Teachers in East Ayrshire have been striking again today over an ongoing pay dispute, with action set to continue tomorrow.
EIS walked out and lobbied at East Ayrshire Council's headquarters in Kilmarnock, as they continued their quest of a 10 per cent pay offer.
Under the latest offer announced by Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville earlier this month, teachers earning up to £80,000 would have a six per cent pay rise from April 2022, and then another 5.5 per cent from the start of the 2023 financial year.
The Scottish Government has said the 10 per cent increase the EIS wants is unaffordable.
There was support for those lobbying in East Ayrshire today as passing motorists were keen to toot their horns in support.
EIS Local Association Secretary Nicola Dasgupta expressed her delight at the turnout.
“This was an incredible turnout by teachers, their families, friends and other supporters,” she declared.
Ms Dasgupta added: “COSLA and the Scottish Government need to open their eyes wide and start paying attention to what is going on around them. Teachers are tired of the game-playing and low ball offers made over our pay claim.
"It is obvious to everyone – be it pupils, parents or teachers themselves – that the choice not to provide a decent pay offer is a political one, not an economic one.
"Teachers are suffering financially during the cost-of-living crisis, just like every other worker. We’re not asking for anything extraordinary – 10 per cent is now well below inflation."
Surveying the crowds around her, Ms Dasgupta added: “Shirley Anne Sommerville thinks that she can wear us down with prolonged and protracted negotiations.
"It’s having exactly the opposite effect: teachers are more determined than ever to get a fair deal.
"The comments from parents and the public show that they’re strongly behind us.
"None of us want to be here; we’d rather be in classrooms doing what we do best – supporting children and young people to fulfil their potential and become their best selves.
"However, we also value our contribution to the job, to society, to what teachers do each and every day. If you don’t value teachers then you don’t value pupils. A decent education for all pupils is actually what we are fighting for in the end.”
Strike action is set to continue across all East Ayrshire primary and secondary schools on Wednesday, March 1.
Further dates for strike action have been sounded out for secondary schools only on March 14, primary and secondary schools on March 15 and primary schools only on March 16.
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