SQA exam staff to strike over pay dispute

Staff at Scotland's exams body will take strike action at the end of February over a pay dispute.

Around 400 workers, represented by Unite, will stage two 24-hour stoppages on 23 and 29 February.

The action will also include an overtime ban, a ban on weekend working, and a ban on accruing time off in lieu between 16 February and 10 May.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said its pay deal was the "best offer possible".

The union said the industrial action would have a "major impact" on the SQA's ability to prepare for the exam season.

However, the SQA said it had contingency plans in place and the strike would not have an impact on the marking of coursework or exams.

• Exam staff vote for strike action in pay dispute

Unite said the SQA's two-year pay offer for 2023 and 2024 "represents a real-terms pay cut" due to inflation and claimed the Scottish government has "run for cover" to avoid accountability amid the dispute.

The union said the pay offer equated to an increase of 5.75% in 2023 and 3.15% in 2024 for the majority of its members.

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said the pay offer represented "a brutal pay cut".

However, the SQA said the offer represented an average increase of 7.43% in 2023 and 5.19% in 2024, including pay progression.

Unite said strike action would disrupt the external verification process, which would impact quality assurance and the awarding of qualifications.

It said the action would disrupt coursework marking for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level courses.

Contingency plans

An SQA spokesman accused the union of "scaremongering".

He said: "We have robust contingency plans in place and we can reassure learners that there will be no impact on their coursework, exams or grades.

"We made an increased pay offer that fairly recognises the valuable work of our SQA colleagues.

"It is the best offer possible which is affordable and within the limits of the public sector pay strategy."

Unite said 80% of Unite members working for the SQA voted, with 72% supporting industrial action.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: "While this is a matter for SQA as the employer, the Scottish government remains in close contact with them and has strongly encouraged resolution talks to resume.

"We will be seeking further reassurances from SQA that learners will not experience disruption to their exams, coursework or grades."