Teachers across Scotland are preparing to vote on potential strike action due to ongoing disputes regarding workloads and class contact time. The NASUWT union has claimed that the Scottish Government has not fulfilled its promise to reduce the weekly class contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours. This reduction was a significant commitment made in the Scottish National Party’s election manifesto and is seen as crucial for allowing teachers more time for essential tasks such as marking and lesson preparation.
The union has expressed that the delay in implementing this change has contributed to a growing sense of burnout among educators. The ballot for strike action, as well as action short of a strike, will close on January 14, 2024. In parallel, another major teaching union, the EIS, is also seeking to gauge its members’ support for industrial action based on similar concerns.
Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of NASUWT, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Ministers have had nearly five years to implement their promise to the profession on class contact time, but all that has been achieved is delay and prevarication while teachers’ workloads have crept higher and higher.” Wrack further noted that the need for industrial action has arisen as educators struggle with overwhelming workloads, urging members to vote in favor of both strike options.
Mike Corbett, NASUWT’s National Official for Scotland, highlighted the recent agreement on teacher pay but criticized the lack of action on excessive workloads. He said, “Workload and working conditions are as important as pay in ensuring we have a sufficient supply of teachers and that they can do their jobs effectively.” Corbett added that the patience of educators has been tested, and if the government does not respond to the ongoing workload crisis, they will be compelled to act.
In response to these developments, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government reiterated their commitment to reducing class contact time. They stated, “Ministers have been clear that reducing class contact will help support the time and space necessary for teachers, to allow them to drive improvement and reform in our schools and improve outcomes for their pupils.” The government expressed its intention to work collaboratively with teaching unions and COSLA to expedite the process of implementing this change.
This situation underscores the broader challenges facing the education sector in Scotland as teachers advocate for better working conditions. The outcome of the ballots could significantly impact both the educational landscape and the well-being of educators across the country.
