Striking teachers held a rally outside Nicola Sturgeon's constituency office, as they seek a 10 per cent pay rise.

Around 80% of primary and secondary school teachers are part of the Educational Institute of Scotland, which submitted its claim for the rise over a year ago.

The pay increase they are asking for is below year-on-year inflation, which stands at 13.5%, but a deal has not been reached.

Following mass walkouts earlier this year, strikes have been announced for this week targeting key members of the Scottish Government.

Action has taken place in Perthshire North (John Swinney), Dunfermline (Shirley-Anne Somerville), and Clydebank & Milngavie (Ross Greer) as well as Nicola Sturgeon's Govanhill constituency.

Read More: Targeted school strikes get underway as union warns of exam disruption

On Thursday morning teachers and supporters gathered outside Ms Sturgeons' constituency office to reiterate their pay demands.

They handed over a letter to the outgoing First Minister, urging her to use her last month in office to keep her promise on education.

The letter to Ms Sturgeon continued: "We ask that you use this period to ensure a positive legacy in your constituency, your city, and your country by resolving our dispute."

The Herald: Members of the EIS teachers union handing in a letter addressed to Nicola Sturgeon in the building inside which is her constituency office on Dixon Road, Govanhill, Glasgow on the second day of three days of industrial action (Colin Mearns)Members of the EIS teachers union handing in a letter addressed to Nicola Sturgeon in the building inside which is her constituency office on Dixon Road, Govanhill, Glasgow on the second day of three days of industrial action (Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: "This escalation of action, targeted at politicians with the ability to end this dispute, has been necessitated by the continuing refusal of the Scottish Government and COSLA to offer Scotland's teachers a fair pay deal.

 

"We are taking this action reluctantly, and with a heavy heart, but after more than a year of waiting for an acceptable pay offer, Scotland's teachers have simply run out of patience.

"We want to see this dispute settled, and could call off further strike action immediately, if the Scottish Government and COSLA offer an acceptable pay deal."

Further national strikes will take place on February 28 and March 1, with 20 days of rolling strikes across different local associations from March 13 to April 21.

There will be futher targeted strikes from March 7 to 9.

Read More: New teacher pay offer only 'tiny baby steps' in the right direction says union

Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA resources spokesperson said:  “Given the funding assurances received from the Scottish Government, Leaders submitted a fifth offer to the Trade Unions which was rejected.

“COSLA Leaders and Scottish Government are clear that it is in all of our interests, not least those of children, young people and families, to conclude the teachers’ pay negotiations as quickly as we can to bring back stability and certainty in our schools. 

“Pay talks are continuing and we would appeal to our trade union colleagues to suspend their industrial action while these discussions are ongoing.”