Agenda item

The Council had before it the wording of the written request for this special Council meeting which had been signed by 12 members in accordance with Standing Order 8.2.2:-

“The business proposed to be transacted relates to the impact on education from the apparent inability of the Scottish Government to enable an amicable agreement on teachers’ salaries.”

The Council received a verbal update from officers, following which a number of questions were asked and responded to.

Councillor Blake moved, seconded by Councillor Ali:-

That the Council -

·           Agree that a teachers’ strike is not in the best interest of children and young people.

·           Agree with the Scottish Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson, Willie Rennie MSP that “No one believes that decisions on offers to end the strike are being taken by the Education Secretary anymore. The First Minister and her deputy are now the ones responsible for this disruption. It’s time they provided a decent pay offer from the vast budget at their disposal.”

·           Therefore, calls on a joint response from the four group leaders, and independent members should they wish, to write to the First Minister, copying in the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, highlighting the damage this teachers’ strike is having on our children’s education urging her to provide all of the funding required for a meaningful pay increase to allow teachers to get back in their classrooms.

Councillor Mennie moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor van Sweeden:-    

            That the Council -

1.            Recognises that the high-quality education for our children and young people across the City of Aberdeen provided by teachers and wider education staff improves the life choices and opportunities for the pupils in their care.

2.            Notes that teaching unions have balloted their members for strike action as part of a 10% pay claim and that the ballot received support from members for such action to be undertaken.

3.            Acknowledges that the dispute is a national issue which is subject to negotiating procedures between the unions, CoSLA and Scottish Government Ministers.

4.            Notes the Scottish Government has finite financial resources and, without additional resources being provided by the UK Government, there is a limit on what can be offered to teachers.

5.            Notes that the UK has the predicted lowest level of economic growth of G7 countries in 2023 and increases in inflation in excess of ten percent which is set to erode living standards for the foreseeable future.

6.            Notes with concern that the UK Government’s response to address legitimate pay claims has been to introduce legislation to remove the rights of employees across many sectors, such as teachers, to withdraw their labour.

7.            Further notes that there is now widespread industrial unrest across the UK, leaving local government in Scotland and the Scottish Government with insufficient funding to meet pay claims.

8.            Invites any group leader who wishes, to write to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer highlighting Aberdeen City Council’s concerns regarding the adverse impact this dispute continues to have on families and the education of our young people; calls on the UK Government to provide realistic, recurring and sustainable funding to the Scottish Government so it can fund fair pay for all public sector workers across Scotland to address the ongoing cost of living crisis created by the UK Government.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (19)  -  Councillors Ali, Blake, Bonsell, Boulton, Brooks, Crockett, Cross, Farquhar, Graham, Grant, Houghton, Kusznir, Macdonald, McLeod, Massey, Stewart, Thomson, Tissera and Watson.

For the amendment  (20)  -  Lord Provost; and Councillors Al-Samarai, Allard, Alphonse, Hazel Cameron, Clark, Cooke, Copland, Cormie, Davidson, Fairfull, Henrickson, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLellan, McRae, Mennie, Nicoll, Radley and van Sweeden.

Declined to vote  (4)  -  Depute Provost; and Councillors Bouse, Greig and Yuill.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the amendment.