Teachers have said they had "no choice" but to go on strike to help colleagues facing a cost of living crisis that has left many struggling to feed their families.
Schools across Glasgow closed their doors today [Monday, January 16] amid the ongoing pay dispute with the Scottish Government and COSLA as part of the 16 days of action in January and February.
Members of the EiS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, are calling for a ten per cent pay rise in line with inflation but the Scottish Government claim this is unaffordable within its fixed budget.
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On Monday afternoon protesters from the EiS gathered outside Glasgow’s City Chambers displaying banners, flags and placards while chanting slogans demanding a pay increase that is already "way too late” before delivering a letter to the city council.
Support was also received from Glasgow Caledonian University, RMT, Unison and GMB convener Chris Mitchell who all spoke at the event.
Following the protest, Glasgow teacher Ellen Morton told the Local Democracy Reporting Service many felt they had no choice except strike action in the face of the hardships their colleagues were facing.
She said: “At our picket lines we have seen posties and cleansing workers come and stand in solidarity. We are all workers standing and fighting for decent standards of living.
“It bolsters me to see all these other trade unions out and successful. We are really united and that gives us strength.
“We have had no choice but to go on strike in these economic conditions with inflation at 14%. We have had to go on strike to protect our schools, to protect the profession and to protect teachers from going hungry.
“Single parent teachers can really struggle to pay the bills in this current economic crisis so it wasn’t a choice, it was a necessity that pushed teachers out for the first time in so many years.”
The group also spoke about the support and solidarity from other trade unions giving them the confidence to keep fighting for their ten percent pay rise.
Another teacher at the protest, Damian Donnelly said: “Seeing the support that we have got today from the solidarity speakers, the crowd that we have got outside the city chambers and the picket lines this morning, I am feeling very positive about how things are going.”
And his colleague Alison Beattie added: “After being on strike last week and the Scottish Government bringing nothing to the table, I think myself and my school branch were feeling quite low about being the first local authority back on strike today but as Damian said, after seeing the turnout today on our picket lines and in George Square, I had even more members on my picket line than I had before, so I am feeling really positive after today.
“The success of other trade unions doesn’t detract from us seeking our success. It only bolsters our confidence. We are in solidarity with all our other trade union colleagues, their fight is our fight.
“It is our turn now. Teachers aren’t a soft touch because of what we do and because of how much we care. We deserve it the same as everyone else.”
The last time teachers went on strike was more than 30 years ago when Margaret Thatcher was in power.
William Inch, who is also a teacher, believes teachers will win because they are determined and will not give in.
He said: “We know that the money is there. I think teachers are fed up hearing that the Scottish Government haven’t made us offers when they clearly should be doing something. The fault of teachers being on strike isn’t with the teachers. It lies solely on the door of the Scottish Government and COSLA who could solve this in a minute.
“I found an excellent quote from our First Minister the other day which said she despised Margaret Thatcher and everything she stood for. The one thing the two of them have got in common is that teachers were both on strike when they were in power.”
GMB convenor Chris Mitchell says all trade unions must continue to support one another.
He said: “For too long we have been divided by the government and employers but this time we stand as one.
“Education is so important in this country and the government must respect and recognise teachers by giving them a pay rise like many others in the public sector.
“It is an absolute scandal that they are using foodbanks and struggling to feed their families. We will continue to support all striking workers across the country.”
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