Teachers to join pension strikes

(UKPA
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Members of Scotland’s largest teaching union have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes over proposed changes to pensions.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS said 24, 426 members, 82.2% of those who responded to the ballot, backed the move in a turnout of 54.2%.

The decision comes as the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS revealed 59.7% of its members who voted have also chosen to strike, with an overall turnout of almost 38%.

EIS members are expected to join a UK-wide day of action on November 30 which is set to involve workers ranging from school dinner ladies and refuse collectors to NHS staff and civil servants. It is the first national strike by EIS members in almost quarter of a century.

The EIS agreed earlier this year to ballot its members on strikes over what it claims is a UK Government «triple whammy» to force teachers to work longer, pay more and receive less in their pension.

The move came after teachers agreed to use industrial action to resist any deterioration in their conditions of service at the EIS AGM in June. The ballot, which EIS leaders said had «not been taken lightly», saw 5,276 members, almost 18%, vote against striking.

EIS general secretary Ronnie Smith said: «This 82% vote for strike action is the strongest indication so far that the patience of teachers and lecturers has been exhausted. Faced with a wide ranging attack on their pensions, on top of a two-year pay freeze, rampant inflation and education budget cuts, our members are signalling that enough is enough.

«Teachers and lecturers are highly committed professionals who do not decide lightly to strike. It is more than two decades since the last national strike action. However, the pensions triple whammy of being compelled to pay more, work longer and get less has to be challenged.»

The threat of strikes comes after the Westminster Government offered unions the «chance of a lifetime» over public sector pensions earlier this week in a bid to reach a deal to avert action by millions of workers. Ministers said they had made improvements to their proposals which would benefit employees in teaching, local government, the NHS and other parts of the public sector.

Holyrood’s Education Secretary Michael Russell said: «It is with regret that I hear the results of the EIS ballot on industrial action. While I agree with their campaign in response to the UK Government proposals for public sector pensions, I don’t agree with their method. Strike action is not in the best interests of pupils or parents. I join with them in urging the UK Government to think again.»

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