Orkney schools could be affected by strike action

Orkney’s education service is looking at contingencies for dealing with potential teaching staff shortages that may occur as a result of a national day of strike action on Wednesday, November 30.

A spokesman for Orkney Islands Council said: “All efforts would be made to keep schools open as health and safety and staffing requirements allow.”

Schools throughout Scotland are facing their first strike action in almost 25 years, after the country’s largest teaching union backed a day of action.

Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teacher and lecturer members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in protest at plans to impose “damaging” changes to public sector pension schemes.

More than 82 per cent of EIS members voted to strike on a 54 per cent turnout.

As a result of the “YES” vote by nearly 25,000 EIS members, they are expected to join workers from across the public sector in a day of strike action on November 30.

EIS general secretary, Ronnie Smith said, “Faced with a wide ranging attack on their pensions, on top of a two-year pay freeze, rampant inflation and education budget cuts, our members are signalling that ‘enough is enough’.”