Scottish teachers to go on strike across six council areas in workload dispute

Teachers are set to go on strike across Scotland later this month as part of a dispute over workload.

The EIS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, has targeted six local authorities after members voted in favour of taking industrial action.

They are Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Fife. All schools in these areas will be forced to close if staff walk out, but family centres are set to operate as normal.

The union did not confirm the affected councils or the strike dates, citing ongoing talks to seek a resolution to the dispute. Several councils have since updated their websites or issued letters to parents.

When are the proposed strike dates?

East Renfrewshire – Tuesday, March 17 and Monday, March 23
Glasgow – Wednesday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 24
Moray – Thursday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 25
Perth and Kinross – Thursday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 25
Dundee – Wednesday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 24
Fife – Tuesday, March 17 and Monday, March 23

Union hopeful of negotiated outcome

The EIS said in a statement: “As trade union legislation requires, the EIS did, last week, issue formal notice of potential industrial action over teacher workload to Scotland’s local authorities.

“The EIS has also informed its members of the potential for both Action Short of Strike (ASOS) and strike action in the coming weeks.

“While taking these required steps to comply with the law, the EIS is also continuing discussions with both the
Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities, through COSLA, in the hope of achieving a negotiated
outcome to this dispute.

“In light of the fact that negotiations are currently ongoing, the EIS has chosen not to release any further
information on proposed industrial action at the present time, other than to those groups it is legally required
to inform.

“Should the current ongoing negotiations fail to secure a negotiated agreement, the EIS will, in the coming days, make public its plans for industrial action.”

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council, Scotland’s largest local authority by population, said: “We have received the EIS strike action notification but understand that talks are ongoing.

“However, due to the large numbers of our teachers who could potentially be taking industrial action, it will not be possible to open schools to children and young people on strike days.

“We will issue a letter to our families today explaining this and will keep them updated if the situation changes.”

Vivienne Cross, Moray Council’s head of education, said: “We fully appreciate that school closures inconvenience families, so we’re providing advanced warning to allow alternative childcare arrangements to be made as necessary.

“We will, of course, keep parents and carers updated with any developments or changes.”

Mark Ratter, director of education at East Renfrewshire Council, wrote in a letter to parents that all primary and secondary schools will be closed on strike days, including the Isobel Mair school for children with additional support needs.

He said: “It is proposed that industrial action will take place on Tuesday, 17 March and Monday, 23 March 2026. Our aim, as always, is to provide a safe environment for our staff and young people and maintain continuity of learning where possible.”

More strikes on the horizon?

Last week, the union issued a 10-day notice of its intention to take action, saying that despite “progress” in negotiations, a firm agreement had not been reached.

It raised the prospect of a potential strike in April or May, which would be in the run-up to exams.

The Scottish Parliament elections will also take place on May 7.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said the union was complying with legal requirements around notices for industrial action.

She said: “This allows us to keep our options open, within the confines of current trade union law, and retain the option to call on our members to take industrial action, should it be required to ensure a resolution to this long-running dispute.

“Some progress has been made in the past 24 hours but so far, we have nothing in writing to reflect the commitment of the Scottish Government and Cosla to deliver on past promises.”

She continued: “The EIS remains fully committed to seeking a negotiated solution to this dispute, and will remain available in the coming days and before the closing of this 10-day window for meaningful discussion with the Scottish Government and local authority employers, through Cosla.

“We would urge those other parties to use this window wisely, and to move swiftly to ensure that an agreement can be reached to end this dispute, in the best interests of learners and teachers across Scotland.”

Discussions ongoing to reduce class contact time

Councillor Ricky Bell, Cosla’s resources spokesperson said: “Cosla continues to discuss reducing class contact time with the EIS and the Scottish Government.

“What is most important for councils is ensuring the best outcomes for our children and young people.

“For this to be implemented, councils require full funding and an assurance that reducing the time teachers spend in front of their classes by 90 minutes per week to 21 hours will have a positive impact on children and young people.

“We therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement that additional funding is required.”

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth last week pledged additional investment and said she was “determined” to find a resolution to prevent a strike.

She said: “We have been working intensively with trade unions and COSLA on how best to implement our commitment to reduce class contact time, which will reduce workload for teachers and improve outcomes for children.

“Reaching an agreement this week will avoid industrial action that is in nobody’s interests, least of all children’s. We want to avoid senior pupils having their exams disrupted and we think that the trade unions and council leaders across Scotland want to avoid that too.

“We have put together a package of measures to address concerns from both sides and have offered significant additional resources to help councils implement the deal.

“An agreement can be reached. I am hopeful that COSLA leaders will vote to do so when they meet this Friday, thereby allowing the EIS to call off its planned industrial action in response.”