Teachers union warn of 'very vocal' opposition to North Ayrshire cut proposals
Nearly 100 roles could go
Scotland’s largest teaching union hasn’t ruled out industrial action in North Ayrshire if proposals to cut nearly one hundred staff over the next few years are followed through.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) insists they will be ‘very vocal’ if North Ayrshire Councillors look to cut 50 teacher jobs in August next year, as is proposed in a budget paper for 2025/26.
Local authority bosses have called an emergency meeting to discuss ways they could plug a £16 million financial black hole.
In a report submitted to councillors by officers, a saving of £3.9 million can be made over the next three years if the number of teachers in the community is cut.
However, speaking to Clyde 1 Ayrshire, EIS General Manager Andrea Bradley urged North Ayrshire to find other ways to save money.
She said: “At a point in time when the education service requires more teachers rather than fewer, this would be a devastating cut, and it would impact young people detrimentally in the here and now.
“It would give them lesser educational experiences than we would hope for children and young people in one of the richest countries in the world, and actually, that just stores up problems longer term that would be very expensive for North Ayrshire Council, in providing public services, to try and remedy detriments that occur from children not experiencing education as they should.”
In the report, officers outline that the current pupil-to-teacher ratio in North Ayrshire is 12.3, significantly lower than the current national average pupil: teacher ratio of 13.2.
It also argues as pupil numbers have fallen across the region over the last few years, cutting these numbers would not have a detrimental impacted on education.
But Ms Bradley insists, if these cuts are agreed, teachers in the area could strike.
“I would expect if these are proposed as imminent cuts to the education provision in the local authority, then my colleagues in the local association will be very vocal on that,” she added.
“That is not something that the EIS will sit back and allow to happen without protest.
“We are talking here about significant levels of cuts to teacher numbers, and that means a significant detrimental impact on young people's education.
The EIS is committed, both to looking after the interests of our members in terms of jobs and workload, but also to doing all that we can to promote quality education for children and young people because we know how vital and valuable that is for them.”
Council leader Marie Burns of the SNP Administration says the council is facing unprecedented hardship and services need to be scaled back.
She said: “It is important to stress that no decisions have yet been taken and nothing will be decided until all councillors meet next year to set the Budget.
“It’s no secret that all public sector organisations are facing difficult financial decisions – we are no different.
“We have a legal duty to set a balanced budget so it is likely that all councillors in North Ayrshire will face difficult decisions next year.
“Council officers have drawn up a series of areas in which we will engage with residents and seek their views. This will help inform future service provision and the setting of the Council’s budget in February 2025.
“First and foremost in our minds throughout this process will be our commitment to protect and support our communities across North Ayrshire to the very best of our ability.”