Jackie Baillie has commented on the ongoing teachers’ strikes saying that the Scottish Government needs to sort out the dispute once and for all.

The EIS’ Salaries Committee recently rejected an offer from the Scottish Government of a 6 percent pay rise in the current year and a further 5.5 percent increase in the new financial year.

The EIS is campaigning for a 10 percent pay increase but ministers say any offer which is made has to be affordable for the government.

Schools in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute closed on Tuesday, February 28^th and Wednesday, March 1^st as part of a national strike.

There are now rolling strikes scheduled to take place prior to and after the Easter holidays.

All schools in West Dunbartonshire will close on March 14^th while primary schools in the region will be shut on March 13^th and secondary schools on March 15^th.

In Argyll and Bute, all schools will shut on March 20^th while primary schools will be closed on March 17^th and secondary schools on March 21^st.

Jackie Baillie said: “No-one wants these strikes to happen yet the SNP government’s failure to reach a deal with teaching unions is forcing more school closures.

“This is a huge disappointment to both families and education staff who would far rather be in the classroom than on a picket line.

“We cannot afford more disruption in our schools as the exam season is fast approaching. Young people have already suffered from restrictions to learning through the pandemic, which has been worst felt in areas of deprivation.

“The failures of process that trade unions are highlighting smacks of gross incompetence from the SNP, and, crucially, undermines the trust needed in negotiations to get a deal done.

“We waited three months for this latest offer to be made. Ministers need to get back around the table with councils and unions to strike a deal and sort out this dispute once and for all.”