Teachers in Scotland continue strikes as many leave ‘unattractive’ profession

BIRMINGHAM, England

As talks with the government falter, teachers in Scotland are determined to achieve their demands of a pay increase closer in line with the UK’s current double-digit inflation, but faced with dim prospects for difficult work, many are quitting the profession.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the largest teaching union in Scotland, says the only way to settle the issue and halt further strikes is by proposing a “significantly improved offer.”

Speaking to Anadolu, Nuzhat Uthmani – an EIS representative and primary teacher – said the requested 10% pay rise was initially requested back last February, when the inflation rate was sitting at around 7%. She says it was a “modest pay rise at that point” but now that inflation is almost 11%, the demanded increase means a lower salary for the teachers.

“We're definitely determined that we can't go any lower than the 10% because overall since 2008, teacher’s salaries in Scotland have reduced by 25%,” she explained. “And the way the conditions of the job are, we are being asked to do more and more within schools for our children with less and less. So it's very much also about the conditions and the fact that education needs proper funding, in order for it to be sustainable.”

In an interview with Anadolu, Jehan Al-Azzawi – an EIS representative and transition teacher – said teachers in Scotland are striking as the conversation hasn’t gone anywhere and the teachers are “really feeling the squeeze caused by the cost of living crisis.”

Saying that teachers are “among the most passionate committed professionals,” Al-Azzawi mentioned how these professional were among the first in the workforce to go back and resume their jobs during the pandemic lockdown periods. “We remained dedicated, we knew how important it was to provide a quality education. But with the state of things at the moment, it is now got to the point where teachers are struggling to pay their bills, their mortgages, their own children's child care and food,” she said.

Many leave teaching as job becomes less attractive

Much like UK nurses, Uthmani said a large number of teachers leave the profession for good within five years of starting their teaching career. Those who are promoted after a period of five years get an increase in their salaries, but anyone who is not interested in a higher role will not receive such promotional benefits.

“So you could be in that position for 15, 20 years, and your salary is stuck. That's really difficult for people then when the cost of living is rising so much,” he said.

He added: “We still need more people to become teachers. So we need an attractive salary because so many graduates can go into other graduate jobs and be earning a lot more in five years' time.” Many teachers have to spend money from their own pockets to try and feed their pupils as the cost of living crisis hit every household in the country, he explained, calling this a “completely unsustainable situation.”

Coming into teaching from a different profession, Al-Azzawi says her colleagues are going through a lot of workload and emotional pressure.

“When I look around I see my colleagues very stressed, exhausted and feeling undervalued, which is probably one of the worst things. The teachers are full of goodwill and a lot of what we do and provide is based on goodwill. Teachers work over and above and exceed their working hours on a daily basis,” she said, adding that an EIS survey found that on average Scottish teachers are working around 46 hours a week, which amounts to an additional unpaid day.

Al-Azzawi says the situation impacts the teachers’ health and well-being, as well as their work-life balance.

The other issue concerning teachers in Scotland is that many are either on short term or zero-hour contracts, meaning they don’t benefit from the job security of permanent contracts. Thus, many leave their jobs for a better paying alternative, leading to larger classrooms sizes. Al-Azzawi points to a “retention and recruitment crisis” as many teaching posts are going unfilled due to unattractive aspects of the profession.

“It's no longer a family-friendly profession as it was previously regarded. We often don't get to spend much time at all with our own children,” she adds.

No longer the Great Britain of the Great British Empire

Frustrated with the government’s response, Uthmani asked how a wealthy country like the UK is unable to provide proper financial resources to the public sector: “We are still one of the richest countries in the world. So where is that (wealth)? I don't understand why you can't use that well, more fairly, so it's redistributed more fairly and given to these essential services that are all striking now because the whole system is broken.”

She added: “We are no longer the Great Britain of the Great British Empire, things are totally falling apart now.”

“It’s unacceptable for teachers and nurses to have to go to food banks and apply for benefits and have second jobs,” Uthmani said.

Al-Azzawi said she thinks the ruling upper class has no understanding of what the public is going through. “There's a real lack of compassion and understanding being shown by the UK government and that's partly because the front bench are comprised of a very elite section of society that doesn't really use any of these public services that are in crisis at the moment. And there's a fundamental lack of understanding of what it's like to be both a provider of a public service in the UK and a user of a public service in the UK. So when you've got people in charge of government, who really have absolutely no understanding, and seemingly no empathy towards public sector workers, they really are out of touch.”

The government has announced that it is planning to impose restrictions on industrial actions in certain sectors. The new bill comes amid a wave of industrial action across the public sector. The bill was discussed in parliament while thousands were staging walkouts across the country on Tuesday.

“The UK government was tabling (proposing) anti-strike legislation today while Scotland's teachers were striking. So that kind of shows the distance that there is present between the UK government and the public sector,” said Al-Azzawi.

More strikes planned for coming weeks

Following failed talks, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said an acceptable offer is the only way to halt the strikes.

"While it is now too late to halt this week's strike action in schools, we hope that fresh talks may take place later this week to advance discussions towards an improved offer. Only a significantly improved offer from the Scottish Government and COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) can bring an end to this dispute."

The union said teachers will also strike for 16 consecutive days in January and February, with teachers in two districts striking each of the days. Unless something changes for the better, the walkout will begin Jan. 16 and last every school day until Feb. 6.