Teachers’ union calls off strike after talks agreed

SCOTLAND’S largest teaching union has suspended plans for a strike after the Scottish Government agreed to talks over controversial pension reforms.

Nearly three-quarters of members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) who took part in a ballot voted in favour of taking industrial action on 28 March.

But the union, which represents 55,000 teachers, said it would delay any strike action after agreeing to enter into formal discussions with the Scottish Government and local authorities regarding the future design of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme (STSS).

Scottish teachers took part in their first national walkout in 25 years last November over plans to reform public sector pensions, which it is claimed will see the profession working longer, contributing more and receiving less.

Ronnie Smith, the EIS’s outgoing general secretary, said: “The EIS executive meeting decided that entering into negotiation with the Scottish Government and employers offers the opportunity to find a Scottish solution to pension provision. The EIS is clear that further future action will be contemplated if satisfactory progress in pensions cannot be achieved in Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We welcome the EIS decision to enter into formal discussions.”