Scotland’s teachers list five reasons to strike

MEMBERS of Scotland’s largest teaching union will begin their annual conference today with renewed calls for industrial action amid growing anger over changes facing the profession.

Delegates meeting for the Educational Institute of Scotland’s (EIS) AGM in Dundee have put forward five motions calling for industrial action over pay, conditions, pensions, public sector cuts and ongoing changes to the school curriculum.

The annual gathering will hear calls for a strike if the Scottish Government does not postpone the introduction of the National Qualifications for a year. Due for introduction in 2013, the new exams will replace Standard Grades and Intermediates in Scotland’s schools. However, many teachers feel they are still unprepared.

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The meeting is expected to hear warnings of a period of industrial unrest not seen since the 1990s if the Scottish Government does not listen to concerns over the curriculum, pensions and changes to their conditions of service as proposed by the controversial McCormac review of teaching employment.

A motion proposed by members in Renfrewshire calls for an “immediate ballot” on possible strike action if changes to teachers’ conditions of service are implemented against their will.

Scottish teachers took part in their first national walkout for 25 years when they went on strike in November over pension reforms being carried out by the UK government. Teachers argue that the changes will see them working longer, contributing more and receiving less.

There are also concerns about the increased workload associated with implementing Curriculum for Excellence and fears over which parts of the McCormac review will be taken forward by the Scottish Government.

However, perhaps the biggest worry for teachers and parents is the confusion surrounding the introduction of the National Qualifications.

Last month, a “deep audit” by Education Scotland concluded that the introduction of the new qualifications remained on track, with no need for a delay.

However, the EIS said the audit’s lack of engagement with teachers had been “depressing”.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We will continue to work with teachers and all other partners to keep implementation under review and ensure we stay on track in every subject and in every school and get on with implementing Curriculum for Excellence.”