Created on: 30 May 2025
At this time of year, you will be looking to refresh your Working Time Agreement which is the key school-level tool to manage your workload. This should be negotiated between staff and the management of the school and signed off by the representative for the union with the largest number of members - in most schools this will be the EIS Rep. Plan a meeting now to review your WTA and check LNCT guidance. Downloadable resources are available from the EIS website here: https://www.eis.org.uk/pay-and-conditions-of-service/wtas
Action for Reps: Plan a branch meeting to review your current Working Time Agreement and plan the negotiations for next year’s WTA. If you need help and advice, contact your Organiser or Local Association Secretary.
A national campaign against cuts to Instrumental Music Services has been refreshed in the face of proposed cuts to these services across several local authority areas. The campaign also highlights a lack of progress in implementation of key Scottish Government manifesto commitments.
New campaign materials are being circulated, along with the launch of a new area on the EIS website where a campaign briefing can be found. A public petition opposing cuts to Instrumental Music Services can also be found on the website.
https://www.eis.org.uk/campaigns/music and https://www.eis.org.uk/change-the-tune/petition-2025
Action for Reps: Please encourage members and partners to sign this petition.
The Education (Scotland) Bill enters its Stage 2 consideration on Wednesday, 23 April 2025. The Education, Children and Young People Committee of the Scottish Parliament will consider in detail amendments to the text of the Bill. The EIS will be monitoring the Stage 2 debate to ascertain whether key amendments in relation to the governance of the new national agencies and the independence of the Chief Inspector’s Office will be accepted. Updates on the progress of the Bill will be given in due course.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
This event will include an overview of the current job market and EIS related campaigning, as well as information on employment rights and short-term contracts and supply teaching. Speakers will include EIS President Allan Crosbie and EIS Organisers Dee Matthew and Ruth Winters. The webinar will take place on Wednesday 28th May 5:30 – 7pm (online).
https://www.eis.org.uk/content/courseregistration/953
Action for Reps: Please share these details with your members who are in their first five years of teaching and encourage them to sign up using the registration link above.
This meeting is a joint meeting aimed at members of the EIS BAME / LGBT / Disabled / Young Members’ networks.
Following on from the Still We Rise Conference, the EIS is hosting joint equality network meetings for BAME, LGBT, Disabled and Young members (under 30), to discuss intersectionality, solidarity and strategies for taking action. Further details of the meeting including a meeting agenda can be found on the EIS website via the link in the next paragraph.
We have options to attend online, or in-person on Wednesday 7th May (online) and Wednesday 14th May (Glasgow Area Office). Please register for your preferred session via the EIS website: https://www.eis.org.uk/meetings-and-events/howwerise
Action for Reps: Please highlight to relevant members.
We support and train members to become school-based EIS Representatives. This includes Health & Safety, Learning and Equality Reps. The EIS works with the college tutors to deliver TUC accredited Reps’ training. This year’s future dates will be published shortly. Members who wish to take part should contact their LA Secretary.
Action for Reps: If you are a Rep who wishes to attend training, please contact your LA Secretary to apply for an EIS training course. https://www.eis.org.uk/meetings-and-events/reptraining
The period of free membership for current probationer teachers ended in December 2024. Those who wish to remain EIS members must provide direct debit details and begin paying subs. An email has been sent from Membership as a reminder. Please encourage any remaining probationer members to complete their direct debit details via their account on MyEIS.
Action for Reps and Branch Secretaries: Reach out and talk with new staff. If they are already an EIS member then please ensure that they have updated their membership details at MyEIS.
It is important for EIS Reps to have two-way communications with their Local Association – to share what is happening in their school and to hear what is happening at the local authority level.
We have a team of EIS Organisers that support Local Associations and who visit branches to discuss our latest campaigns, local campaign issues and to support Reps.
Action for Reps: Please engage with your Local Association Secretary and attend LA meetings if you can. Please reach out to your local EIS Organiser to attend a branch meeting or if you want support as a Rep.
https://www.eis.org.uk/contacts/organisers and https://www.eis.org.uk/contacts/localassociation