The executive council of the Education Institute of Scotland has unanimously rejected a package put forward last week.

All 80 members of the council, representing 32 council areas in Scotland, called on teachers to vote against the deal when they are balloted.

Teachers will be balloted

The three-year offer, made by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), included average pay rises of 15%, a cut in classroom sizes and a pledge that working hours would not be increased.

But in return teachers are being asked to give up five days' holiday, run homework clubs and hold summer schools.

The General Secretary of the EIS, Ronnie Smith, said in real terms the deal amounted to less than a 15% rise in pay over three years in return for an immediate 18% increase in workload.

Mr Smith said the mood of Friday's meeting in Edinburgh was "one of quiet anger".

He added that the proposals "fail to equally set out a realistic blueprint for a future education service which will meet the needs of our communities and young people".

Undermined autonomy

Mr Smith said teachers resented the "attempt by local councils to control every hour of a teacher's working time" because it undermined their autonomy.

And he said the proposed changes to the management structure would leave a vacuum in schools.

The result of the ballot is to be announced in the middle of September, but he said the union was keen to maintain a dialogue with employers.

"It is in no-one's interests that teachers and their employers should find themselves in dispute," said Mr Smith.

Pay negotiations have been going on for more than a year and teachers have been waiting for their salary rises since April.