A significant decision has emerged from Scotland as the Teachers’ Panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) has unanimously voted to accept a two-year pay offer from local authorities’ umbrella body Cosla. This agreement includes a 4% pay increase for the 2025/26 fiscal year, supplemented by a 0.25% increase in April and an additional 3.25% increase next August.
While the accepted offer aims to address immediate financial concerns, the SNCT Teachers’ Panel emphasized that further action is necessary to counteract the long-term erosion of teachers’ pay. The committee, which comprises representatives from teachers’ unions, councils, and the Scottish government, supports additional negotiations in future years to enhance pay conditions for educators.
Details of the Pay Agreement
Des Morris, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) salaries chairman of the SNCT Teachers’ Panel, described the decision as a “pragmatic” move that will provide stability regarding salary for Scotland’s teachers over the next two years. He expressed optimism about a shared commitment among the parties involved to negotiate a re-opener clause for Year 2 of the agreement, which would offer inflation protection for teachers.
This latest deal follows a prior offer from Scottish local authorities that was rejected in June, as teachers deemed it insufficient for their expectations. The previous proposal included a 2% pay rise in August and a further 1% increase slated for next May. The newly accepted pay agreement will be backdated to August 2025.
Morris pointed out the need to address other pressing concerns for members of the teaching profession after the acceptance of the pay deal. He stated, “In accepting this offer now, we are drawing a line under the issue of pay at the current time and moving to prioritise other key issues for our members.” He lamented that negotiations on pay had once again resulted in delays for teachers’ pay increases.
Government Response and Future Considerations
In response to the teachers’ acceptance of the pay deal, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth expressed her delight, stating that the agreement confirms that Scottish classroom teachers on the main-grade scale will continue to receive the highest salaries in the UK. She highlighted the importance of the backdated pay benefits for many teachers just ahead of the Christmas season.
Gilruth also acknowledged the need for improvement in the timing of pay settlements, noting, “We should be achieving pay settlements for teachers earlier in the year.” The hope is that with this extended pay deal, there will be opportunities to explore more efficient processes for future negotiations.
The unanimous approval of this two-year pay deal marks a pivotal moment for Scotland’s teachers, providing them with immediate financial relief while highlighting the ongoing challenges within the education sector. The SNCT Teachers’ Panel has called on local authorities to ensure the prompt implementation of the pay deal, urging that teachers receive their increases and any backdated payments owed before the holiday break.
