Vibrant picket lines during the EIS teachers’ strikes (Picture: EIS)
Scottish teachers in the EIS union are deep into 16 consecutive days of strikes with teachers in two local authorities on strike on each of these days. They are fighting to improve the 5 percent pay offer from the Scottish government and the Cosla local authorities’ body.
The Scottish National Party administration is refusing to improve the offer and is pressing ahead with a big real terms pay cuts for tens of thousands of school workers. After the February school break, the EIS union plans two days of national teachers’ strikes action for all members on Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March.
The NASUWT union will also join teachers’ strikes on those days. There are then a further 20 days of rolling EIS strikes between 13 March and 21 April.
But this level of action may not be enough to produce any movement from a government that could already have made a new offer. Union activists must push for national escalation—and indefinite strikes.
At the recent EIS national council, made up of teacher reps, last week, EIS Salaries Convener Des Morris said there was big support for strikes. He said, “The Scottish Government and Cosla have dug in their heels and refused to negotiate meaningfully at all.
“All their repeated talk of ‘positive’ and ‘constructive’ discussions doesn’t reflect reality. Support for our strike action is growing across the country, and we are seeing more and more teachers on picket lines as they grow more angered by spin from the Scottish Government and Cosla.”
For details of the strikes go to eis.org.uk/campaigns/payattention
Walkout after bosses fail to address holiday pay
Seven teaching assistants and support staff at Salisbury Manor School in Chingford, east London, struck for three days last week over the miscalculation of term time holiday pay. The workers are angry that United Learning—the company that runs the academised school—has failed to address the workers’ demands.
They want their pay to be worked out correctly and for back pay to cover the money they have lost. This issue has been resolved in other schools in the borough of Waltham Forest.
The workers, who are members of the NEU union, are planning a further three days of strikes. Messages of solidarity to Sandra.faria@neu.org.uk or Pablo.phillips@neu.org.uk
Tony Phillips
Original post
