal to a an enthusiastic graduate starting out? I am thankful that my DDs have actual subject teachers in their classrooms. I know that even in the central belt exam classes are being prioritised and lower years have extended general supply cover. I shudder to imagine the real extent of the problem in rural areas.

10% does seem an unrealistic aim in the current climate
Hopefully it will all get resolved to everyone's reasonable satisfaction

I hope not. Understandable position from teachers given they are high paid public sector so get 2% rather than 3% from lifting of the public sector pay cap. However suspect there is a compromise position where Swinney gets through a lot of his school autonomy agenda in return for substantial increases for incumbents at expense of new entrants.

Not convinced more autonomy for schools at the expense of council oversight is a good thing?

High paid for the public sector, really? A job that requires a degree and professional qualification. And people wonder why there's a recruitment crisis. Shall step away in case this turns into the ubiquitous mnet teacher bashing thread.

Sorry, should have put the "high paid" in inverted commas. I was referencing salaries over £30k get 2% but under get 3%, according to the SNP Budget.
No offence intended

I think Teachers are classed as higher paid public servants by the government so are getting the lower rate of increase with those classed as lower paid getting 1% more

Not convinced more autonomy for schools at the expense of council oversight is a good thing?

Would that be like academies in England?

From what I understand, there is no real curriculum and individual schools and teachers are having to do all that as they go, so what would they lose?

I'm not unsympathetic. But, it's not any better in the private sector. I've also had below inflation rises for the last 10 years. I've recently been on strike for a week as the company wanted to decrease our retirement income by 70% - that's not a typo, 70%!!! and it's even worse for new people. This against a backdrop of increasing share dividends and massive pay offs to non performing executives. DH works in the NHS in a patient facing role and he could get more working in a callcentre.

Teaching isn't a job I'd want to do, i'd rather my DSs education wasn't interrupted but I respect the right to strike. I was doing my exams during the strikes of the 80s. I did okay, probably could have done a lot better but don't think that was down to the strikes though.

Any "pay rises" I've had recently have been negated by increased pension and NI contributions and I'm still not back to the level I was about 5 years ago.

In our area the teacher shortage is so bad that S2 pupils making choices can't have HE, computing, graph comm or technical so that is going to really damage any career aspirations some of them may have had,

To be honest, anyone with a degree is not going to see the salary, workload and stagnating career progression that are the lot of a teacher nowadays, attractive

For 5 years in the private sector (2004 to 2009) I got no increase in salary whatsoever. I was then made redundant as my company was taken over by the company to whom (part of) my job was to sell to - but talking to my old colleagues, they still haven't had any increase in their basic salaries. (Since that time, I've not had a regular income as I'm now effectively a free lancer/self employed)

The only difference, which I do acknowledge, is that as sales people, we had the opportunity to earn more by reaching our targets. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn't. And in times of recession, more often we didn't (and yes, I am degree educated with further qualifications, as were/are my former colleagues).

I actually have no issue with teachers asking for more that 2% - my mum was a teacher and I saw how hard she worked. However, justifying a 10% rise on the basis that "inflation has gone up" is not in itself a sufficient argument . We've all had to endure a reduction in spending power . The private sector has not been immune to belt-tightening.

Teachers requesting 10% does not in any way preclude other employees requesting 10%

the difference is that teachers' jobs are currently far more protected than other local government workers though so if the 10% pay rise goes through it won't be teaching jobs that are cut to fund it - it will roads workers and registrars and librarians.

it's up to teachers what they want to ask for, and i accept it has been crap for a long time but unless central government funds the rises the impact of substantial pay rises means more money for those with a job, but fewer jobs overall. and obviously funding from central govt means they then need to make cuts in other areas.

I don't want a 10% rise. I'd much prefer more PSA staff, more basic resources in school, and money put into recruiting and paying supply teachers well. That would reduce my stress levels and make for a happier, more proactive and achieving school more than anything.

I saw the 10% in the news, but I imagine that's the starting point for negotiations. Hopefully the SG will see sense and offer an increase that the unions can accept - e.g. xx% over three years. I think teachers should get a proper pay rise. I'm not a teacher but I can't think of many jobs that are more crucial to a decent society and it's a scandal that we pay too poorly to attract enough people into the profession. Teaching should be a job that the best and brightest candidates of all ages fight to get into - and yes, I know it's not just the pay that puts people off (I have teacher friends and I see what they do) but it's certainly a large part of it.

I agree that classroom assistants should also be better paid.