Glasgow teacher strike called off after council pledges to drop education cuts

Planned strike action by teachers in Glasgow has been suspended following talks between unions and the local authority.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union had announced a walkout on February 20 unless education cuts were halted and reversed by Glasgow City Council.

The union has confirmed that the action has been suspended following an offer from the council’s SNP group to withdraw future planned education cuts and a promise that additional Scottish Government funding will be used to increase the number of teachers working in schools to 2023 levels.

EIS said the decision to suspend action had been taken in good faith until the full council meets to discuss the budget next week.

The council agreed to remove the second and third year of cuts from the budget at a meeting on Wednesday with the EIS optimistic that it can reverse job losses that have already taken place.

In a letter to the union following the meeting, councillor Allan Casey confirmed that the budget will remove the future years teacher’s saving.

He added: “We will find £17m over two years to fund this. I hope you agree that it represents a significant commitment to our teaching workforce and to the quality of education in the city.”

The city convener for workforce said that teacher numbers are expected to increase as a result of additional investment from the Scottish Government and the council’s decision to remove future cuts, adding that the SNP is “hopeful” that other parties will support the proposals.

Glasgow EIS local association secretary Jane Gow said: “While the offer is not yet binding, and still has to pass through the full processes of council and be confirmed in next week’s budget, the EIS is suspending strike action as an act of good faith while this process continues to its conclusion.

“As ever, the EIS will be paying close attention to ensure that the promises outlined in the letter become hard and fast commitments.”

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley added: “Glasgow EIS members have secured a significant victory in their campaign against education cuts. It is through working collectively, and working in partnership with Glasgow parent groups, that our members in Glasgow have secured a political commitment to stop the cuts and a pledge that will increase the number of teachers working in the city’s schools.”

The union said it has already seen around 300 teaching posts axed after cuts to teacher numbers were passed last year.

It will continue to have a mandate for strike action for six months if the cuts face being reintroduced or if the budget fails to pass.