Created on: 03 Sep 2025 | Last modified: 11 Sep 2026
The National EIS Organising Conference on Saturday 3rd October is an opportunity for EIS reps and activists to come together and attend workshops to build their organising skills as well as hearing national keynote speakers.
Venue: Clayton Hotel, Glasgow
Date: Saturday 3rd October 2026
Registration: 9:30am
Event Starts: 10:00am
Event Ends: 3:30pm
Trade union organising refers to the process by which we build power in the workplace by engaging members, nurturing activists to build the capacity to deliver collective action to improve the working lives of members. Campaigning is a key part of organising, and this conference builds on our ongoing "Stand Up for Quality Education" campaign as well as fighting the influence of the far right.
This conference is aimed at school reps and LA office-bearers, as well as other EIS activists who engage with members. We will pay travel costs to attend the conference, and for those who travel far, we will arrange overnight accommodation upon request.
We have two keynote speakers:
Andrea Bradley (General Secretary)
Taj Ali - Journalist and historian who has written extensively on racism, anti-Muslim hate, and political life and organising in the South Asian community within the UK.
We will be having three 1 hour workshop sessions throughout the day.
Attendees will choose two of the first five workshops below in the morning, and one of the final four workshops to do in the afternoon.
To register please use the below link:
Organising Conference October 2026 | EIS
Build confidence and collective capacity to negotiate, monitor and, where necessary, escalate problems with Working Time Agreements.
Introduce the philosophy of working time agreements, and options if the collegiate approach fails to deliver a fair and reasonable agreement that is properly implemented. Who decides what fits into teachers’ 35-hour week- who currently decides which meetings teachers attend? Who decides how much time teachers have for planning, assessment and reporting? What happens when the work doesn’t fit? How to develop, agree and implement meaningful WTAs.
WTAs aren’t simply administrative documents. They can be an organising tool, to deliver improved working.
The focus of this workshop is on campaigns in which collective pressure needs to be built and applied to support negotiations i.e. how we turn collective pressure into a win with a difficult employer.
The session will build understanding that negotiations are not separate from organising, and that we always seek to negotiate from a position of strength created by our campaign. Session will look at mapping the route to the negotiating table. Issues such as; Who has the power? Who can influence negotiations? Who needs to be organised? What evidence do we need? How do we build our case? What pressure can we build at different stages of the campaign? When is the right moment to negotiate? How do we prepare to negotiate well? How do we escalate the campaign during negotiations?
Building active member participation in the workplace is essential for tackling issues and strengthening our union. This workshop will provide you with practical tools to engage more members in branch-based activities, fostering a robust and democratic trade union at every level. We'll explore strategies for identifying and developing new EIS activists and leaders in our branches, expanding the core of union activity within your school.
Organising conversations are structured, one-on-one discussions designed to build relationships, strengthen workplace branches, and inspire members to act. Effective negotiations at the school level are crucial for shifting power in favour of our members. This practical, skills-based workshop will boost your confidence in both core organising and negotiation techniques, focusing on communication strategies that help move people towards a shared position.
There is a perception that H&S is ‘trips and slips’ in school labs or workshops but H&S is an issue for all members, and covers their physical and mental wellbeing. For example, effective support, workload management, leadership culture, and unreasonable expectations can all lead to members sustaining harm. Empowering members to act collectively to identify and address these issues can make members’ work safer and more sustainable.
How are the far-right being financed, what are their policies and what do they tell us about their class interests? This workshop will unpack the backers, supporters and business interests that have vested interests in sowing division in our communities and that the far-right’s policies are more pro-business than pro-worker. How do we expose the anti-worker, anti-trade union core?
The EIS has for some time been concerned with a rise in disinformed and prejudicial narratives within society, and educational establishments. These harmful stories have real life impacts on our members, our learners, and our wider communities.
While many crucial voices go unheard within these narratives, prejudicial storytellers seem to take up greater space, gaining increased influence and following by tapping into people’s legitimate concerns about the future.
This session will look at how we address disinformation and prejudice, and communicate in ways that resonate and help build effective counter narratives for equality and social justice, fostering critical thinking and encouraging political literacy.
Learn about the inspiring story of John Maclean, a former EIS member and a towering figure in Red Clydeside's radical history. This session will explore Maclean's life and work, highlighting the profound role educators can play in the fight for social and economic justice. From the classroom to the picket line, Maclean exemplified the power of knowledge and agitation in challenging injustice. Join us to explore his socialist vision and reflect on its relevance to contemporary struggles, recognising the enduring power of education to strengthen workers' organisation, confidence, and collective action.
How to engage with and motivate your local politicians to sit up and take notice, to push the right pressure points to instigate political reaction and action in support of EIS campaigns. How do we make your local politicians work for you, our members and our local campaigns.