Created on: 26 Sep 2025
As members will be aware, there was a further meeting of the SNCT Reducing Class Contact Time working group held last week on 18th September.
At this meeting and as an attempt to push negotiations forward, the Teachers’ Side tabled a discussion paper outlining a possible way forward towards agreement on the use of the time resulting from the promised reduction in weekly class contact time to 21 hours per week.
In doing so, the Teachers’ Side made clear that our red line in negotiations remains that the full 1.5 hours resulting from the reduction in class contact time must be allocated to ‘preparation and correction’- preparation of learning, teaching and assessment, to address unhealthy, unsustainable and unfair levels of workload.
Both the Scottish Government and COSLA welcomed the efforts of the Teachers’ Side, however, there is significant work required by both prior to the next meeting of the SNCT RCCT working group on 30th September.
At last week’s meeting, the Teachers’ Side reinforced that if there is no credible progress towards implementation of the 21 hours commitment by the Scottish Government and COSLA, evidenced at the meeting on 30th September, then a further escalation of the formal dispute is highly likely.
EIS negotiators on the Teachers’ Side are clear that insufficient progress being made by the Scottish Government and COSLA will result in the calling of a special meeting of the EIS Salaries Committee which will consider request of a statutory ballot for industrial action over unsustainable and unfair workload.
A further update on SNCT negotiations will be provided to members swiftly following next week’s meeting of the SNCT RCCT working group.
Although these negotiations are being undertaken in good faith, it is essential that EIS members are prepared in the event that a statutory ballot for industrial action is necessary.
Please make sure that your postal address details are up to date on our website.