Scotland's largest
and most effective
education trade union

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Updated: Thursday, January 01, 2004 | Printer Friendly Version | |

EIS in Further and Higher Education

The EIS has around 8000 members in Further Education Colleges (FECs) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Scotland. Members in these establishments are represented through the work of the EIS Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) and the EIS University Lecturers’ Association (EIS-ULA).

The EIS-FELA is recognised by other trade unions affiliated to the STUC as the voice of further education professionals in Scotland and the EIS-FELA is the only lecturer trade union recognised by all of Scotland’s Colleges.

The EIS-ULA is one of two trade unions recognised to represent academic interests on the national negotiating body the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES).

Both the EIS-FELA and EIS-ULA are self-governing associations (SGAs) within the Institute structure with their own policy making structures including a National Executive and Annual Conference. As in all sectors of education the Institute is committed to the highest educational standards and supports EIS-FELA and EIS-ULA members on various different levels including national/local (pay and/or conditions), institutional (policy/procedure) and individual (discipline/grievance).

If you are employed as a lecturer in either a college or university and not yet a member of a trade union why not join the EIS today by joining on-line or by contacting your branch secretary.

EIS and Equality

The EIS has developed policies on all areas of equalities in education and is committed to pursuing the equalities agenda through policy development, training, awareness raising and publicity. The EIS encourages the development of positive policies in educational establishments at all levels and among local council and other employers. Significant in recent EIS work are the ‘Breaking Down the Barriers’ documents on Sectarianism, Gender, Poverty, Anti-Racism and LGBT issues. Other areas of work include combatting bullying and harassment, sexism and age discrimination. The EIS is committed to the mainstreaming of Equality in all areas of its work.

The EIS has worked closely with the Scottish Executive and other national bodies in awareness raising of recent legislation covering the Equality Duties in relation to Race, Gender and Disability.

EIS and Anti-racism

Racism and race discrimination have no place in education. Anti-racist education recognises that the diversity of today’s society in which all citizens have a right to participate and be valued. The existence of racism and prejudice and have a negative impact on the perpetrator as well as the victim. Above all, the EIS encourages commitment by teachers, as professionals, to combat such limiting and demeaning attitudes. Everyone has the right to work and learn free from fear. The EIS works actively in this area with our partners in education and has developed policies relevant to all schools, colleges and universities.

Organisation of the EIS

The Organisation Department is responsible for the principal decision making bodies within the Institute. This includes the Annual General Meeting (the final decision making body of the Institute in all matters of strategy and policy), The Council (the principal executive committee of the Institute) and the Executive Committee (responsible for the execution of policy on behalf of the Council). The Department also has responsibility for: Recruitment, Further & Higher Education, Political Liaison, Inter Union Relations and International Work.