Teachers across Scotland could strike in mid-March over workload

Scotland’s teachers could go on strike as early as mid-March in a dispute over their workload.

The EIS union has issued a formal 10-day notice of its strike plan as SNP ministers have not yet implemented a 2021 manifesto pledge to reduce the time teachers spend in front of a class by 90 minutes.

Cutting contact time would free up teachers for tasks like preparing lessons and marking. The union claims teachers often have to do these tasks in their own time.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said while there had been “some progress” made since the strike vote was announced earlier this week, there has been “nothing in writing” from the Scottish government and council body Cosla to”deliver on past promises.”

Ms Bradley 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.”

Strike rules across the UK have recently changed, with unions only required to give 10 days’ notice rather than the previous 14. These mandates are also valid for a year rather than six months.

The EIS notice means teachers in Scotland could strike as early as 16 March.

Ms Bradley added: “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.”

Negotiations have been taking place and Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said she wanted to avoid a strike. However, Cosla said it needed full funding to deliver the plan.

It also said it needed assurances that giving teachers the extra “non-contact time” would “have a positive impact on children and young people”.