SCHOOLS in Glasgow, Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire may be hit by disruption after thousands of teachers there were balloted over Covid safety concerns.
Members of the country’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) working in the three local authorities, have been asked whether dispute proceedings should start. They are seeking to move to remote learning at the end of this week in the run-up to the start of the Christmas holidays.
The result of the Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire ballots are due today, with Edinburgh’s expected on Wednesday.
Teachers in North Lanarkshire have not been balloted after council bosses there agreed to hold talks with the union over what rate of infection could trigger a move to remote learning across primaries and secondaries.
Teachers fear not enough has been done to protect them from Covid-19, with the union repeatedly calling for a move to remove learning if areas move to level 4.
There are concerns that the easing of restrictions at Christmas may cause a third wave of the virus in January.
At present, six EIS local associations in the three council areas are moving to ballot members.
At least a further four others currently are considering whether to take this step towards a formal dispute with employers.
Over the weekend the EIS has also released a briefing which highlighted a number of issues which include:
- Teachers believe that moving to blended or remote learning would help reduce infection spread in the new year.
- Teachers are concerned about being able to safely mix with family during the holidays, without having the ability to isolate for five days beforehand
- They are concerned that remaining open full-time until December 23 may mean many school staff will have to work over the Christmas period to ensure the track and trace policies are implemented.
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The EIS had called for a move to teaching and learning via remote for the pre- and post-Christmas period.
But it says the request was turned down by the Scottish Government, which has pledged to keep school buildings open up to Christmas and under any new level 4 restrictions which are applied.
EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The number of EIS local associations moving to consultative ballots, together with the number still considering this action, is a clear indicator of the strength of feeling amongst teachers.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman added: “Being in school is in the best interests of children and our priority remains to ensure schools are safe, open and welcoming.
“There is no current direct evidence that transmission within schools plays a significant contributory role in driving increased rates of infection among children, while ONS data shows no evidence of any difference between the positivity rates of teachers and other school staff, relative to other worker groups of a similar age.
“We want teachers and school leaders to have a break over the festive period, and that’s why Public Health Scotland and the National Contact Tracing Centre are offering support to local authorities to deal with contact tracing issues to minimise the need for school leaders to deal with them over the holidays.”
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “It’s simply not true to say that the council will not talk to unions about guidelines or triggers for potential blended learning.
“At a meeting last Thursday there was a full discussion and it was agreed that the management side would respond more formally.
“As we have done in our schools since the return in August, each case is considered on its merits in partnership with our Public Health experts and in line with the national guidance.
“There have been instances where we have taken the decision for a localised closure where, in partnership with Public Health, it has been deemed that this was the best course of action.”
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