This year’s Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) annual meeting in Dundee’s Caird Hall was attended by the largest ever EIS delegation, led by President Allan Crosbie, who ensured throughout the three days of congress that the voice of the EIS was heard and that education issues were recognised.

General Secretary Andrea Bradley moved an EIS motion on Implementing the Rights of Children and Workers, re-affirming the right to education, freedom of speech and opinion, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The motion called for the UK Government to put pressure on all UN states to ensure they fully implement the UDHR and UNCRC with respect to education, in the interests of peace and democracy.

Moving the motion, Ms Bradley said, “High functioning democracies ensure that their citizens are well educated, and able to think critically and detect bias. They ensure that they have equal opportunities regardless of gender, social class or ethnicity. They uphold human rights and human beings flourish because of it. After what history has taught us, we cannot equivocate on the right to free speech and to education. Stand up for our fundamental rights. Stand up for our children’s rights. Stand up for democracy and peace.”

President Allan Crosbie, leader of the EIS delegation, moved an EIS motion on funding quality education in Scotland, bringing attention to the effects of years of underfunding. The motion highlighted that Scotland faces some of the largest class sizes and highest teacher contact hours within the OECD, exacerbating teacher workload and diminishing support for students, including the 40% who have additional support needs.

Addressing Congress, Mr Crosbie said, “The Scottish education system is in a state of crisis. Far too many new teachers have been trapped on temporary contracts for years, moved from school to school with no hope of a permanent job in sight. They joined the profession on the promise of a stable career. Devalued and disposable – that is what is happening to our teachers. The system is crying out for staff and investment. To rescue the system from crisis we need promises kept, tax justice to invest in spending and genuine fair work for all workers.”

Ex-President Paula McEwan moved an EIS motion on protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of school staff. The motion called on the Scottish Government, COSLA and all local authorities to dedicate specific funding and resources to reducing violence and aggression in schools and to protecting all staff and pupils.

Referencing the EIS pupil behaviour survey, Ms McEwan said, “We have 65,000 members, 80% of those are female and therefore more likely to be exposed to workplace aggression. The Stand Up for Quality Education campaign was launched in 2023 and started with a pupil behaviour survey. 41% of branches said boys were more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour towards female teachers. Work should not hurt us physically, emotionally, face to face, online or on the phone. It should not hurt because of our belief system, colour, sexuality, disability or gender.

School staff are tasked with tackling the recognised issue of violence and aggression in their workplace within existing budgets and staffing. We are calling for specific funding to be made available to tackle violence and aggression in our educational establishments. Our members must be safe at work.”

Education Convener Susan Quinn seconded a motion on valuing music education. Referring to the EIS Stand Up for Quality Music Education campaign, Ms Quinn encouraged delegates to sign our petition to protect Instrumental Music Education and said, “Music education cannot be lost within cuts. Support music education. Support our young people in having these fabulous opportunities.”

Education is the bedrock of society, yet still funding is being slashed. Fund public services and Stand Up for Quality Education.

Vice-President Adam Sutcliffe seconded a motion on workload and wellbeing. Highlighting how excessive workload can be detrimental to teachers’ health and ability to teach effectively, Mr Sutcliffe said, “Scotland’s teachers are working an average of 11 hours beyond their 35-hour working week. They are spending four hours of their weekend on marking and correction.

“Working over contracted hours is the strongest predictor of stress. The professionalism of teachers, and their willingness to go the extra mile by extending their working hours for free, is having a negative effect on their health, wellbeing and family life. Education is the bedrock of society, yet still funding is being slashed. Fund public services and Stand Up for Quality Education.”

Damien Stantchev of EIS-ULA, spoke in support of a motion on saving higher education, which called for an end to compulsory redundancies in the sector and for the Scottish Government to provide full funding for Scottish higher education. “Academia is in crisis and is now notorious for excessive workloads and poor mental health and work life balance, but also for controversial investment decisions by universities. We are aware of the amount of money principals are paid in comparison with other employees. We should be campaigning for a change of business models by which universities are run.”

General Secretary Andrea Bradley also spoke at several conference fringe meetings this year including Trade Unions Against Racism and Trade Union Rights are Community Rights: Uniting People for Peace Against Austerity and The Far Right.

Speaking on the worrying rise of the far right, Ms Bradley addressed attendees, “The future society we all seek is free from institutional racism. Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, and there’s no doubt of the power of education in the fight against racism. As the far-right looms yet larger, as they seek to breed division, we must stand together in unity and solidarity. Our work, our voices and our influence has never been more important.”

Discussing the role teachers can play in combating racism, Ms Bradley said, “There is not enough support for education for peace, social and climate justice and political literacy. The Scottish Government must enable teachers to be able to play their part, which means providing adequate resources and appropriate professional learning in order to boost the confidence of teachers in dealing with difficult matters, making way for critical thinking and the recognition of disinformation.”