Forth Valley teachers to vote on potential strike action

Teachers across the Forth Valley are to be balloted over strike action.

It's due to an ongoing pay dispute.

The ballots will open next Wednesday.

Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “The issuing of the formal ballot notices, as required by law, marks a further serious warning to Scotland’s local authorities and the Scottish Government that they must improve their pay offer to teachers or face up to the reality of strike action closing schools across Scotland this autumn.  Teachers do not consider the prospect of taking strike action lightly, but our members are deeply angry at the continuing dragging of feet and the series of sub-inflationary pay offers that have brought us to this point. Teachers are highly skilled professionals who perform a vital job which is crucial to the entire country, and they fully deserve to be paid appropriately for the essential work that they do. The message from EIS members could not be clearer – pay us properly, or we will strike in schools across the length and breadth of Scotland.”

Ms Bradley added, “COSLA and the Scottish Government cannot rely on the anti-trade union laws introduced by the UK Conservative government for cover. The 78% turnout in our recent consultative ballot, and the massive 91% support for strike action, would obliterate the thresholds required as a mandate for strike action. The EIS listens to and represents the collective view of its members. As Scotland’s teaching professionals, our members have told us and will signal again in this ballot that they will not accept a deep real-terms pay cut, and are prepared to take strike action to achieve a fair settlement. The EIS is confident that its members will again vote overwhelmingly for strike action in this statutory ballot. Time is now running out for an agreement to be reached. COSLA and the Scottish Government must come back with a better pay deal, which properly reflects the value of teachers, and which protects their salaries from further real-terms erosion amidst the soaring cost of living, in order to avert strike action on a scale that that will close schools across the country.”