Teachers vote overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action
Secondary school teachers in West Dunbartonshire Council are set to take industrial action in a row over restructuring proposals.
Secondary school teachers in West Dunbartonshire Council are set to take industrial action in a row over restructuring proposals.
Teachers employed by the local authority are concerned at plans to restructure management positions at its five secondary schools which they say will have a negative impact on learning.
The ballot was organised by teaching union EIS and 88.2% of members voted for industrial action, with a turnout of 60.9%.
An EIS committee will meet next week to discuss the result with a view to the authorisation of potential industrial action'' in the new year.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: The high turnout and the fact that almost 90% of teachers voting in the ballot backed industrial action demonstrate the depth of opposition to the council's plans.
It is time for West Dunbartonshire council to rethink its proposals and to listen to the views of the teachers in its secondary schools.''
Michael Dolan, the union's local secretary for West Dunbartonshire, said: We believe that the council's proposed restructuring of management positions in its five secondary schools will have a serious detrimental impact on learning and teaching.
Teachers do not want to take industrial action but we feel our hand has been forced by these proposals which will damage the service we provide for pupils across West Dunbartonshire secondary schools.''
A council spokeswoman said: We respect the ballot result and will continue to work with our teachers and their trade-union representatives to reach a resolution.
We are committed to protecting teacher numbers in West Dunbartonshire and will support our staff in every way possible with the national issue around workload.
We know that our teachers care just as much as we do about providing a first-class education to the young people of this area.
We remain hopeful that our ongoing discussions can reassure teaching staff and find a solution that avoids industrial action and its impact on young people.''