Scotland's largest teaching union has delivered a resounding message to the Scottish Government, with teachers overwhelmingly backing potential strike action over unfulfilled promises to reduce their classroom hours. The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) ballot showed 92% support for action short of strike and 83% backing full strike action.
The online consultative ballot, which opened in June and closed this week, reflects mounting frustration over a pledge made before the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Teachers were promised a reduction in maximum class contact time by 1.5 hours per week, bringing it down to 21 hours.
General secretary Andrea Bradley said: "Teachers across Scotland have sent a very clear message to their employers and the Scottish Government that they must now deliver on the promise to tackle excessive teacher workload."
Five years of unfulfilled promises
Bradley highlighted the extended timeline since the original commitment was made. "We are now in the fifth year since the pledge was made to reduce teachers' maximum class contact time by 1.5 hours per week, to 21 hours. Teachers have shown a tremendous amount of patience, even under extreme workload stress, while those responsible for delivering this commitment have dithered and delayed, with no tangible progress having yet been made on delivery."
The union leader emphasised that the ballot results send a clear signal to both the Scottish Government and local government body Cosla. "This ballot result makes clear to both the Scottish Government and (local government body) Cosla that Scotland's teachers and the EIS fully expect proper negotiations on the class contact reduction commitment to move ahead at pace, leading to an agreement and a timetable for delivery of the reduction to 21 hours class contact."
Bradley stressed that any reduction must address core workload issues. "The EIS and Scotland's teachers are also very clear that the 1.5 reduction in class contact must be allocated to teachers for preparation and correction, as a real and meaningful step to reducing teacher workload."
Government funding response
The Scottish Government announced proposals last week aimed at alleviating teacher workload pressures. Officials confirmed that work is underway with councils and teaching unions to create a plan for reducing class contact time, supported by increased funding of £186.5 million for local authorities to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels.
Strike threat looms
Bradley warned of escalating action if progress remains stalled. "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."
The union leader described the ongoing impact on teaching staff across Scotland. "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."
Both the Scottish Government and Cosla have been approached for comment on the ballot results.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
