Message from the General Secretary
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Dear Colleague
I hope you had an enjoyable summer break and that you’ve had a good start to the new academic session!
Our national committees met last week and are off to a flying start on the priorities that EIS members have set through our democratic structures - most recently the EIS AGM in Dundee in June.
Right now the Education and the Salaries Committees are joining forces to press for a coherent multi-year programme of inset days, including additional inset days, so that teachers have the time and space to be meaningfully involved in the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.
The Salaries Committee continues to lead on efforts to progress the implementation of the class contact reduction agreement with the deadline for practical enactment in Primary less than a year away.
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Our Employment Relations Committee is taking further steps to strengthen the EIS’s work on Health and Safety.
Meanwhile the Equality Committee has kept up the work on supporting members to challenge prejudicial disinformation, the type of which is being spread by the far-right in communities and online.
The Executive Committee meets on 4th September and among other matters, will be setting the course for the next phase of the Stand Up for Quality Education Campaign, building on progress so far and amplifying the calls for additional funding for Education as investment for the future.
EIS-FELA at City of Glasgow College continues to fight for reasonable health and safety protections and against poor management practices in the College, whilst EIS-ULA members at Glasgow Caledonian University are continuing to strike against compulsory redundancies. Needless to say, members in these branches have the full support of the EIS and its almost 65 thousand members.
It’s already shaping up to be another very busy year for the EIS, as it will undoubtedly be for our members in Early Years settings, schools, colleges and universities, endeavouring to provide quality education for pupils and students while resources are tight at best.
As you do so, the EIS will continue to speak up and speak out on your behalf to government, employers and national agencies. The message will be consistent and clear: teachers’ and lecturers’ working conditions are pupils’ and students’ learning conditions - and both have to be right!
Very best wishes for the year ahead.
Andrea Bradley,
General Secretary
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Support Striking Welding Lecturers at City of Glasgow College
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Welding and Fabrication lecturers at the City of Glasgow College are continuing a programme of strike action as part of a Health & Safety Dispute. The lecturers have been engaged in strike action since March. College management still refuses to provide Respiratory Protection Equipment to protect staff and students from carcinogenic welding fumes.
Send your messages of solidarity to our National Officer for FE, Sarah Collins at scollins@eis.org.uk
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Solidarity with Lecturers at Glasgow Caledonian University
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Lecturers at Glasgow Caledonian University are striking over the proposal to cut 100 jobs and the failure of management to rule out compulsory redundancies.
Send your solidarity to the Branch via our National Officer for HE, Garry Ross at garry.ross@eis.org.uk.
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Disrupt Disinformation - Let's Change the Story in your School
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‘Disrupt Disinformation – Let's Change the Story in your School’ is a new project collaboration by the EIS and TIE, drawing on each organisation’s expertise in tackling prejudicial disinformation and fostering constructive social dialogue for equality. In these sessions, staff will learn about evidence-based good practice in addressing prejudicial narratives and navigating difficult conversations with adults in the school community.
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AI Guidelines and Guardrails
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‘The Scottish Government’s ,' produced in collaboration with the EIS, are now live and apply to all use of AI in schools.
Detailed EIS advice to members and reps will be issued shortly.
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The EIS is updating its password policy to strengthen security and protect the integrity of our systems. Cyber security threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and stronger passwords are one of the most effective defences to mitigate this risk. Members will be asked to update their passwords to meet stronger security standards. Over the coming month you will be required to change your password at your next login. Members who experience difficulties changing their password should contact the Membership Department at
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The EIS ‘Welcome Packs’ are designed to inform migrant, refugee and asylum seeker children, young people and their parents of their rights as pupils in Scottish education and convey a positive, welcoming message about Scotland as their new home. The booklets included in the packs aim to give newly arrived children, young people and their families some information about school education in Scotland, as well as some background about Scotland itself.
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Upcoming PACT Training Days
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The EIS will be offering a series of national poverty-related professional learning sessions as part of the PACT Programme.
PACT is a professional learning offer for educators in Scotland, rooted in the principles of social justice and equity. It is designed to support educators to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of poverty, and its impact on learners, families, and wider communities.
PACT offerings can also be tailored for local delivery to schools. To explore a local tailored session, please get in touch with your LA Secretary or the Education and Equality Department.
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Early Years - Save the Date
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Friday, 6 November, for a day of Early Years focused professional learning, in the Glasgow Radisson Blu.
Information on topics and speakers will be announced shortly.
For just now, please include the date in your diary, and look out for full details of the programme.
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Stephen Stewart and Murray McLeod, EIS Pensions and Payroll Specialists, will
be holding meetings via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:
Our pension sessions taking place throughout September will include a focus on the new 2026 Annual Benefit Statements. The following sessions will cover general pension issues and the retirement process for Summer 2027.
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2026 Annual Benefit Statements
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The 2026 Annual Benefit Statements are due to be circulated to members by the end of August.
Once available, your statement can be viewed online through the Engage portal. If you have not yet registered for Engage, we encourage you to do so now to ensure you can access your statement as soon as it is available.
If you don’t receive your 2026 ABS please email pensions@eis.org.uk and we can raise this with SPPA.
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If you are in a school that does not currently have an EIS Rep, then please organise as a branch to elect a Rep or a group of activists to share the role.
Workplace Reps are a foundation rock of trade unions, and they are important in supporting members and linking in with your EIS Local Association.
We offer full training and support for our reps. Please contact your Local Association's Organiser and/or Local Association Secretary if you wish support in arranging a branch meeting or becoming an EIS Rep.
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