Teachers to be balloted on strike action over class contact time and 'excessive' workloads

Scotland’s teachers are being balloted for strike action over a dispute on workloads and class contact time.

The NASUWT union has accused the Scottish Government of failing to deliver on its commitment to reduce weekly class contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours – a key SNP election manifesto promise, which they say would allow teachers more time for activities such as marking and preparing lessons.

The union warned the continued delay is leaving staff “burnt out and overwhelmed”.

Members are to be asked to vote on both strike action and action short of strike, with the vote closing on Wednesday January 14.

Teaching union EIS is also balloting its members for industrial action on the same grounds.

Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “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.

“An industrial action ballot has unfortunately become the only option to try to bring about the improvement in working conditions burned out and overwhelmed teachers need.

“We urge all members to vote yes and yes for both strike and action short of strike action when they receive their ballots.”

Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official for Scotland, said: “While just last week we were able to find an agreement with employers and ministers on teachers’ pay, a similar commitment to fulfilling pledges to tackle the excessive workloads and working hours being experienced by teachers has been seriously lacking.

“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.

“The patience of teachers has run out. If ministers and employers refuse to act on the workload crisis which continues to affect our members day in, day out, we will.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “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.

“We are committed to working with teaching unions and COSLA to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time at pace. The recent agreement on teacher pay shows what can be achieved through constructive discussion and negotiation.”