Caithness teachers on picket lines as strike shuts schools
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Teachers in Caithness were among thousands across Scotland who joined picket lines on Thursday morning as schools were closed.
Industrial action by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and the Association of Head Teacher and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) unions was taking place on Thursday.
Among those on strike in the county, a small picket was established outside Castletown Primary, while at Wick High School there was a call for teachers to receive a "professional wage".
Chris Aitken, a computing science teacher at Wick High, said: "Teachers all across the country have gone on strike today as a last resort in relation to the pay offer from the Scottish Government. Quite simply, anything offered which is less than the 11 per cent inflation rate is a pay cut for teachers who have not had a fair pay rise since the cost of living crisis began.
"We accepted a one per cent rise last year and the government was fully aware at the time that this was on the condition that we would be asking for 10 per cent this time around.
"Teachers are working much more than their contracted 35 hours a week, with class contact time up there with some of the highest in Europe. As qualified professionals we feel that we should receive a professional wage. Should this level of pay continue, attracting graduates into teaching will get much harder and retaining existing staff will be even more of a challenge."
The unions were expected to form a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh during the afternoon.
Highland Council earlier confirmed that all schools across the region would be closed on Thursday, with pupils returning to classes on Friday.
Further strike action has not been rules out in future.
