Teachers vote to take action over rise in workload

Union dismissive of SNP promises

A TEACHING union in a bitter row over workload moved a step closer to launching industrial action yesterday. The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) said it had ‘no option’ but to move to a formal ballot of its membership.

It comes after the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) announced last week that its members had voted overwhelmingly for a ‘withdrawal of cooperation’ with Scotland’s examination agency.

The SSTA sought the views of its members on measures proposed by the Scottish Government to address issues such as bureaucracy, stress and workload.

Its preliminary or ‘indicative’ ballot found 91 per cent who responded are prepared to take industrial action short of strike action, while 64 per cent are prepared to strike.

The union will now move to a formal or statutory ballot, which would pave the way for widespread industrial unrest.

The burden on teachers grew after National 4 and 5 qualifications were brought in to replace Standard Grade exams in 2014. Term-time tests known as unit assessments have created a surge in workload. A review of the assessment requirements in every subject under the new system is now being carried out by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Seamus Searson, general secretary of the SSTA, said the indicative ballot results showed teachers are ‘clearly unhappy with the current proposals’ to address workload concerns.

He said the union wanted Education Secretary John Swinaddress ney and councils to ‘impose limits on teacher time being spent on such activities that are taking teachers away from teaching and learning’.

Mr Searson added: ‘Teacher workload has been the major issue for teachers for a number of years. The recent guidance from Education Scotland and the SQA has not addressed teacher workload and the SSTA cannot let the overload of teachers continue.

‘In the short-term, SSTA members across Scotland are asking for some action to be taken to the workload that is demoralising teachers in the 2016-17 qualification cycle.

‘The SSTA acknowledges the statements that John Swinney, Education Secretary, has made on cutting teacher workload but teachers in schools have had promises made in the past which have not come to fruition.’

Last week the EIS, Scotland’s biggest teaching union, said 95 per cent of its members who voted had backed its plans for industrial action, although the turnout was only 43 per cent.

Teachers have repeatedly spoken out against the impact of the introduction of new exams. Now EIS members will withdraw co-operation with the SQA and may in future boycott the marking of pupils’ assessments. A Scottish Government spokesman said last night: ‘Given that we are taking steps to address the issues, industrial action by teachers would not be in the interests of anyone, least of all children and parents.

‘We have set out the various actions we are taking to tackle bureaucracy and free up teachers to teach, and we are already actively considering further measures.

‘We are committed to reducing teacher workload and continued engagement with the profession will play a critical role in making this happen.’

‘Clearly unhappy with proposals’