Perthshire North MSP, Mr John Swinney, has today commented on the ongoing dispute over teacher pay.

Mr Swinney’s intervention comes following the Educational Institute of Scotland’s (EIS) decision to reject the Scottish Government and COSLA’s latest pay offer without putting it to their members. As a consequence of his position as Deputy First Minister, schools in Mr Swinney’s constituency of Perthshire North have been targeted for further industrial action and will be closed on February 22nd- February 24th and February 28th-March 1st.

Commenting, Mr Swinney said:

“I very much regret the further disruption that is being experienced by young people and by parents. The targeted action in my constituency will have an inequitable impact on young people and their families.

“Last week, the Scottish Government and local authorities made a very significant pay offer to teachers which would have seen an average increase of 11.5% by April 2023. This more than met the 10% demand that had been made. Moreover, this offer would have delivered an increase in teachers’ salaries of almost 30% since 2018.

“I think it is unacceptable that this offer has not been put to EIS members for their consideration.

“The Scottish Government and councils will continue to engage in negotiations and will do everything that we can to resolve this issue. I believe, though, that as an act of good faith the strikes should be cancelled and the latest pay offer should be put to teachers for them to consider.”