Commenting after a special meeting of Scotland’s Council Leaders today (Friday), in relation to teachers pay, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said:

“We have reached a position today whereby we sincerely hope our trade union partners can take this revised offer to their membership for a vote.

“Scotland’s Council Leaders fully value all of their workforce and recognise the invaluable contribution teachers make to the lives of our children and young people.

“Council Leaders across Scotland are having to take really challenging budget decisions, so the funding assurances received from the Scottish Government yesterday, have now made it possible to make this revised offer to the teaching trade unions today.

“Council Leaders are clear that it is in all of our interests, not least those of children, young people and families, to conclude the teachers’ pay negotiations as quickly as possible to bring back stability and certainty in our schools.

“Work is now required with our other trade union partners in local government, and we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to work with us as those negotiations progress, in order to achieve an early resolution which avoids industrial action and ensures that all our Local Government staff receive a fair and affordable pay rise in 2023-24”

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Further information / notes for editors:

• The offer was formally made in writing to teaching trade unions with agreement of all 32 council leaders at a COSLA special meeting of leaders, which took place on Friday 3^rd March 2023.
• The offer is for 28 months, is in three parts and covers the period 1 April 2022 to 31st July 2024:

1. A 7% increase at all SNCT pay points with effect from 1/4/22, with a cap at a starting salary of £80,000 or over, where a £5,600 flat rate uplift to salary will apply.
2. A further increase of 5% at all SNCT pay points with effect from 1/4/23, with a cap at a starting salary of £80,000 or over where a £4,000 flat rate uplift to salary will apply
3. A further increase of 2% at all SNCT pay points with effect from 1/1/24, with a cap at a starting salary of £80,000 or over where a £1,600 flat rate uplift to salary will apply. We have also agreed that, thereafter, the pay year will be aligned with the school year starting from August 2024.

• For the vast majority of the SNCT workforce, the 28-month undifferentiated offer equates to a 14.6% cumulative increase in salary at the point when the third increase is applied. For those already earning over £80,000 or above, the 28-month offer has a monetary value of £11,200.