School workers’ anger over Covid leads to moves towards industrial action

By Socialist Party Scotland reporters

A number of local branches of teachers’ and education workers’ unions are moving towards industrial action over the Covid crisis in Scottish schools.

Anger among teachers and support staff over the SNP-led Scottish government’s refusal to act over threats to the health of staff and pupils has reached boiling point 

The largest teachers’ union in Scotland, the EIS, have declared trade disputes in West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh. More seen likely to follow. 

Jim Halfpenny, the joint branch secretary of the West Dunbartonshire EIS, told us:

“West Dunbartonshire EIS has declared a trades dispute against West Dunbartonshire Council on grounds of Health and Safety”.

The Local Association Executive of West Dunbartonshire EIS believe that West Dunbartonshire Council is not fully exercising its duty of care to staff with regard to the risks from coronavirus.

In particular, they repeatedly refused our requests, on behalf of members, to move to a window of remote learning around Christmas to reduce the contacts which staff have in order to prepare for safer mixing of family bubbles over the holiday break.

Repeatedly refused to agree to blended learning if we return to level 4

Produced contradictory statistics on the level of infection within educational establishments further heightening anxiety among school staff.

This will allow teachers to express their anger at the Scottish Government and West Dunbartonshire Council’s disregard for their fears over the threat to their health and will lead to industrial action if these concerns are not given serious consideration.”

The Glasgow EIS association has also opened a consultative ballot of all members following the SNP-led council’s refusal to move to “teaching and learning to remote online platforms for the pre and post-Christmas period, in the interests of minimising infection risk.” 

The EIS claim that the Council have further failed to consider moves to blended or remote learning as a consequence of schools operating in a Level Four area of COVID restrictions.

If members of the EIS in these and other areas vote by Monday in favour, ballots for industrial action may well follow. 

The ideologically-driven decisions by SNP politicians not to listen to the scientific evidence, which shows that tens of thousands of pupils have been self-isolating along with thousands of school staff, has led to this conflict. 

Ironically, all exams for 2021 have been cancelled by the Scottish government, which in itself reflects the reality of enormous educational disruption since the schools returned in August. 

In a welcome and linked development Glasgow City Unison, who have 4,000 members in early years, primary and secondary schools in the city, have also begun a consultation over similar issues. 

Avril Brady, Unison Education Convenor, said: “The outcome of the consultation will be used to determine the Unison branch’s future advice to members and inform any move to a statutory ballot. “Our members deserve respect and all the safety measures possible. ” 

If a majority of EIS and Unison members vote in favour, active use of section 44 of the Health and Safety Act – which allows workers to refuse to attend unsafe workplaces – should be triggered.

With many councils likely to be in the highest tier areas after Xmas, levels 3 and 4, it’s clear that industrial action by trade unions is essential to ensure safe workplaces through remote and blended learning. 

Scottish government politicians and their counterparts in local councils cannot be relied upon to act in the interest of staff or pupils.