BALLOT OPEN

Look out for the yellow envelope containing your ballot paper and cast your vote!

If you haven’t received your ballot paper, contact ballot@eis.org.uk with your full contact details and we will arrange for another paper to be sent to you.

Another chance to make your voice be heard and your vote count

The Executive Committee decided that EIS members will be asked again if they’re prepared to stand up for the whole of the teaching profession, those with jobs who are over-worked and those who can’t get permanent jobs; for young people and for Scottish education, by holding the Scottish Government (and COSLA) to their promises to improve the working conditions of all teachers and the learning conditions of Scotland’s children by reducing class contact time.

Agree or disagree – just vote

The three months prior to the next Scottish election is a prime time for the voices of all EIS members to be heard. The EIS is advising members to vote yes to action short of strike action and yes to strike action. Whether you agree or disagree that class contact time should be reduced, please be prepared to vote and make your voice heard at the second time of asking.

Even if you disagree that class contact time should be reduced and time to prepare lessons increased, please vote. If you don’t, because of the anti-trade union laws of the last Tory UK Government, you’re making it even harder for democracy to work.

Ballot Closes 4 March

Why all members should vote in the Statutory Ballot

A strong ballot result will allow the EIS to negotiate from a position of strength on workload reduction, the employment of more teachers, and the promised cut in maximum class contact time.

Previous ballots (both consultative and statutory) have shown consistent strong support for industrial action amongst those who voted. Only the restrictive thresholds in current trade union law prevented a lawful industrial action mandate.

We are strongest when we work together and stand together. Collective action is the key to trade union power – please play your part by returning your postal ballot today. Many colleagues are struggling with severe workload. Delivery of the promised reduction in class contact time will help to secure more jobs for teachers, and reduced workload for all.

Please don’t let our campaign to secure workload reduction be halted by archaic Tory-era trade union laws. Use your vote and ensure that we can thrash the thresholds to secure a legal mandate for action.

How do I vote in the Statutory Ballot?

By now, all members eligible to vote should have received their yellow ballot pack containing a voting paper, instructions, and pre-paid return envelope.

Please complete and return your ballot paper as soon as possible, to ensure that your voice is heard and that your vote counts. As this is a statutory industrial action ballot, voting is only possible by post. This is not by EIS choice, but is a legal requirement under current UK trade union law.

The ballot period is short, at just over 4 weeks, and postal delivery times can be variable. So, please don’t delay – complete and post your ballot paper today to ensure that your vote counts.

In the event that you have not received your yellow ballot pack, or if you have misplaced it, please contact ballot@eis.org.uk urgently to request a replacement. This ballot is your ballot – use it, don’t lose it!

Should I vote for or against industrial action?

You can vote any way that you wish – either for or against Strike action and for or against Action Short of Strike (ASOS). The most important thing is that you have your say and use your vote.

The EIS Executive Committee recommends that members vote Yes-Yes in favour of both strike action and ASOS. We believe that this will send a strong message to employers and government, and deliver the best chance of a successful resolution on workload.

The most important thing is that you have your say and use your vote.

Even if you don’t agree with the Executive’s recommendations, please use your vote. Unions are democratic organisations, and voting in ballots is an essential part of union democracy – please make sure that your opinion counts, by using your vote.

We have been waiting for five years for the Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver their workload promises. The forthcoming election provides the best opportunity to exert pressure on politicians to deliver – an overwhelming ballot result is in our best interests.

Current trade union law ballot thresholds, introduced under the UK former Tory government, were designed to make effective trade union action far more difficult. Don’t let this archaic and vindictive law weaken the effectiveness of your union – use your vote!

Will we definitely go on strike if a mandate is secured?

We hope not – nobody ever wants to strike. A strong ballot result and a mandate for action would be a powerful negotiating tool for the union, allowing us to exert pressure on employers and government to finally deliver on workload reduction.

Once the ballot closes, should a mandate be secured, the EIS would first seek to enter into urgent negotiations with the Scottish Government and COSLA to seek an acceptable resolution to the ongoing workload dispute.

Should negotiation fail to deliver a resolution, having a mandate for both ASOS and Strike action would provide the union with options in how best to pursue an acceptable outcome. EIS Executive would meet and agree these next steps.

The targets in this dispute are local authority employers and the Scottish Government. Any action would be with this in mind, seeking to exert maximum pressure on employers and government, while also attempting to minimise the wider impact on schools, teachers and young people.

Industrial action, either ASOS or Strike, are options of last resort. But they are also the most powerful tools at our collective disposal. The threat of industrial action, especially ahead of an election, is a highly effective means to securing positive action by politicians.