BBC Scotland Education Correspondent Kenneth Macdonald discusses reaction to the plan

BBC Scotland disclosed a leaked cabinet document which proposes the abolition of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee if, as expected, teachers reject the pay deal currently on offer.

But senior officials in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), who have been negotiating with teachers, say they knew nothing about the plan.

'Bargaining' principle

Cosla Education Convener Danny McCafferty told BBC Scotland that any change to the current system must not alter the principle of national bargaining.

"I think there are certain principles we need to be very clear about," he said.

Cosla Education Convener Danny McCafferty: "National pay bargaining must stay"

"One is that Cosla would prefer to retain a national bargaining mechanism. I think that secondly we are very clear that education remains with local authorities.

"Outwith those two considerations, if the SJNC is a block to progress then the SJNC is not indispensable so long as we can retain national bargaining and education with local authorities."

Asked about the Scottish Executive's intention to set up a committee of inquiry in place of the SJNC, Mr McCafferty said that had been "no indication to Cosla" about it.

He added: "Cosla is not privy to leaked documents."

'Fierce opposition'

Ronnie Smith: "Any move to get rid of the SJNC would be odd"

Any move to disband the SJNC is likely to be met with fierce opposition from the unions and particularly from the Educational Institute of Scotland, the country's largest teaching union.

General Secretary Ronnie Smith said: "This idea, that because we haven't been able to reach an agreement, that the defect lies in the machinery rather than the offer that's on the table, is somewhat odd.

Ronnie Smith: "Wholly defective offer"

"We have to focus on a wholly defective offer which every teachers organisation is roundly rejecting."

Mr Smith said he was happy to go arbitration, echoing the comments of Brian Monteith, the Scottish Tories education spokesman, who said Acas should be called in.

But Mr McCafferty said a move to arbitration would not resolve anything.

And Mr Smith told the BBC he believed Education Minister Sam Galbraith was against such a move.

"It's clear from this leaked document that the government is not prepared to wear that for fear that arbitration would not give them what they want," he said.