“That this AGM instructs Council to commit to the ‘Stand Up for Quality Education’ campaign for a multi-year period and to authorise Executive Committee to allocate EIS resource as deemed necessary to facilitate the campaign.”

Alan Crosbie, incoming President, moved a Council motion on the ‘Stand Up for Quality Education’ campaign. “Our campaign title is very apt because in an education system that is in disarray, the only quality we can provide is us, the fight we have ahead of us is long”.

Seconding, Alison Murphy (Edinburgh) remarked on workload and said “saying no is lonely if you are the only person who says it, we need to build that confidence in our members that saying no is collective”.

This motion was carried.

“That this AGM reaffirm that staff are schools’ most important asset in providing quality learning experiences for pupils.”

Alan Crosbie, president elect moves another motion on behalf of council; “We are the most vital asset in providing quality education is ourselves. We need more teachers, let’s get ready for the battle. Let’s stop those cuts. Let’s save our schools”

In seconding Alison Murphy (Edinburgh) spoke of the importance of all staff including support staff in schools, “we need to stand absolutely in solidarity with our comrades in support staff”.

Jackie Church (Glasgow) further spoke to the motion “we are going to have a mental health crisis amongst our staff unless we get organised and mobilised now”.

An Amendment from Borders LA was withdrawn and the motion was carried.

A motion to ensure each LA creates an action plan based on the findings of the recent behaviour survey. Ross explained that members contributed in their thousands to the national Behaviour Survey and deserve to have their views heard and local action plans shared with them, “It will ensure transparency for members and accountability for Local Executive Committees” he said. The motion was seconded by Mark Ireland who said, “Members opened up in this important survey, so they should have full knowledge of the local action plan and the outcomes.”

An amendment to the motion on behalf of Edinburgh local association was rejected following a short debate.

Ross Lyall (Midlothian) moved a motion calling on Council to investigate ways to improve retention within the EIS and recruitment to the EIS of those in promoted posts. Outlining his personal experience of being advised to leave the EIS when he took up a promoted post, Ross said, “It is unacceptable that members are being told that being in a promoted post is incompatible with being an EIS member or holding an EIS position at branch or local level.”  

The motion was seconded by Sandie Gordon (Midlothian). Following a show of hands, the motion was carried.

“We need the same rigorous approach to reporting incidents as we do for assessment.

Stuart Winning (North Lanarkshire) successfully moved a proposal on recording violent and aggressive incidents in schools. This motion from Argyll and Bute and North Lanarkshire LAs called for negation with COSLA and the Scottish Government to create national and consistent approach to recording of violent incidents, and for the creation of a national database. Stuart explained that different local reporting systems resulted in vastly varying outcomes for teachers who experience violent behaviour.

Aisling Clark (Argyll and Bute LA) seconded the motion, comparing the inconsistency of violent indecent reporting with rigorous national approach to recording assessment. Aisling argued that data should be used to improve schools rather than challenge them, and offered the provocation “do local authorities really want to know the true picture of what’s happening in our schools?”

Further speakers gave examples from their own context. Lorna Stewart (Argyll and Bute LA) described how incident forms are not routinely submitted to the local authority, downplaying the reality of violence in schools. Thomas Coles (Highland LA) outlined local reporting processes which are cumbersome and hard for teachers to access.

The motion passed unanimously.

Jim Halfpenny (West Dunbartonshire) proposed motion 56 on the right of workers to take industrial action. In particular, he focused on EIS-FELA’s action where employers are threatening to deduct (deem) 100% of lecturers’ wages, “Deeming is a co-ordinated attack on members taking legitimate industrial action.” Dan Holland (EIS-FELA) seconded the motion by appreciating the solidarity shown to EIS-FELA over recent months and outlining the impact of recent industrial action, “Thousands of students will not finish their courses this year and the fault lies entirely with College Employers Scotland.”

Lynn Davis (EIS-FELA) supported the motion by highlighting the negative impact this is having on lecturers’ mental health and Irvine Tait (Shetland) insisted any incoming Labour government should ensure no there is no retreat on it’s pledges on workers’ rights.

North Lanarkshire LA accepted Edinburgh LA’s amendment to Motion 57 on permanent teaching posts for teachers finishing their probation year by highlighting the precarity of teacher employment.

Daniel Henderson (North Lanarkshire) proposed the motion by highlighting the disproportionate impact post probationer teachers face especially female members and those with caring responsibilities. Sean McNamara (North Lanarkshire) emphasised how bleak the current job situation is for those finishing their probation year.

Adela Mansur (Edinburgh) spoke against the motion telling her own story about being on the surplus pool for years and how they come after probationers in finding permanent jobs. Helen Dobson (Edinburgh) also opposed the motion stated that, “If you give all the jobs to probationers, I won’t get a job.”

After many supporting and opposing speeches, there was a call to go to a vote. The motion was not passed.

“Death by a thousand cuts is not just an idiom. It’s the reality.”

Speaking on behalf of North Lanarkshire LA, Sean McNamara proposed a motion that the EIS campaign with STUC trade unions and COSLA against council budget cuts. In a passionate speech, Sean outlined the expected £780m funding gap expected by Scottish local authorities in coming years, and the impact that declining services has on communities and learners. Referencing Joseph Rowntree Foundation research on the impacts of poverty in Scotland, Sean identified that under-funded social care and counselling services have a huge impact on learners’ opportunities, and argued that through coordination with other unions and COSLA the EIS can help “build a better society for the whole child”.

Alan Gardiner (North Lanarkshire) seconded the motion in an enthusiastically received speech. Comparing councils and the Scottish government to the Galactic Empire of Star Wars, AGM heard that the Death Star of budget cuts is annihilating opportunities for young people. Alan cast trade unions and communities as the Rebel Alliance, reminding delegates that the rebels can organise and win to bring about a better world.

The motion was carried with a unanimous vote in favour.

Andrew O’Halloran (Dumfries & Galloway) successfully called on the institute to explore the development of learning materials for social education in secondary schools covering rights at work and the role of Trade Unions. Mr O’Halloran highlighted the lack of knowledge and understanding amongst young people on the rights they have.

Motion 60 brought forward by Glasgow Local Association, calling for a constitutional amendment to provide spaces on Council for Local Association Secretaries, was withdrawn.

Jehan Al-Azzawi (Edinburgh) successfully moved a motion calling for a divestment of funds from companies who sell arms or equipment to Israeli military. Her emotional speech told AGM that, “Everyone in Gaza feels the closeness of death” and that we need to make important gestures of solidarity in line with the international movement and consistent with EIS values.

Claire Chalmers (Edinburgh) seconded the motion and reminded delegates that after hundreds of years of colonial violence, we collectively chose peace and that the only action we cannot choose, is inaction. Standing in support of this motion, Jane McKeown (Fife) movingly reminded delegates that someone has to stand up for the children of Palestine. The motion was passed unanimously.

Successfully moving the motion on behalf of Glasgow LA, Nuzhat Uthmani called for the end to all military collaboration and arms trade with Israel. In a powerful speech, Ms Uthmani told delegates that, “The use of British arms implicates us in the ongoing genocide…and we cannot in good conscience continue to facilitate these actions.”

Seconded by Andrew O’Halloran and supported by Amira Hunter, (both Dumfries and Galloway), delegates heard powerful reminders of the way that technology, provided by international companies, is weaponised to control Palestinian citizens and the strength of grassroots activism and the power of boycotting businesses. Speaking to the criticisms that are often aimed at the opponents of the war in Palestine, Mr O’Halloran stated that it is not antisemitic to call for peace, or speak out against genocide and the collective punishment of children – rather, we would be complicit not to do so.

In lending his support to the motion, Sean McNamara (North Lanarkshire) asked delegates to think of those nervous eleven year olds about to enter S1 this year. In a swell of emotion and tears, conference stood as the names of 31 eleven years olds recently killed in Gaza by Israeli bombs were read out.

The EIS will investigate the suitability of the Gaza Genocide Committee as an organisation for EIS affiliation and/or donation, following a successful motion from Adela Mansur (Edinburgh). Ms Mansur reminded delegates of the value of historical protests and showing solidarity to those affected by intolerance internationally.

Andrew O’Halloran (Dumfries & Galloway) successfully called for the provision of regular, targeted, mental health training to EIS employees, “As an exemplary employer, we should extend this training to those who work for the institute.”

Seconding, Claire Chalmers (Edinburgh) noted that EIS staff are engaged with members’ struggles every day and highlighted their importance as wrap-around support for activists.

Andrew Fullwood from Glasgow local association moved this motion, with Jehan Al-Azzawi from Edinburgh local association seconding. Mr Fullwood began his speech by saying “This conflict must end, and it must end with a free Palestine.” The debate highlighted the ongoing destruction in Gaza which has seen every school destroyed and left most of the population living in destitution. This motion passed unanimously.

“When former Archbishop Desmond Tutu held a fact finding mission to Palestine he found a gross violation of human rights. He said that the things that were happening in Palestine with check points and routine human rights infringements were the same things he’d lived through in apartheid, in South Africa.” Desmond Kenny of Glasgow local association shared the words of the former Archbishop and highlighted that they were spoken long before the most recent conflict erupted. His motion was seconded by Neil Anderson, also of Glasgow local association.

“I would never have imagined in my role as LA Secretary I would have to call on my suicide prevention training.” These were the words of Joan Lennon, Glasgow local association who proposed this motion. “There are no words to describe the devastating effects suicide can have. Members have shared with me, just this year, that they have had suicidal thoughts, and no one can prepare you for that conversation when they share with you their own thoughts or their experiences of losing a loved one to suicide.”

This motion was seconded by Jennifer Gaffney of South Lanarkshire. Ms Gaffney highlighted that these issues play on her mind, and she said she and her colleagues urgently need training to equip them with the skills they need to support their colleagues. She also read out a helpline number: 0800 562 561 and urged anyone who needed extra support to call them as soon as they could. During the debate, delegates heard that much more support is needed to be able to support members, but also to protect the health and wellbeing of colleagues providing this support. This motion was passed unanimously.

Andrene Bamford of East Dunbartonshire and Susan Quinn of Glasgow local association proposed and seconded this motion. During their speeches they highlighted the terrifying experiences of trade unionists and anyone considered ‘left wing’ in Colombia. “It’s a testament to the campaigning of Colombians that a peace treaty was signed, but progress has been slow. As a union committed to trade union solidarity we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal in our support for trade unionists in Colombia.” This motion was overwhelmingly passed.

Adam Sutcliff of Aberdeenshire local association laid out the important work that the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign have done. He highlighted that on 18th June 1984, after demonstrators were funnelled into the colliery “Police officers on horseback pulled out batons and attacked the miners. After forcing them into the village they then arrested many of them and charged them with rioting.”

Jane McKeown of Fife local association seconded the motion. “The mask of our democracy really began to slip that day and it took over 20 years to bring about an insight into what really happened. Since 1984 the miners, their families and their lawyers have called for justice – we must support that call.” This motion was passed unanimously.