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Teachers in Glasgow announce strike date over cuts

Getty Images Pupils in a classroom. In the foreground is the side of a pupil holding a pencil. There is a calculator, books and papers on the desk. Getty Images
Glasgow City Council plans to reduce 450 teaching roles within three years

Teachers in Glasgow are to go on strike on Thursday 20 February in protest at cuts to education services.

Members of the the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union who took part in the ballot voted 95% to 5% in favour of walking out unless the ongoing programme of cuts is halted and reversed.

Glasgow City Council decided to scrap 450 posts over a three-year period as part of a savings drive.

The union has argued the cuts will harm teaching standards and lead to increased workloads for staff.

It is anticipated that most of Glasgow's schools will be closed that day.

It follows the February mid-term break which runs from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 February.

The EIS has formally notified Glasgow City Council of the date, saying the strike will go ahead unless the council confirms that it will halt, and reverse, its programme of cuts which has already seen about 300 teaching posts axed from the city's schools.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: "EIS members across Glasgow remain resolute and determined to fight these destructive and dangerous cutbacks by the council, which are damaging education provision in Glasgow and causing irreparable harm to the learning experience of thousands of young people in Glasgow's schools."

She added: "It is not too late for Glasgow City Council to hold their hands up, admit that they have got this very badly wrong, and agree to cancel their programme of deep education cuts.

"Teachers never take strike action lightly, but are determined to stand united to force the council to scrap the cuts.

"This is about the future of education in Glasgow, and protecting the futures of many thousands of young people – both those currently within the Glasgow school system and, also, those that will follow in the years ahead.

"This is a hugely important fight, and one that Glasgow's teachers – with the support of parents and the wider community – are determined to win."

The EIS has been campaigning against the cuts since they were announced last year.

A particular concern raised is the impact on schools that cater for pupils with additional support needs.

Glasgow City Council previously stressed that no teachers in permanent jobs would be made redundant, with savings made by not filling vacant posts or reducing staff on temporary contracts.

The education budget covers more than half the local authority's direct expenditure, with the council saying it needed to look at every option to make savings.