Two more days of teachers’ strike in West Dunbartonshire

Secondary teachers in West Dunbartonshire are striking for a further two days after failing to reach an agreement with the local authority over cuts to principal teacher positions.

Picket lines are outside schools today and tomorrow after a meeting with council leaders on Monday night failed to produce a resolution.

The walkout by members of teaching union the EIS is a protest at plans to merge departments into multi-subject faculties, something which has already been introduced in other areas.

RELATED CONTENT

Council in teacher number pledge as strike closes schools

Price of a penny - education tops the Holyrood election agenda

Under the West Dunbartonshire proposals pastoral care staff are to be cut, and PE and Home Economics will be merged under one faculty, Music and Art in another and English and Languages in another.

The strike forms part of the first EIS teachers’ industrial action since 1986.

West Dunbartonshire Council said it would meet with union members “as a matter of urgency”.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Support  from our members for the strike action remains very strong, and the EIS would again urge West Dunbartonshire Council to rethink their proposals which would have long-term serious repercussions for teachers and pupils in the authority’s Secondary schools.”