SCOTLAND’S biggest teaching union will consult over possible strike action amid a dispute over class contact time, it announced today. 

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) entered into dispute with the Scottish government and councils three months ago, arguing ministers had failed to live up to a 2021 deal to relieve teachers’ workloads by cutting class contact time in schools to a maximum of 21 hours a week. 

With no proposals on the table from local authorities or government, the union will now take the first step towards industrial action on the matter, launching a consultative ballot at their June AGM.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Four years ago, ahead of the last Scottish Parliament election, the current Scottish government made a series of significant manifesto pledges on education.

“Key among these was a commitment to start to tackle excessive workload by reducing teachers’ maximum class contact time by 1.5 hours per week, to 21 hours.

“This was in recognition of the very high level of contact time for Scotland’s teachers, and an important step to seek to address the excessive workload levels that plague the profession.

“Four years on, and with another Scottish Parliament election now less than a year away, there has been absolutely no progress towards delivery of this important commitment and teachers continue to struggle in their professional and personal lives as a result.

“The Scottish government and Cosla should take this as a clear warning – we expect this key manifesto promise to be delivered and will take all possible steps to ensure that it is in order to improve the working conditions of teachers and the learning conditions of pupils.”

EIS salaries convener Des Morris added: “Scotland’s teachers have shown a great deal of patience over the past four years, in waiting for the Scottish government and Scotland’s local authorities agreeing a way forward on the delivery of this manifesto promise.

“The declaration of a formal dispute via the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers three months ago, intended to focus minds, has not brought anything from the Scottish government and Cosla.

“It is this lack of any focus or impetus from employers and government that has led to this decision today to consult our members on industrial action.”

The Scottish government and Cosla have been contacted for comment.