Teachers vote to strike over class contact time

Teachers in Scotland could go on strike before May's Holyrood elections in a growing dispute over their workload.

Members of the largest teachers' union, the EIS, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of striking, with 85% of members who voted backing the move.

The union wants to see a clear plan from the Scottish government and councils to cut their workload. They will decide the next steps on Thursday.

Last year, the Scottish government announced proposals for teachers to be given a "flexible" four-day teaching week.

The EIS wants councils and the Scottish government to do more to cut the maximum time each teacher can spend in front of a class by 90 minutes.

It tried to get a mandate for action earlier this year but too few members voted for the ballot to be legally binding.

At least half of those asked to vote have to return their papers before a strike can be called.

In the last ballot, the turnout was just 46%, although an overwhelming 86% of those who voted backed striking. This time, 60% of members voted.

The union's executive will discuss the latest ballot result before it decides what to do next.

A strike - or action such as a work to rule - before May's Holyrood elections could be an option.

But the union hopes that a strong mandate for striking and the mere threat of action could help resolve the long-standing row more quickly.

The EIS argues many teachers have to prepare lessons or mark work in their own time - effectively working for free.

It wants to see a cut in the amount of time individual teachers spend with pupils to give them more time for other duties during their working week.

The union's general secretary, Andrea Bradley, said the Scottish government had "failed to meet commitments" to reduce the maximum class contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours per week.

Bradley also said that promises to recruit 3,500 new teachers had not been delivered.

Last autumn, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced proposals which she said could help cut workload.

These could potentially mean teachers spending four days a week in class, leaving the fifth for other duties.

There could also be changes to school opening hours.

Gilruth said at the time: "The move to a four-day teaching week would really help to lighten the load in terms of workload, but also to create headspace for the teaching profession.

"We've come forward with some pragmatic solutions and we very much look forward to engaging with local government and also with the teaching trade unions on securing an agreement to ensure we can improve conditions for teachers."

However, the union is adamant that cuts in contact time must not mean that students spend less time in class. Instead, it wants more teachers to be employed.

The ballot opened before recent changes to union laws came into force.

The two other main teachers unions - the SSTA and the NASUWT - also held ballots on striking a few months ago but too few members voted.

Cllr Ricky Bell of the local government body Cosla said industrial action was in nobody's interests and urged all parties to engage.

"We recognise that supporting teachers is essential. However, this needs to be facilitated in a way that ensures a positive impact on outcomes for children and young people," he said.

"Cosla remains committed to constructive engagement with the Scottish government and teaching unions through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) on the implementation of the Ministerial commitment to reduce class contact time.

"Concerns about the financial and practical implications of this policy remain. RCCT cannot be delivered without full funding and a clear understanding of its impact on children and young people," he added.