The Scottish Government is facing avoidable industrial action disruption in the new year unless it agrees to act with urgency to address teachers’ workloads, NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has warned.

The Union is opening its ballot of members in Scotland today (Wednesday) over class contact time.

NASUWT teachers are being balloted for both strike action and action short of strike action over the Scottish Government’s failure to make significant progress on its manifesto commitment to reduce teachers' maximum class contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours per week.

The ballot will close on Wednesday 14th January.
 
Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
 
“Ministers have had nearly five years to implement their promise to the profession on class contact time, but all that has been achieved is delay and prevarication while teachers’ workloads have crept higher and higher.

“An industrial action ballot has unfortunately become the only option to try to bring about the improvement in working conditions burned out and overwhelmed teachers need.

“We urge all members to vote yes and yes for both strike and action short of strike action when they receive their ballots.”
 
Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official for Scotland, said:
 
“While just last week we were able to find an agreement with employers and ministers on teachers’ pay, a similar commitment to fulfilling pledges to tackle the excessive workloads and working hours being experienced by teachers has been seriously lacking.
 
“Workload and working conditions are as important as pay in ensuring we have a sufficient supply of teachers and that they can do their jobs effectively.
 
“The patience of teachers has run out. If ministers and employers refuse to act on the workload crisis which continues to affect our members day in, day out, we will.”