The ‘Delivering the 90 Minutes and Protecting Secondary Teachers’ consultative survey received 2,811 responses. Members’ contributions provided invaluable insights that will strengthen our campaign to reduce excessive teacher workload. The failure of employers and the Scottish Government to engage constructively and work towards implementing the 90-minute reduction in class contact time has led to a formal dispute being declared and the need to gauge members’ support for potential industrial action.
Together with sister teacher unions, the SSTA has been consulting members on their willingness to take industrial action. The response from SSTA members clearly demonstrated the strength of feeling on this issue. In the survey, 92% indicated they were prepared to take part in ‘action short of strike action’, while 72% were prepared to take part in strike action to resolve the ongoing dispute with employers.
As reported this week, discussions have begun with COSLA and the Scottish Government, with the first negotiating meeting held on Thursday 28 August and two further meetings planned in the coming weeks. However, if these meetings fail to make sufficient progress, unions will return to members to escalate pressure on the employers.
Monique Dreon-Goold, SSTA President, said:
“The response from SSTA members in the consultative survey—and their willingness to achieve a reduction in class contact time—has placed significant pressure on the Scottish Government to bring employers ‘whining and complaining’ to the negotiating table.
COSLA’s continued failure to employ teachers on permanent contracts, and to fully utilise all available teachers, is a damaging tactic designed to justify claims of a ‘lack of teachers’ to deliver the reduction in class contact time. We know that many new teachers seeking employment are being pushed out of the profession by these actions.
We have already wasted four years trying to secure this vital improvement to teachers’ working conditions. Now is not the time for words—it is the time for action.”