London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026

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
HMRC Warns Nearly Seven Million Adults Are Unclear About State Pension Entitlements
UK Parliament Passes Sovereign Grant Reform Before Conference Recess
British Rail Passengers Gain Automatic Right to Switch Operators During Disruptions
Burnham Hosts Downing Street Business Summit as UK Fiscal Pressure Builds
Labour Government Moves to Challenge £72 Million in Reform UK Crypto Donations
UK Advertising Industry Warns Wider Junk Food Rules Could Put £1 Billion in Media Spending at Risk
Cornwall Opens Devolution Talks With UK Government Over Transport and Local Services
UK Parliament Considers Sovereign Grant Reform Setting Royal Funding at £99.9 Million
Trades Union Congress Calls for Income-Based Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Levy
UK Prime Minister Rejects Second Scottish Independence Referendum
House of Lords Begins Scrutiny of Bill to Lower UK Voting Age to 16
Anthropic Says Claude Was Exploited in Weapons-Related and State-Linked Cyber Activity
Institute of Directors Urges UK Government to Avoid Business Tax Increases in Autumn Budget
Rising Gilt Yields Cut UK Fiscal Headroom to About £13 Billion Ahead of Budget
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
UK Government Promises Clearer Student Loan Guidance After Repayment Backlash
Charities Warn Unpaid Carers May Die Before Receiving Government Compensation
Dover Unrest Prompts Review of UK Counter-Extremism Strategy
Celtic Summit Leaders Reassert Right to Pursue Independence From UK
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record Amid Severe Heatwaves
Harrods Faces Potential £150 Million Compensation Bill Over Al Fayed Abuse Claims
UK Parliament Opens Debate on Landmark Assisted Dying Legislation
Metropolitan Police Investigate Reform UK Over Alleged Foreign Electoral Donations
UK Economy Expands 0.4% in July as AI Investment Boosts Activity
Bank of England Signals Caution on Rates as Inflation Pressures Persist
Tesco Alerts Police After Scammers Use Its Branding in AI-Generated Fraud
Lindy Cameron Appointed First Female Permanent Under-Secretary at UK Foreign Office
UK Government to Rewrite Student Loan Guidance After Mis-Selling Criticism
Welsh First Minister Warns Andy Burnham Government to Respect Devolution
Trump’s Falkland Islands Remarks Trigger New Diplomatic Tension With Britain
Reform UK Receives Record £72 Million Donation From Cryptocurrency Billionaires
UK Bans Imports From Israeli West Bank Settlements and Sanctions Supporting Institutions
Bayeux Tapestry Draws Large Crowds at British Museum
Cuts to International Aid Raise Concerns Over Fragile Overseas Health Systems
UK Airlines and Logistics Operators Adjust Capacity as Fuel Costs Rise
UK Mortgage Arrears Edge Lower in Second Quarter
UK Government Advances New Devolution Offers for English Councils
UK Parliament Begins Debate on NHS Governance and Single Patient Record Reforms
Andy Burnham Launches Number 10 North Devolution Initiative
UK Parliament Rejects Assisted Dying Bill for Terminally Ill Adults
UK Bans Goods From Israeli Settlements in the Occupied West Bank
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Technology Services Strengthen
Metropolitan Police Continue Investigation Into Reform UK Political Financing
Chinese Crypto Entrepreneur Leon Li Identified as Seller of £190 Million London Mansion
Trades Union Congress Proposes Social Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Surcharge
British Chambers of Commerce Calls for State Pension Triple Lock to Be Scrapped
Anthropic Says Claude Helped Disrupt Biological Weapons and Cyber Espionage Threats
UK Imposes Sanctions Over Israeli Settlements and West Bank Violence
UK Reimposes Sectoral Sanctions on Iran’s Aviation, Shipping and Energy Networks
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as AI and Programming Services Lift Activity
×