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| Scotland teachers strike: No sign of pay deal as primary schools shut | Scotland teachers strike: No sign of pay deal as primary schools shut |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Teaching unions and the Scottish government "remain some distance apart" on a new pay deal for teachers. | Teaching unions and the Scottish government "remain some distance apart" on a new pay deal for teachers. |
| Primary schools across Scotland are closed all day as teachers walk out in a dispute over pay. | Primary schools across Scotland are closed all day as teachers walk out in a dispute over pay. |
| Last-ditch talks between unions and Scottish government officials held on Monday failed to prevent strike action. | Last-ditch talks between unions and Scottish government officials held on Monday failed to prevent strike action. |
| Further walkouts will take place at Scottish secondary schools on Wednesday. | Further walkouts will take place at Scottish secondary schools on Wednesday. |
| The industrial action is set to close almost every school in Scotland. | The industrial action is set to close almost every school in Scotland. |
| Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said Monday's talks were "constructive" but described the union pay demands as "simply unaffordable". | Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said Monday's talks were "constructive" but described the union pay demands as "simply unaffordable". |
| Asked whether she expected a new offer to be on the table before the end of the week, Ms Somerville said: "We'll continue discussions with the unions." | Asked whether she expected a new offer to be on the table before the end of the week, Ms Somerville said: "We'll continue discussions with the unions." |
| The strikes taking place in January | The strikes taking place in January |
| Scottish teachers announce 16 new strike dates | Scottish teachers announce 16 new strike dates |
| Teachers say 'we don't want to be on strike' | Teachers say 'we don't want to be on strike' |
| She added: "I think the challenge that we have is we remain some distance apart on what the Scottish government and local government can afford and can put on the table from the union demand which is of course a 10% increase in pay. | She added: "I think the challenge that we have is we remain some distance apart on what the Scottish government and local government can afford and can put on the table from the union demand which is of course a 10% increase in pay. |
| "We're trying very hard to have a fair and affordable package on the table but we do remain unfortunately some distance apart." | "We're trying very hard to have a fair and affordable package on the table but we do remain unfortunately some distance apart." |
| Sides in teacher pay talks 'some distance apart' - education secretary | Sides in teacher pay talks 'some distance apart' - education secretary |
| Sides in teacher pay talks 'some distance apart' - education secretary | Sides in teacher pay talks 'some distance apart' - education secretary |
| The strikes involve members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), NASUWT, Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes (AHDS) unions. | The strikes involve members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), NASUWT, Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes (AHDS) unions. |
| They have rejected a 5% pay increase, arguing for 10%. The latest offer includes rises of up to 6.85% for the lowest-paid staff. | They have rejected a 5% pay increase, arguing for 10%. The latest offer includes rises of up to 6.85% for the lowest-paid staff. |
| Mike Corbett, national Scotland official of the NASUWT union, said: "The fact we are talking is progress itself but I have to say there is still quite a distance between what is on the table and what teachers are looking for. | Mike Corbett, national Scotland official of the NASUWT union, said: "The fact we are talking is progress itself but I have to say there is still quite a distance between what is on the table and what teachers are looking for. |
| "The last offer was dressed up as an improved offer but it remained, for the vast majority of teachers, the 5% offer that had been around for months." | "The last offer was dressed up as an improved offer but it remained, for the vast majority of teachers, the 5% offer that had been around for months." |
| Mr Corbett said that historically teacher pay had been getting "worse and worse" since 2010 and that was reflected in the recruitment and retention figures. | Mr Corbett said that historically teacher pay had been getting "worse and worse" since 2010 and that was reflected in the recruitment and retention figures. |
| Picket outside Wellshot Primary School in Glasgow | Picket outside Wellshot Primary School in Glasgow |
| EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said she hoped fresh talks would take place later this week | EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said she hoped fresh talks would take place later this week |
| The EIS said it was still hoping for a resolution before more strikes go ahead next week. | The EIS said it was still hoping for a resolution before more strikes go ahead next week. |
| Its general secretary Andrea Bradley said: "It is disappointing, though not surprising, that no new offer was presented, despite some positive progress in discussions. | Its general secretary Andrea Bradley said: "It is disappointing, though not surprising, that no new offer was presented, despite some positive progress in discussions. |
| "The union side remains willing to talk, at any time, with a view to reaching a resolution to this dispute. | "The union side remains willing to talk, at any time, with a view to reaching a resolution to this dispute. |
| "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 can bring an end to this dispute." | "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 can bring an end to this dispute." |
| The views of parents and carers | |
| Kelly Robertson's eldest daughter has trouble adjusting when her routine is changed | Kelly Robertson's eldest daughter has trouble adjusting when her routine is changed |
| Kelly Robertson, from Aberdeen, has two young daughters Georgia-Rose, 7, and Ellie-Jane, 5. | Kelly Robertson, from Aberdeen, has two young daughters Georgia-Rose, 7, and Ellie-Jane, 5. |
| Her eldest daughter needs set routines as she is on the autism spectrum so finds it difficult to adjust when the school shuts in the middle of the week. | Her eldest daughter needs set routines as she is on the autism spectrum so finds it difficult to adjust when the school shuts in the middle of the week. |
| "She needs to be at school Monday to Friday so for her to be off school in between the week, rather than a Friday or a Monday - a long weekend - it just totally knocks her," Kelly said. | "She needs to be at school Monday to Friday so for her to be off school in between the week, rather than a Friday or a Monday - a long weekend - it just totally knocks her," Kelly said. |
| She said she had kept Georgia-Rose off school on Monday rather than going in then being off again "otherwise her whole week would be up in arms". | She said she had kept Georgia-Rose off school on Monday rather than going in then being off again "otherwise her whole week would be up in arms". |
| "She gets really upset when she gets up in the morning and doesn't realise there's no school but its not a weekend so her dad's not home," Kelly said. "So that knocks her whole day off. That then upsets her little sister because she doesn't understand why there's no school." | "She gets really upset when she gets up in the morning and doesn't realise there's no school but its not a weekend so her dad's not home," Kelly said. "So that knocks her whole day off. That then upsets her little sister because she doesn't understand why there's no school." |
| Carer Janice James says she supports the teachers | Carer Janice James says she supports the teachers |
| Carer Janice James, from Edinburgh, told BBC Scotland: "As a carer it is a massive disruption because not only today with the primary schools but tomorrow with the high schools so it's got a massive knock-on effect for parents, carers and grandparents." | Carer Janice James, from Edinburgh, told BBC Scotland: "As a carer it is a massive disruption because not only today with the primary schools but tomorrow with the high schools so it's got a massive knock-on effect for parents, carers and grandparents." |
| However, she supports the strike. | However, she supports the strike. |
| "I think it's right that they're going out on strike and they should get what they're asking for," she said. | "I think it's right that they're going out on strike and they should get what they're asking for," she said. |
| Parent Russell Cobden said: "I can't say I agree with the strike but they deserve better pay." | Parent Russell Cobden said: "I can't say I agree with the strike but they deserve better pay." |
| And Laura Cogan, also a parent, said she completely supported the teachers and felt the government should be "pulling out all the stops" to resolve the dispute. | And Laura Cogan, also a parent, said she completely supported the teachers and felt the government should be "pulling out all the stops" to resolve the dispute. |
| Amanda Murray said the real-term value of teachers' pay had fallen hugely | Amanda Murray said the real-term value of teachers' pay had fallen hugely |
| Among those on the picket lines was Amanda Murray, an additional supports needs teacher at Orchard Brae in Aberdeen. | Among those on the picket lines was Amanda Murray, an additional supports needs teacher at Orchard Brae in Aberdeen. |
| "It's very frustrating that it's got to this stage because these pay discussions opened almost a year ago back in February," she said. | "It's very frustrating that it's got to this stage because these pay discussions opened almost a year ago back in February," she said. |
| "We're now in January 2023 and still waiting for our pay increase and in the meantime inflation has seen the real-term value of teachers wages decrease hugely. | "We're now in January 2023 and still waiting for our pay increase and in the meantime inflation has seen the real-term value of teachers wages decrease hugely. |
| "All we're asking is for our wages to be kept in line with inflation so we're not losing out." | "All we're asking is for our wages to be kept in line with inflation so we're not losing out." |
| She said the job was "exhausting" and that it would be nice to have their efforts reflected in their pay. | She said the job was "exhausting" and that it would be nice to have their efforts reflected in their pay. |
| Drivers have been beeping their horns in support of the striking teachers | Drivers have been beeping their horns in support of the striking teachers |
| If no agreement is reached, teachers in Scotland plan to strike on a further 16 days, beginning next week. | If no agreement is reached, teachers in Scotland plan to strike on a further 16 days, beginning next week. |
| The consecutive days of action - split across every council in the country - will take place throughout January and February. | The consecutive days of action - split across every council in the country - will take place throughout January and February. |
| Teachers in two local authorities will strike on each of the 16 days. | Teachers in two local authorities will strike on each of the 16 days. |
| The industrial action follows the biggest Scottish teachers' strike in decades in November. | The industrial action follows the biggest Scottish teachers' strike in decades in November. |
| Most state-school teachers in England and Wales were given a 5% pay rise in 2022. In Northern Ireland many teachers have been offered 3.2% for 2021/22 and 2022/23. | Most state-school teachers in England and Wales were given a 5% pay rise in 2022. In Northern Ireland many teachers have been offered 3.2% for 2021/22 and 2022/23. |
| But unions argue that inflation above 10% means these increases amount to pay cuts. | But unions argue that inflation above 10% means these increases amount to pay cuts. |
| Teaching unions in England and Wales are balloting members over pay. | Teaching unions in England and Wales are balloting members over pay. |
| And teachers from five unions in Northern Ireland are continuing to take action short of a strike - affecting meeting attendance and administrative tasks. | And teachers from five unions in Northern Ireland are continuing to take action short of a strike - affecting meeting attendance and administrative tasks. |
| Are you taking part in the strikes? Are you a parent who is affected by the industrial action? Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you taking part in the strikes? Are you a parent who is affected by the industrial action? Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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