Scottish teachers threaten strike action if 'extreme workload stress' isn't eased

Scottish teachers have threatened strike action if the government and councils don’t tackle the “extreme workload stress” they are under.

A ballot organised by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country’s largest teaching union, showed that 92% of members supported action short of a strike and 83% would support striking.

The union has warned that action will be taken if “a long-awaited promise” – made prior to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election – to cut teaching contact time by one-and-a-half hours a week is not delivered soon.

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley described the result of the ballot as “a very clear message” to Holyrood.

Ms Bradley said: “Should very quick progress not be made on delivery of the class contact time commitment, the EIS will move swiftly to a statutory ballot for industrial action.

“Throughout the past four years, while the Scottish Government and COSLA have continued to prevaricate over delivery of the commitment to tackle workload, Scotland’s teachers have continued to suffer severe pressure and stress as a result of their workload burdens.

“It is long past time for delivery of the pledge that was made to Scotland’s teachers, pupils and the electorate – teacher workload must be reduced, starting with swift delivery of the reduction in class contact hours to a maximum of 21 per week.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We remain committed to working with the teacher unions, and COSLA, through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time for teachers.

“We are clear that reducing class contact time will help address critical concerns around teacher workload, thereby creating the space to drive improvement and reform in our schools and improve outcomes for pupils.

“The teacher unions will know this is ultimately a matter which will require agreement from the whole SNCT. It is encouraging that the SNCT has agreed to intensify its focus on this work, and met yesterday (28 Aug) to start work on the development of a clear route map for the delivery of reduced class contact time.”

COSLA has been contacted for comment.