Teachers overwhelmingly vote to strike amid plans to axe 450 jobs

Teachers in Glasgow have voted overwhelmingly to strike amid a continued dispute with the council over its plans to axe 450 teaching jobs.

Some 96% of teachers in the country’s largest union voted yes to action short of strike while 90% voted in favour of striking.

The Educational Insitute of Scotland (EIS) said 5,000 members were balloted in response to Glasgow City Council’s plans to cut 450 teaching posts over the next three years.

The union said that comes on top of the 125 jobs that have been lost over the current school session with another 172 being set to be axed ahead of pupils returning in August.

Jane Gow, secretary of EIS Glasgow, said: “The EIS is crystal clear that the loss of jobs vital to education provision in Glasgow will irreparably damage the life chances of many of the city’s young people and most especially those with additional support needs.

“Already 45 of our primary schools will see all teachers fully class committed with only the head teacher available to provide support for all pupils, staff and parents.

“This will mean there is little or no capacity for small group or one-to-one provision for those pupils in most need of nurture, literacy and numeracy support.”

Gow added: “Teachers in Glasgow have today said no to cutting teacher numbers and the irreparable damage this would inflict on our young people now and in decades to come.

“This consultative ballot will be followed by a statutory one if there is no movement from GCC to end this dispute and reverse these swinging cuts to education in Glasgow.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “We will await the official confirmation and will continue to engage with our trade union colleagues.”

More to follow.