Created on: 02 Dec 2025
Reps will be aware that the Scottish Government and COSLA have not made sufficient progress at the SNCT towards reducing teacher workload by delivering on the commitment to reduce weekly class contact time to 21 hours. We are, therefore, now in a dispute and have issued a statutory postal ballot in pursuit of this SNCT workload dispute.
The ballot opened last Wednesday, with the original ballot papers delivered late last week. Please note that due to an administrative error, the original ballot papers issued to members had a typographical error. These ballot papers should be discarded. All eligible members will be issued a replacement ballot paper (with a blue flash in the bottom right hand corner) which should begin to arrive from November 20th onwards. It is these new ballot papers, that members should mark with their vote and post asap.
All aspects of the ballot and industrial action are open to legal challenge by the employers. Even small errors can jeopardise statutory ballot results due to the nature of the UK’s anti-trade union laws; therefore, a new ballot paper was judged the best way of avoiding any risk to the result.
By law, any industrial action must be supported by members in a “statutory” ballot conducted by an independent company (the “scrutineers”) via a postal ballot. Members will receive their new ballot paper by post in the coming days. The statutory postal ballot will close on Wednesday 14th January, but we are encouraging members to vote as soon as possible.
Every School Branch has been sent posters to put on noticeboards, a Reps’ Briefing and an Organising Conversations document to aid reps/activists in talking to members about the ballot.
More resources on our website!
Action for Reps:
Display the enclosed poster in your school so that members can see it.
Keep members informed about the statutory ballot and check that they have binned their old ballot paper. If members voted and posted their old ballot paper – then it does not count. They will need to vote again.
Reinforce to members why the ballot is important – it is the best first step to reducing all teachers’ workload because the Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed to it in principle.
Discuss the Reps’ Briefing with activists and please carry out the suggested actions. A copy of the briefing can be found on the EIS website.
If you think your branch would benefit from a supported meeting to discuss the ballot and wider campaign, contact your EIS organiser.
Remind members of the Members' Workload Briefing on the EIS website.
If any members have not received a new ballot by Monday 24th November, then they should contact ballot@eis.org.uk with their full name, EIS number and address and we will arrange for another copy to be sent.
Probationer teachers are in the ballot.
Supply teachers who carry out supply work between 12th November and 14th January need to request a ballot paper from Ballot@eis.org.uk.
Encourage members to complete their new ballot paper (with a blue flash in the bottom right corner) and post it as soon as possible.
Join us on Saturday, 29 November 2025 for the St Andrew's Day March and Rally. Muster at 10:30am at Barrowlands Park (G1 5BG) where the march will begin and proceed to Adelaide Place (209 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4HZ) for an indoor rally at 12pm. Everyone is welcome to join, and you are encouraged to bring your placards and flags!
Details of guest speakers at the rally will be confirmed soon.
The Institute will cover reasonable travel expenses for those attending. Members wishing to claim travel expenses should confirm this in advance via email to achristoph@eis.org.uk.
Action for Reps: Please display the enclosed poster in your school to highlight the march to members and encourage them to come along.
It is important for EIS reps to maintain two-way communication with their Local Association — sharing what is happening in school and staying informed on local authority matters.
EIS Organisers also support Local Associations and visit branches to discuss campaigns, including the Stand Up for Quality Education campaign, local issues, and provide direct support to reps.
Action for Reps: Engage with your Local Association Secretary and attend LA meetings where possible. Contact your local EIS Organiser for branch visits or rep support.
We train reps to be effective, knowledgeable and confident in their work. We also train activists so that they may support members and reps in our schools and workplaces; and eventually become reps themselves.
We provide EIS Representatives, Health & Safety, Learning and Equality Reps with a structured programme of training delivered by college tutors and our staff.
EIS Stage 1 Courses for new Reps and Activists
Future training course dates for new reps and activists are now available for the 2025-26 session, including courses in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aviemore and online. If you want to learn more, or have recently become a new Rep, then please explore our courses.
Should you require any assistance, please email Sophie Cooper SCooper@eis.org.uk .
Action for Reps: If you are a Rep or know of an activist who wishes to attend EIS training, please contact your LA Secretary to apply for an EIS training course.
Throughout November and December, we invite both current members engaged with PACT and new participants to join us. If you have previously attended a PACT session, there is no need to register for Module 1.
In addition to the core sessions offered across November and December, a PACT network session will be held online on Monday 1st December at 5pm, focusing on holiday hunger and poverty in the context of Christmas. We would be delighted if you would join us for this.
Please visit the EIS website for more information and to register for these events: https://www.eis.org.uk/pact/pacttraining
The next set of training days will begin in November 2025 with dates running into January.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
Misinformation contributes to the risks currently facing progress on LGBT people's rights, across the world. The aim of this guidance is to provide advice for members on navigating and addressing misinformation and disinformation in relation to transgender people.
https://www.eis.org.uk/lgbt/transgender-misinformation
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
The EIS is now delighted to open registration to Our Voices in Union Weekend School 2026, a residential programme which aims to grow the leadership and improve the representation of BAME, LGBT, disabled, neurodivergent and young members within their own workplaces, and within the Union. The Leadership Weekend School will take place on the 30th of January (half-day), 31st of January and 1st of February (half-day).
Check the EIS website for further information and to register for the weekend school.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
The EIS is delighted to announce the launch of ‘Retirement Options’ by EIS Financial Services.
Retirement dates have been aligned to state pension age which is currently 67 and is moving to 68 depending on when you were born.
EIS Financial Services’ ‘Retirement Options’ is designed to complement the teachers’ pension schemes and the state pension in order to accelerate members’ plans for phased or early retirement.
Action for Reps: Display the enclosed poster in your school and encourage members to find out more about how EIS Financial Services can help plan for the future.