EIS members give overwhelming support to further pensions action

Created on: 27 Mar 2013 | Last modified: 16 Nov 2015

Teacher and Lecturer members of the EIS have given overwhelming support to the prospect of further industrial action to defend their pensions. 

The EIS, which represents 80% of Scotland’s teaching professionals, has just announced the results of a consultative ballot of its members, held to gauge their willingness to take additional industrial action in defence of their pensions. 

Over 90% of those voting backed the call for industrial action, should talks with the Scottish Government fail to reach agreement.

Commenting on the result of the ballot, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said:

"EIS members have given their overwhelming support to the principle of further industrial action in defence of their pensions, and sent a message that, hopefully, even the Scottish Government cannot ignore." 

"The huge majority vote in favour of industrial action, 9 to 1, coupled with a very solid turn-out, demonstrates that Scotland’s teaching force feels betrayed on pensions and is ready to continue the fight for fair pension rights.”

"EIS members across Scotland have shown great patience during pension discussions with the Scottish Government over the past year." 

"However, given the lack of progress in these talks and the apparent unwillingness on the part of the Scottish Government to negotiate in good faith on issues such as contribution increases, teachers and lecturers are now angry at the position the Scottish Government has continued to take." 

"To simply replicate the worst of the UK government’s continuing attacks on public sector pensions north of the border, even when they have the freedom to negotiate a Scottish alternative in relation to the teachers’ pension scheme, is unacceptable.”

"Teachers and lecturers are always reluctant to take industrial action; we hope this overwhelming vote sends a very clear message to the Scottish Government that it needs to match action to its rhetoric and achieve an agreed settlement with Scottish teachers.” 

(ENDS)

Valid votes: 17669. Voting "Yes” for Industrial Action: 16,134. Voting "No”: 1535. Turnout: 34%

Further information from: Brian Cooper on 0131 225 6244 or bcooper@eis.org.uk