Dundee teacher strike called off as Court of Session steps in faculties row
Dundee secondary schools will open as normal, after the EIS union called off planned strike action late last night
Last updated 22nd Jun 2022
Strike action from Dundee teachers over the introduction of faculties has been avoided after a dramatic intervention by the Court of Session.
The industrial action was planned by EIS members for today (Wednesday 22nd of June), as the local authority planned to group subjects together into faculties.
But late last night, the EIS union revealed they had won an interim interdict from the Court of Session — which blocks the council from putting faculties in place, until any conditions set out by the court are satisfied.
Just hours before the strike was set to take place, Dundee EIS announced the development on social media:
It means secondary schools in Dundee will be open as normal tomorrow.
Commenting on the judgement, EIS General Secretary, Larry Flanagan said, “This is a significant vindication of the stand which Dundee EIS members have taken. Whether it be by use of the courts or through industrial action, the EIS will continue to defend members’ interests in Dundee, and indeed elsewhere.”
He continued, “Frankly, when the Scottish Government is talking loudly about teacher empowerment, it is a disgrace that Dundee City Council sought to impose new management structures in the face of clear opposition from the very teachers it depends on to deliver for Dundee’s children and young people. We expect Councils in Scotland to be enlightened employers, not some modern version of mill owners telling the workers what to do.”
Mr Flanagan concluded, “We have offered the Council a task force to address the education challenges which exist in Dundee and we hope that it will revisit its previous response and engage constructively with the EIS and its members going forward.”
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “The EIS has this evening confirmed that the industrial action planned for Dundee secondary schools tomorrow (Wednesday) has been cancelled.
“As a result, all city secondary schools will open as normal to all pupils tomorrow.
“We note the decision of the Court of Session and are studying the detail.”We have approached Dundee City Council for comment.