In a phenomenal ballot return, the largest Scottish teachers’ union, the EIS, has voted by 96% to strike. Within hours of the result, the EIS leadership announced a strike on 24 November, with more dates to be added.
As Jim Halfpenny, joint secretary of the West Dunbartonshire EIS, told us: “The demand by the EIS is for a 10% wage increase. The 5% offer from the employers is an insult. We worked through the pandemic to maintain education. Workload remains excessive while more and more is demanded, with fewer and fewer resources. In response, teachers are offered a derisory pay increase which is nothing short of a substantial pay cut. This cannot be allowed to continue.”
As is clear from Jim’s comment, it’s not just pay but also massive workload pressures that have driven EIS members to draw a line in the sand.
Socialist Party Scotland
