Renfrewshire: Victory over cuts

A huge mobilisation of parents, teachers and the local community have forced the SNP-led council in Renfrewshire to abandon plans to axe 60 teachers posts. The mass campaign involved a magnificent public rally of over 1,000 people in Paisley and an indicative ballot of teachers for industrial action which produced a 97% “Yes” vote.

This was in opposition to the SNP-led Renfrewshire Council’s attempt to save £1.2 million by cutting the hours of teachers and replacing them with lower paid seasonal staff to work on ‘cultural, citizenship and sporting learning activities’. This would result in the loss of 60 teaching posts.

Insult was heaped on injury when the council claimed that this move would actually improve educational provision.
But the politicians were forced to retreat by the huge opposition that their plans provoked.

This example of a mass community campaign linked to threat of strike action by teachers in the EIS are an example of how we can stand up to the cuts and win victories.