THE dispute between teachers and West Dunbartonshire Council could be harder to resolve as both sides dig in.

Last week’s two-day strike capped off a month that included a new offer from council bosses that only enraged teachers with the EIS union further.

A 48-hour action had been called off earlier in March because of the late proposal but it was rejected by almost two-thirds of teachers, on a ballot turnout of 88 per cent.

Joint secretary of the union in the area, Jim Halfpenny, said the two-week Easter break offered political leaders the chance to step up and fix the row. If progress isn’t made in the next two weeks, a further 48-hour strike is scheduled for April 26 and 27.

Mr Halfpenny said: “I’m not sure if we are not further apart now. Opposition seems more solid than ever.

“The number of pickets increased and attendance at the rally on Wednesday at Clydebank Town Hall was higher than the first one.

“We’re looking to put some pressure on the politicians - the people who make the decisions - on how things proceed. We don’t expect anything significant unless politicians are prepared to speak to us.”

The battle erupted after the council went to save £600,000 by removing depute heads from four of five high schools across the local authority, slashing the number of principal teachers and grouping different subjects into faculties managed by a single senior postholder.

The first strike action in 30 years started on January 12, followed by one on February 18 and a current work to rule.

Mr Halfpenny said they thought a compromise had been reached earlier in March but the council maintained the restructuring into a faculty system and this only angered teachers.

He added: “Teachers felt as if they were betrayed when the most recent proposals were made. We are looking for the political representatives to step back from restructuring - suspension and have another look at it.”

A spokeswoman for the council said: “The council’s position remains that the jointly developed proposals with the EIS address all of the points the union raised in relation to the new management structure. We believe this compromise, which proposes to introduce an additional 18 principal teachers and two centrally deployed staff, was the basis for bringing the dispute to a positive end for the benefit of our young people, parents and staff. We urge the EIS to reconsider the significant compromise that has been offered and work with us to reach a collective agreement.”