London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Dec 21, 2025

Teacher strikes: The young people in Scotland demanding better pay

Teacher strikes: The young people in Scotland demanding better pay

Young teachers in Scotland say they have been left with no choice but to continue going on strike.

The Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) members have already taken action at schools in the constituencies of senior politicians.

The union says it's been "left with no other option" but to keep striking and wants pay rises above the rate prices are currently rising at.

It's a big factor in why 27-year-old Amy is walking out on Tuesday.

"It's hitting schools directly and it's hitting teachers directly," the teacher tells Newsbeat.

"We're subsidising for children who don't have things, like snacks, fresh fruit, and pens and pencils."

Teachers in Scotland are walking out on Tuesday and Wednesday - while there are also strikes in England and Wales this week.

But Scottish Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says the continued disruption is "completely unacceptable" and has repeated her call for unions to "resume pay talks urgently".

Amy, and teachers like her, want a pay rise and her union is hoping to target a 10% increase this year.

Unions also want schools to get extra money to ensure pay rises do not come from existing budgets.

However, teachers say it's not just about money.

EIS members have taken action at schools in the constituencies of senior Scottish politicians


Ewan, who is also striking on Tuesday, doesn't have a permanent teaching job despite six years of studying and two degrees.

Instead, the 24-year-old's had to start working a zero hours NHS job at weekends to pay the bills.

"I scrimped and saved quite a bit, but as time has gone on I've realised this isn't financially viable," he says.

"I live at home but there should be no reason that someone who goes to university for six years cannot get a job in their profession."

Ewan feels misled at the lack of work available to supply teachers too.

"You're told right the way through that there will always be jobs, that schools are in desperate need for teachers. You come out and there's nothing," he says.

The most recent pay offer to Scottish teachers was an 11.5% rise over two years - 6% from last April and 5.5% this year.

But Amy says this isn't enough.

"We understand everybody's got a budget they must stick to, but we're making sure that we've got the tools we need in order to teach our children."

Amy spends almost £80 a week on her drive to work


For Amy, the prospect of getting a job closer to where she lives is near impossible.

She says when she came out of her probationary year - a guaranteed year of teaching in a school for all newly qualified teachers in Scotland - she was among 200 people going for two jobs in one council area.

Instead, she's spending close to £80 a week on the 40-minute drive to work.

"Without it, I would have to get two trains to get to work and even that financially isn't worth it," she says.

"It's leaving me with virtually no kind of expendable cash. I feel stressed, sometimes quite upset because I was really looking forward to making my way in the world."

But despite this, she still feels lucky to have secured a permanent job - something Ewan is trying to achieve.

"I was ready to move out and get my own place," he says.

"I actually had a deposit saved up, I'd met with a mortgage advisor who said we just need to wait for a permanent contract to come through and we can move on with it.

"And no permanent contract came through."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Fashion Label LK Bennett Pursues Accelerated Sale Amid Financial Struggles
U.S. Government Warns UK Over Free Speech in Pro-Life Campaigner Prosecution
Newly Released Files Shed Light on Jeffrey Epstein’s Extensive Links to the United Kingdom
Prince William and Prince George Volunteer Together at UK Homelessness Charity
UK Police Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’ as Authorities Recalibrate Free Speech Enforcement
Scambodia: The World Owes Thailand’s Military a Profound Debt of Gratitude
Women in Partial Nudity — and Bill Clinton in a Dress and Heels: The Images Revealed in the “Epstein Files”
US Envoy Witkoff to Convene Security Advisers from Ukraine, UK, France and Germany in Miami as Peace Efforts Intensify
UK Retailers Report Sharp Pre-Christmas Sales Decline and Weak Outlook, CBI Survey Shows
UK Government Rejects Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Aid for Ukraine
UK Financial Conduct Authority Opens Formal Investigation into WH Smith After Accounting Errors
UK Issues Final Ultimatum to Roman Abramovich Over £2.5bn Chelsea Sale Funds for Ukraine
Rare Pink Fog Sweeps Across Parts of the UK as Met Office Warns of Poor Visibility
UK Police Pledge ‘More Assertive’ Enforcement to Tackle Antisemitism at Protests
UK Police Warn They Will Arrest Protesters Chanting ‘Globalise the Intifada’
Trump Files $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC as Broadcaster Pledges Legal Defence
UK Says U.S. Tech Deal Talks Still Active Despite Washington’s Suspension of Prosperity Pact
UK Mortgage Rules to Give Greater Flexibility to Borrowers With Irregular Incomes
UK Treasury Moves to Position Britain as Leading Global Hub for Crypto Firms
U.S. Freezes £31 Billion Tech Prosperity Deal With Britain Amid Trade Dispute
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Potential UK Return Gains New Momentum Amid Security Review and Royal Dialogue
Zelensky Opens High-Stakes Peace Talks in Berlin with Trump Envoy and European Leaders
Historical Reflections on Press Freedom Emerge Amid Debate Over Trump’s Media Policies
UK Boosts Protection for Jewish Communities After Sydney Hanukkah Attack
UK Government Declines to Comment After ICC Prosecutor Alleges Britain Threatened to Defund Court Over Israel Arrest Warrant
Apple Shutters All Retail Stores in the United Kingdom Under New National COVID-19 Lockdown
US–UK Technology Partnership Strains as Key Trade Disagreements Emerge
UK Police Confirm No Further Action Over Allegation That Andrew Asked Bodyguard to Investigate Virginia Giuffre
Giuffre Family Expresses Deep Disappointment as UK Police Decline New Inquiry Into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Claims
Transatlantic Trade Ambitions Hit a Snag as UK–US Deal Faces Emerging Challenges
Ex-ICC Prosecutor Alleges UK Threatened to Withdraw Funding Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Bid
UK Disciplinary Tribunal Clears Carter-Ruck Lawyer of Misconduct in OneCoin Case
‘Pink Ladies’ Emerge as Prominent Face of UK Anti-Immigration Protests
Nigel Farage Says Reform UK Has Become Britain’s Largest Party as Labour Membership Falls Sharply
Google DeepMind and UK Government Launch First Automated AI Lab to Accelerate Scientific Discovery
UK Economy Falters Ahead of Budget as Growth Contracts and Confidence Wanes
Australia Approves Increased Foreign Stake in Strategic Defence Shipbuilder
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson proclaims, “For Ukraine, surrendering their land would be a nightmare.”
Microsoft Challenges £2.1 Billion UK Cloud Licensing Lawsuit at Competition Tribunal
Fake Doctor in Uttar Pradesh Accused of Killing Woman After Performing YouTube-Based Surgery
Hackers Are Hiding Malware in Open-Source Tools and IDE Extensions
Traveling to USA? Homeland Security moving toward requiring foreign travelers to share social media history
UK Officials Push Back at Trump Saying European Leaders ‘Talk Too Much’ About Ukraine
UK Warns of Escalating Cyber Assault Linked to Putin’s State-Backed Operations
UK Consumer Spending Falters in November as Households Hold Back Ahead of Budget
UK Orders Fresh Review of Prince Harry’s Security Status After Formal Request
U.S. Authorises Nvidia to Sell H200 AI Chips to China Under Security Controls
Trump in Direct Assault: European Leaders Are Weak, Immigration a Disaster. Russia Is Strong and Big — and Will Win
"App recommendation" or disguised advertisement? ChatGPT Premium users are furious
"The Great Filtering": Australia Blocks Hundreds of Thousands of Minors From Social Networks
×