MINISTERS should be in no doubt that Scotland’s largest teaching union is prepared to strike, Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) delegates heard today.

General secretary Larry Flanagan told his union’s annual general meeting that the Scottish government “will only concede” the demand for a 10 per cent pay rise “if they believe our threat of strike action is a real one.”

Teachers have rejected a 3 per cent pay rise offered by Scottish councils and the SNP government, saying an increase in double figures is necessary to make up for a decade of wage restraint.

The EIS says it will strike if a reasonable offer is not made. The Star understands that the Scottish union wants to learn from the turnout-raising tactics deployed by the Communication Workers Union in its recent dispute with Royal Mail, in order to overcome the thresholds imposed by Tory anti-strike laws.

“We need to keep building the campaign and building the pressure,” Mr Flanagan said.

“It’s not enough to have the arguments — we have those. It’s not enough to have the moral high ground — we occupy that. It’s not enough to hear sympathetic noises — welcome though that is.

“This is our best chance in a decade to demonstrate the power of the EIS as a trade union, a collective voice for the profession and of the profession.

“Teachers are looking for a landmark settlement from this campaign and we expect Scottish government to meet our demands.”

Mr Flanagan insisted that only a 10 per cent increase would stem the current crisis in teacher recruitment and retention.

“The demographic reality is we need more teachers just to stand still,” he added.