Solidarity boosts West Dunbartonshire teachers’ fight against cuts

Striking teachers formed large picket lines as secondary schools across West Dunbartonshire in Scotland shut on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

The EIS union members are fighting the local council’s plan to cut the number of principle teachers and introduce faculties into schools.

The union argues that the faculty model implemented at other councils in Scotland has been a failure.

Over 100 strikers came together for a rally in Clydebank Town Hall.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan told them, “The EIS will not be defeated in this dispute no matter what it takes.”

The union’s EIS-Fela further education section’s president John Kelly also spoke on the recent victory over equal pay in further education colleges across Scotland.

Solidarity 

Glasgow City Unison union branch secretary Brian Smith brought solidarity too.

Striker James Kane said, “It was good to hear support from other unions.

“The lesson from the EIS-Fela victory is, strike hard and fast and you win. Our dispute should have the same approach.

“The picket line I was on at the Vale of Leven Academy had 25 people on it. Almost every car tooting its horn as it passed.”

Teachers plan to strike again later this month if the council does not back down.

Thanks to Duncan Brown

Union builds support for schools ballot

The NUT union is set to begin an England-wide strike ballot on 23 May.

The union is fighting against Tory funding cuts and their plans to force every school to become an academy.

The union’s annual conference last month overwhelmingly backed the plan for strikes. The first walkout is expected to take place in early July.

Parents are also organising to stop forced academisation. A Parents Defending Education meeting, backed by the Anti Academies Alliance and the NUT and ATL unions, is set to take place on 23 April.