Date of next Glasgow teacher strike confirmed

Date of next Glasgow teacher strike confirmed after overwhelming support for action <i>(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)</i>
Date of next Glasgow teacher strike confirmed after overwhelming support for action (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
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Glasgow teachers will go on strike on Thursday, February 20 in a bid to force the council into a rethink over job cuts.

The decision comes after 95% of those voting backed the move to strike and a number of Glasgow schools are now likely to be closed on that date due to the impending strike.

It comes in a bid to force Glasgow City Council to reverse a decision which has already seen around 300 teaching posts axed from schools across the city.

The ballot organised by the country’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and Glasgow City Council has already been notified of the strike date.

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Following the outstanding show of strength from our members in the recent statutory industrial action ballot, where 95% of those voting backed striking, Glasgow’s teachers and associated professionals will be called out on an initial day of strike action in two weeks, on Thursday 20 February.


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“EIS members across Glasgow remain resolute and determined to fight these destructive and dangerous cutbacks by the Council, which are damaging education provision in Glasgow and causing irreparable harm to the learning experience of thousands of young people in Glasgow’s schools.

“It is not too late for Glasgow City Council to hold their hands up, admit that they have got this very badly wrong, and agree to cancel their programme of deep education cuts. Teachers never take strike action lightly, but are determined to stand united to force the Council to scrap the cuts.

“This is about the future of education in Glasgow, and protecting the futures of many thousands of young people – both those currently within the Glasgow school system and, also, those that will follow in the years ahead. This is a hugely important fight, and one that Glasgow’s teachers – with the support of parents and the wider community – are determined to win.”

EIS Glasgow Local Association Secretary Jane Gow said, “Plans are already well underway for our first day of strike action on the 20th of February. Unless Glasgow City Council makes a very clear commitment to stop the cuts, the EIS will be calling every one of our members within Glasgow’s education system out on strike.

“The Council must listen to pupils, parents, carers and teachers, halt its programme of damaging cuts, and re-commit to working with the EIS and Glasgow’s teaching professionals to deliver a better future for all the young people of Glasgow.”

Cllr Allan Casey, City Convener for Workforce said "I'm disappointed to receive notification of strike action given the constructive discussions I had with EIS officials yesterday which were due to be followed up with a meeting that has been arranged next week. 

"No one wants to see strike action in our schools, and our door remains open to the EIS to meet with us to see if we can avert any industrial action."

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