An update from the General Secretary - 16 January

Created on: 16 Jan 2026

Dear Colleague

Thank you

Firstly, thank you to each and every member who voted in the statutory ballot on class contact reduction as a means of reducing workload for all teachers and as a route to securing permanent jobs for the thousands of qualified teachers who remain unemployed or without a permanent contract.

Your votes took us to within only a few percentage points of crossing the line. The full results are below. 

First ballot

Unfortunately, not enough EIS members voted in this ballot, meaning that on this occasion, the EIS has not been able to secure a mandate for industrial action as soon as we wanted.

This is disappointing but just means that the 50,000 teachers who are struggling  with workload and/ or with securing a permanent job, have a bit more work to do so that the EIS can increase the pressure on the Scottish Government and COSLA to finally do right by teachers and the young people that you teach.

Another chance to make your voice be heard and your vote count

The EIS Executive Committee believes that this is possible. I believe that this is possible.

Because we believe that EIS members understand that when the EIS presses forward, it’s for the benefit of all teachers and for the benefit of all our young people. The goals are intertwined, making them worth fighting for even more. Solidarity is the essence.

For that reason, the Executive Committee has decided that EIS members will be asked again if they’re prepared to stand up for the whole of the teaching profession - those with jobs who’re over-worked and those who can’t get permanent jobs - for young people and for Scottish education, by holding the Scottish Government (and COSLA) to their promises to improve the working conditions of all teachers and the learning conditions of Scotland’s children by reducing class contact time.  

Agree or disagree- just vote

The three months prior to the next Scottish election is a prime time for the voices of all EIS members to be heard.

Whether you agree or disagree that class contact time should be reduced, please be prepared to vote and make your voice heard at the second time of asking.

Even if you disagree that class contact time should be reduced and time to prepare lessons increased, please vote. If you don’t, because of the anti-trade union laws of the last Tory UK Government, you’re making it even harder for democracy to work.

Your fellow EIS colleagues will be counting each and every one of you to vote in the second ballot that will be open between 26th January and 25th February. Please don’t let one another down.

In solidarity

Andrea Bradley
General Secretary

The result of the statutory ballot in pursuit of the workload dispute that closed on Wednesday 14th January is set out below:

  1. “Are you prepared to take part in industrial action consisting of action short of strike (ASOS) in pursuit of the SNCT Workload Dispute?
    1. the number of individuals entitled to vote in the ballot; 48212
    2. the number of votes cast in the ballot; 22450
    3. the number of individuals answering “Yes” to the required question; 20849
    4. the number of individuals answering “No” to the required question; 1546
    5. the number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned; 55
    6. whether or not the number of votes cast in the ballot is at least 50% of the number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot; NO
    7. whether or not the number of individuals answering “yes” to the question is at least 40% of the number of individuals entitled to vote in the ballot; YES
  2. "Are you willing to take part in industrial action consisting of Strike Action in pursuit of the SNCT Workload Dispute?
    1. the number of individuals entitled to vote in the ballot; 48212
    2. the number of votes cast in the ballot; 22450
    3. the number of individuals answering “Yes” to the required question; 19261
    4. the number of individuals answering “No” to the required question; 3150
    5. the number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned; 39
    6. whether or not the number of votes cast in the ballot is at least 50% of the number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot; NO
    7. whether or not the number of individuals answering “yes” to the question is at least 40% of the number of individuals entitled to vote in the ballot; NO  

Please see a copy of the scrutineer’s report.