Glasgow City Council has announced a reversal in planned education cuts following intense negotiations with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union. Originally, the council aimed to eliminate 450 posts over three years as part of a savings strategy, with around 120 roles already removed. However, faced with the threat of a strike scheduled for February 20, the council has pledged to halt future cuts and work towards restoring teacher numbers to 2023 levels. This decision comes after the Scottish government and Cosla signed an agreement in December to maintain teacher numbers and freeze learning hours.
The council's education budget represents a significant portion of its expenditure. In light of this, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth disclosed that the £145.5 million earmarked to sustain teacher numbers had not been released to councils. Consequently, Glasgow City Council explored various options to achieve necessary savings. Despite financial constraints, the council assured that no permanent teaching positions would be cut. Instead, it focused on not filling vacant roles and reducing staff on temporary contracts.
Allan Casey, a council representative, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Scottish government to secure adequate funding for the coming year.
"We will have to work very hard with the government to ensure the settlement that we get next year is of a decent size." – Allan Casey
The council's revised approach has also been influenced by higher-than-expected funding from the Scottish government since the initial three-year plan was devised. This increase in resources allows the council to retract its future education cuts and focus on increasing teacher numbers. The SNP's dominance in the council suggests a high likelihood of passing the revised budget without significant opposition.
In response to these developments, the EIS union has decided to suspend its planned strike action. Jane Gow, speaking on behalf of the union, stated:
"While the offer is not yet binding, and still has to pass through the full processes of council and be confirmed in next week's budget, the EIS is suspending strike action as an act of good faith while this process continues to its conclusion." – Jane Gow
Furthermore, Glasgow City Council committed to producing a roadmap outlining steps to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels. This plan will be developed in consultation with the EIS union, reinforcing the council's commitment to support its educational workforce.
Allan Casey expressed optimism about this renewed commitment to education in Glasgow:
"I hope you agree that it represents a significant commitment to our teaching workforce and to the quality of education in the city. I hope this will be welcome news to your members." – Allan Casey
