Created on: 24 Oct 2025
Stand Up for Quality Education: Statutory (Postal) Ballot on Workload
The Scottish Government and COSLA have not made any meaningful progress towards reducing teacher workload by delivering on the commitment of a maximum of 21 hours of weekly class contact. This has required that the EIS escalate the workload dispute. On 10th October the EIS issued notices to all 32 local authorities of a statutory ballot in pursuit of the SNCT Workload Dispute on 21 hours.
By law, any industrial action must be supported by members in a “statutory” ballot carried out by an independent company (the “scrutineers”) via a postal ballot. The statutory ballot will open on the 12th November.
We are getting everything ready for the ballot opening.
Action for Reps:
Please:
Keep members informed about the forthcoming statutory ballot and why it’s important
Remind them of the Members' Workload Briefing on our website
Askk your Branch members to check that their postal address is correct on MyEIS,- this is critical to their participation in the postal ballot.
Ask members to check their membership details.
National Day of Action in Support of Teachers on Temporary Contracts - 5th November
On the 5th November 2025 we urge all members to wear an item of red clothing to show their support for the thousands of teachers on temporary contracts who are desperately seeking permanency .
Many people were encouraged by government to go into teaching, but have found that getting a permanent post is virtually impossible and therefore they have had to rely on temporary contracts- short-term supply and fixed-term temporary work. Only 25% of 2023-24 probationers found full-time permanent work at the end of their probation.
One way to improve precarity for teachers who cannot find permanent teaching work is to create more teaching jobs. This is one of the reasons we are campaigning to reduce teachers’ weekly class contact to 20 hours per week and class sizes to 20; the realisation of these aspirations will require the creation of more teaching jobs. The Scottish Government's commitment to reduce class contact time from 22.5 hours to 21 hours per week would be a huge step forward in mitigating the current precarity of contracts.
We are campaigning hard to pressure the Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver the 21 hours of weekly class contact in order to help all teachers – including those on precarious contracts.
See our website for more details.
Action for Reps: Keep members informed about the forthcoming Day of Action in solidarity with colleagues struggling with precarity; and encourage members to wear something red on the day and share branch photos on social media – tagging the @EISUnion.
Fighting the Influence of the Far-Right: Members’ Briefing & Reps’ Guidance
The EIS has long-standing anti-racist, anti-fascist policy and will continue, along with the TUC, STUC, and sister trade unions, to play an active role in tackling far-right politics wherever it presents itself in our places of learning and wider communities.
The Member’s Briefing and Rep’s briefing designed to support reps, activists, and members to have informed conversations together in schools on far-right politics and activities as a part of the EIS strategy to oppose the influence of the far-right.
For more information see our Fighting the Influence of the Far-Right webpage.
Action for Reps: Please read the Members’ Briefing on Fighting the Influence of the Far-Right on our website, and then the Reps’ Advice and Guidance. Please also give consideration to appropriate next steps for the Branch.
Implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Accessing Membership Lists
We will be introducing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all EIS Representatives who log in to access EIS membership data on our website. This is an added layer of security to ensure that only authorised users can access sensitive member information.
This provides stronger protection against unauthorised access or data breaches. MFA will require you to confirm your identity through a second verification step, this can be an SMS sent to your phone, an email or an authenticator app.
Action for Reps: Guidance and support will be provided to Reps on how to set up MFA ahead of this being rolled out.
PACT Training Days
The EIS’s anti-poverty professional learning- PACT- is framed around three key sessions exploring the nature, causes and consequences of poverty in Scotland, and the steps that teachers can take alongside their colleagues to mitigate the impact of poverty.
It is important that all new PACT trainers have completed these modules before facilitating learning sessions themselves these modules also include facilitation practice.
The next set of training days will be held across November and December 2025, as well as next year at EIS HQ, EIS Glasgow Area Office and Online via Microsoft Teams.
Dates will be confirmed as soon as possible and individuals can sign up via the EIS website.
For more information, please contact John Harris (jharris@eis.org.uk) in the Education and Equality Department.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
EIS Reps’ Training
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 Reps, 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.
Our Voices in Union
EIS Equality and Leadership Weekend School 2026
30 January (half-day), 1 February, 2 February (half-day)
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.
More information and guidance on how to register can be found here (https://www.eis.org.uk/training-and-workshops/our-voices-in-union-weekend-school-2026)
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
EIS Disabled Members' Network
Our Disabled Members' Network is a network space for all members who identify as disabled, and for members who would be entitled to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act (2010). The Network is open to, among others, Autistic members, members with long-term hearing impairments, members who experience ill mental health, and those with long-term illness that affects their everyday lives.
The next meeting will include a discussion about the accessibility of EIS structures - and the findings of our recent survey which is open until November 3rd.
It will take place on Wednesday 5th November 2025, from 16:30-18:00, online, via Teams.
Please register your interest in attending by completing the online booking form.
Action for Reps: Please highlight to members.
Engagement with Local Association and EIS Organisers
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.