Created on: 31 May 2021
This year marks the 175th EIS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and it will definitely be one to remember as the entire meeting, including debating of Motions, will be held completely online, due to the current restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members will also be able to keep up to date with the debate and all the goings on at the event via our social media channels and the website.
The AGM is the main decision making body of the EIS. AGM instructs Council, which in turn instructs the Committees of the Council. Around 350 members of the EIS including the Office Bearers, members of Council and Delegates from Local Associations and Self-Governing Associations (EIS-FELA and EIS-ULA) are eligible to take part in and vote at the AGM.
The 2021 Annual General Meeting will run from Thursday 10th June to Saturday 12th June.
This session embodies the traditions of the Institute which was founded in 1847. The President, Carole Thorpe from Aberdeen, welcomes the guests from kindred organisations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, together with other trade union and official guests, before giving her retiring address.
Then the Convener of the Board of Examiners presents the members who have been admitted as Fellows of the EIS.
The incoming President (Heather Hughes, West Lothian) and Vice-President (Andrene Bamford, East Dunbartonshire) will then be introduced to the meeting and make short speeches.
This session is extremely important as it is where the AGM are able to review the work of Council and its Committees over the past twelve months, when the Committee Conveners deliver their annual reports. This work comes before the consideration and debating of motions dealing with new policies.
The remainder of the AGM is taken up with debating the Motions and amendments which have been submitted by Council, Local Associations and Self-Governing Associations. The Motions and amendments are grouped into subject headings and blocks of time are allocated to Motions under each heading.
This year there are 44 Motions to be debated as follows:
13 on Education matters;
2 on Employment Relations matters;
7 on Equality matters;
11 on Salaries matters;
11 on Organisation matters.
This year’s AGM will feature Shirley-Anne Somerville, the new Cabinet Secretary for Education, as a guest speaker. She is likely to discuss the Scottish Government’s plans for education in the years ahead and the next steps to be taken as part of the recovery from the pandemic. There will also be a short Q&A session.
The EIS holds a number of fringe events at the AGM, offering the opportunity for external organisations to speak to delegates in order to raise awareness of key issues. This year, we will only be holding the EIS Equality Fringe entitled, Equality Matters in Recovery. The event will be held at 4:30pm on 9th June.
It will feature discussion on the equality impact of the pandemic from a range of perspectives, the many social and political changes that Covid has prompted, and will explore where opportunities for equality advancement lie in our recovery from the pandemic.
Members are encouraged to register their interest.