Scottish teachers may walk off the job as early as March 16 if negotiations over reducing their workload fail, the EIS union has warned, following a formal 10-day strike notice. The dispute centers on the Scottish government’s failure to implement a 2021 manifesto pledge to reduce the time teachers spend in front of a class by 90 minutes per week.

Progress Stalls as Union Demands Written Commitments

The EIS said it had made ‘some progress’ in talks since announcing the strike vote earlier this week but has yet to receive any written commitments from the Scottish government or the local government body Cosla to deliver on the promised reforms.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has stated her intention to avoid a strike, but Cosla has emphasized that it requires full funding to implement the plan. The union also wants assurances that reducing classroom time would have a positive impact on students.

The Scottish government’s recent budget included a 2% increase in local authority funding, which the EIS welcomed as a step toward achieving the proposed class contact time reductions. However, the union remains unsatisfied, citing the need for binding written commitments from all parties.

Strike Rules Changed, But Uncertainty Remains

Strike rules in the UK have recently changed, reducing the required notice period from 14 to 10 days and extending the validity of the mandate from six to 12 months. This change allows the EIS to issue its notice now, with the potential for a strike as early as March 16.

The EIS attempted to secure a strike mandate earlier this year but failed due to low voter turnout. In the most recent ballot, 60% of members voted in favor, with 85% of those who participated supporting industrial action. The union has also outlined plans for both strike days and non-strike actions as part of its strategy.

General Secretary Andrea Bradley emphasized the need for ‘surety’ from the Scottish government and Cosla, stating that the union is ‘fully committed’ to finding a resolution. ‘After five years of waiting, and more than a year in dispute, Scotland’s teachers and the EIS will expect to see a firm and binding commitment, in writing and signed by all parties, before we are willing to remove the prospect of industrial action being undertaken in Scotland’s schools,’ she said.

Government and Cosla Push for Collaborative Solutions

Ricky Bell, Cosla’s resources spokesperson, expressed disappointment that the EIS is proceeding with strike action despite the availability of additional funding from the Scottish government. He stated that Cosla is committed to making ‘meaningful progress’ on the issue while ensuring that changes prioritize the best interests of children.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the government has provided ‘significant additional resource’ to Cosla to help reduce contact time. She urged Cosla leaders to ‘formally consider proposals with urgency’ and emphasized the government’s commitment to a ‘New Deal for Teachers,’ including improved maternity pay and a pilot program for a four-day teaching week.

The coming days will be critical in determining whether industrial action can be avoided. The EIS has expressed frustration over the lack of progress in reducing teacher workloads, despite the 2021 SNP manifesto pledge to cut the amount of time individual teachers spend in class by 1.5 hours per week.

The union argues that reducing classroom time would allow teachers to focus on preparing lessons and marking, tasks they often perform outside of school hours. However, the EIS is cautious about implementing such changes without a clear plan to avoid reducing the amount of time students spend in school, which would require hiring more teachers and additional funding.

With the potential for a strike looming, the EIS is demanding a concrete plan to address the workload crisis. ‘Mere aspirations or good intent are unlikely to be sufficient,’ the union said, emphasizing the need for a tangible solution to prevent industrial action in Scotland’s schools.