Members of Scotland’s biggest teaching union have voted narrowly to accept a pay and conditions deal, averting the possibility of industrial action in schools.
The leadership of the EIS had called on its rank-and-file members to support the package thrashed out with local authority employers’ body Cosla and the Scottish Government, claiming it was the best available in difficult circumstances.
But the fact that only 56.2% of those voting did so demonstrates the considerable unease many teachers feel about accepting a two-year pay freeze and other changes that will cut the overall pay bill by £45m.
Thursday also saw the results of a ballot by the smaller Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association. Some 93% of those taking part rejected the deal.
Its general secretary Ann Ballinger said it showed the feeling among members and added, “The ball is now thoroughly in the court of the government and Cosla.
“The SSTA will continue to negotiate to reach a settlement but must point out that, had the government and Cosla approached the teacher unions in autumn 2010 as the scale of the financial problems became apparent, we might now have an agreement as to how the relevant savings could have been made.”
Despite the SSTA’s rejection, the deal is now expected to be ratified by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.DifficultEIS general secretary Ronnie Smith admitted his members had taken “a very difficult decision” to accept a real-terms cut in pay in exchange for a guarantee on jobs.
“Scotland’s teachers should be commended for taking such a difficult but mature decision to protect jobs, training posts for those teaching students who will leave university in the summer, and the quality of education provision that can be provided in our schools.
“With this difficult agreement now having been reached and with teachers delivering their side of the bargain, it is now incumbent on the management side to meet their promises on jobs and future conditions of service.
“In particular, it is essential that there is full and proper engagement with the McCormac Review of the 21st Century Teaching Agreement to ensure a progressive outcome which will deliver a better future of education, for schools, pupils and teachers.”
Opponents in the EIS set up the Reject campaign to argue against the deal.
They included past president Peter Quigley, from Fife, who said the ballot had been “deeply flawed.”
A spokesperson said, “We have tried to put the case fairly, using the communications channels open to us, and we have certainly made the EIS leadership sit up and take some action as a result.
“It has been a breath of the fresh air to see the level of support for Reject from teachers across Scotland and everyone is to be commended for taking a stand against these proposals.”
Councillor Isabel Hutton, Cosla education spokesperson, welcomed the outcome as “good news for children and young people in Scotland.”