Scotland's largest teaching Union accepts pay offer
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Members of Scotland's largest teaching union have voted to accept a pay offer to end long-running school strikes.
The EIS confirmed 90 per cent who took part in the ballot backed a 7 per cent rise backdated to last April, a further 5 per cent next month and 2 per cent in January.
The union had suspended planned strikes when the offer was made last week. The EIS said turnout for the ballot was 82 per cent
The result was confirmed after the ballot closed at 10am.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the "fair, affordable and sustainable" offer was the most generous in more than 20 years.
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: "The acceptance of this offer will mean that, for most teachers, their pay will increase by 12.3 per cent by next month in comparison to current pay levels.
"The total current package will amount to a 14.6 per cent increase in pay for most teachers by January 2024."
She added her members had taken a "pragmatic decision" after a sustained period of industrial action that she described as "deeply regrettable".
Ms Bradley said: "While it does not meet our aspirations in respect of a restorative pay settlement for Scotland's teachers, it is the best deal that can realistically be achieved in the current political and financial climate without further prolonged industrial action.
"It compares favourably with recent pay settlements across the public sector, and does provide pay certainty for Scotland's teachers for the next 16 months until the next pay settlement is scheduled to be delivered in August 2024."
Members of the SSTA have also voted to end industrial action
The EIS, SSTA and NASUWT teaching unions have been in a year-long industrial dispute with councils.
The deadlock was broken last week when councils, using extra money from the Scottish government, made a fresh offer that would see most teachers' salaries rise by £5200 in April.
