Teachers accuse own union of pay sell-out

The EIS came under a barrage of criticism from teachers as they gathered in Perth for the union's annual congress.

Michael Dunn of the union's South Lanarkshire local association said: "I represent many branches and many of these did trust the leadership but now feel that trust has been breached.

"A pay freeze is one thing but giving away conditions of service is unbelievable."

Vicky Robertson, a supply teacher from Glasgow said: "By accepting this the EIS have let down their members. "This decision was undemocratic and in direct contravention of EIS policy which is unacceptable."

A first offer on pay and conditions from the council leaders' body Cosla earlier this year was roundly rejected by 98 per cent of the membership with 85 per cent supporting industrial action against the deal.

However, a second offer, which critics say was little different, was backed by EIS negotiators who urged members to accept it. In the end 56 per cent of members agreed to accept the latest deal.

But David Munro, of Inverclyde, yesterday criticised the union's membership for adopting a "disastrous strategy" in the pay negotiations. He said: "This is one of the worst reverse ferrets I have ever seen in my history in the trade union movement.

"The EIS now looks weak our employers know this. It has recognises a deal which leaves supply teachers in the cold. We have lost members over this."

Dougie Mackie, convener of the salaries committee, defended the decision to urge members to accept the deal.

He said: "Part of what we wished to do throughout the negotiations was negotiate a position which we could ballot our members , which is what we did.

"We did get 15.3m removed from the (initial] package of cuts, we did see a reduction of cuts to sick pay and gained a written guarantee to provide 1,800 jobs for probationers."

Members also criticised the union for not implementing a ballot in favour of a strike.

John Inglis, of the union's East Lothian local association, asked: "Why has the work to contract not been proceeded with in relation to the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence until there are adequate resources for its delivery as agreed at 2010 AGM?"Alan Munro, incoming EIS president, said: "We sought legal advice and were told that at national level there was no legal trade dispute which we would need to allow us to ballot." He called for an end to the division in the union and asked members not reflect on past matters but to move forward in a "productive way".

The backlash was sparked after a ballot of the EIS's membership to accept the pay deal offered by council umbrella group Cosla.

EIS leaders had urged members to accept the deal despite other unions including the NASUWT and the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association rejecting it.

However, despite an internet campaign by some EIS members to reject the offer made in negotiations by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers a small majority of the membership agreed to accept it.

Although the EIS was the only union to accept, its size gives it more votes and meant the deal was accepted.

Critics say the deal reduces pay for supply teachers, increases hours and reduces holiday and sick pay entitlements.