Created on: 03 Oct 2024
Despite a very strong statutory ballot result, in which 95% of teachers voting backed a move to industrial action in opposition to Glasgow Council’s plans to make deep cuts to education provision and teacher numbers, the City’s teachers will be blocked from taking industrial action by the excessively restrictive anti-trade union laws brought in under the previous UK government.
The current government has pledged to overturn these restrictive laws in the first 100 days of office, with legislation imminently expected.
The statutory postal ballot, which closed on Tuesday, resulted in a 95% vote for Industrial Action Short of Strike (ASOS) and a 90% vote for strike action on a turnout of 46%, passing the threshold for majority support of those who voted.
Whilst this would have given a lawful mandate for strike action under previous trade union legislation, the recently ousted Conservative government’s anti-trade union law now also requires a turnout of over 50% and (for teachers and other essential public services) that 40% of the balloted members to vote to support the strike action. The Glasgow EIS ballot result crossed two of these three thresholds, though fell just short of the turnout threshold.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, "The cuts that are already underway in Glasgow are massively damaging to the educational experiences of children and young people and to the working lives of teachers, and are set to grow worse in the years ahead with effectively 10% fewer teachers than there should be working in Glasgow City by 2027.
"Glasgow’s teachers have shown their clear desire to fight these cuts, working with trade union colleagues and parent groups across the City.
"Sadly, however, the draconian restrictions placed on trade union action by the previous Conservative government mean that, despite a 95% vote in favour action short of strike and 90% vote for strike action, for the time being, EIS members in Glasgow are currently blocked from engaging in industrial action on this issue."
Ms Bradley continued, "The UK currently has amongst the most restrictive anti-trade union laws in Europe, introduced under a right-wing Conservative government, which place excessive restrictions on the rights of workers to stand collectively to protect jobs, working conditions and services.
"These laws have done exactly what they were designed to do – to limit workers’ ability to protect themselves collectively. The current Labour government made firm pre-election commitments to repeal the restrictive anti-trade union laws introduced by the previous government, and they must act to deliver this promise as a matter of urgency.
"Workers should always have the right to stand up for themselves and the young people that they support in the face of the type of damaging cuts that we are currently seeing in Glasgow."
Ms Bradley added, "EIS Glasgow is currently considering the ballot outcome and potential next steps in the fight to protect teaching jobs and education provision for young people in Glasgow.
"I fully anticipate that the EIS nationally will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Glasgow members and those in any other council area to defend quality education where cuts to jobs and learning provision are threatened."