This year marks the 179th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the EIS which will be held in Aviemore on the 5th – 7th June. The theme for this year’s event will be Stand up for Quality Education, where we will celebrate and highlight the many ways the EIS has been standing up for Scottish education, members, equality and social justice.
The AGM is the main decision making body of the EIS. AGM instructs Council, which in turn instructs the Committees of the Council. Around 350 members of the EIS including the Office Bearers, members of Council and delegates from local associations and self-governing associations (EIS-FELA and EIS-ULA) are eligible to attend and vote at the AGM.
Here, we describe the key events that take place over the course of the AGM and the order of business for this year’s conference.
The Formal Opening Session
This session embodies the traditions of the Institute which was founded in 1847. The President, Allan Crosbie from Edinburgh, welcomes the guests from kindred organisations in the United Kingdom and Ireland, together with other trade union and official guests, before giving his retiring address.
Then the Convener of the Board of Examiners presents the members who have been admitted as Fellows of the EIS. The incoming President (Adam Sutcliffe, Aberdeenshire) and Vice-President (Mark Smith, North Ayrshire) will then be introduced to the meeting and make short speeches.
First Business Session
This session is extremely important as it is where the AGM is able to review the work of Council and its Committees over the past twelve months. This work comes before the consideration and debating of motions dealing with new policies.
Consideration of Motions and Amendments
The remainder of the AGM is taken up with debating the motions and amendments which have been submitted by Council, local associations and self-governing associations. The outcome of these motions will determine the priorities and work of the EIS in the year ahead. The motions and amendments are grouped into subject headings and blocks of time are allocated to motions under each heading.
This year there are 67 motions to be debated as follows:
- 15 on Education matters;
- 6 on Employment Relations matters;
- 9 on Equality matters;
- 11 on Salaries matters;
- 26 on Organisation matters;
Fringe events
This year, the EIS will be holding 2 separate fringe events. The Equality fringe entitled, Don’t take the (click) bait, will equip attendees with coping strategies in the misinformation era. It will provide space to discuss evidence-based strategies to understand and respond to pupil behaviours influenced by prejudicial online content.
The second fringe, Gearing Up to Get the Vote Out, will be centred around the national Stand Up for Quality Education campaign and the launch of the ballot in relation to class contact time. Here, speakers will discuss campaign strategies and look at suggestions for getting our message across and encouraging members to cast their vote.
Speakers
EIS President, Allan Crosbie, will deliver his address on Thursday the 5th June, where he will focus on the work he has undertaken over the past year as President and some of the moments he has found most rewarding and some of the challenges he has faced.
EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley, will deliver her annual address on Friday 6th June. Her speech will include an overview of the campaigning work of the union and the progress that has been made, along with the priorities that will require the attention of the EIS as our campaigns continue.
Following the General Secretary’s speech, a consultative ballot on industrial action will be launched over the lack of progress made on the reduction of class contact time. The ballot will run until after the summer break, allowing members to consider the issues in depth and have their say in this important vote.
Other speakers include, Professor Louise Hayward who will deliver an address on behalf of all of this year’s FEIS recipients and NEU General Secretary, Daniel Kebede will speak on behalf of the Kindred Organisations.
An invitation has been extended to NEA President, Becky Pringle, to discuss the challenges facing educators and education unions amidst the current administration.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth has been invited to take part in a Q&A session followed by a short speech outlining the Scottish Government’s priorities for education in the year ahead.
Further information on the EIS AGM, including a full list of motions to be debated, will be available on the EIS website www.eis.org.uk Regular updates will be posted on the AGM section of our website, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky accounts throughout the event, so that members can keep updated as resolutions are agreed.