Schools across East Dunbartonshire are set to strike action over the working conditions of teachers.

Kirkintilloch High School, Lenzie Academy and Bearsden Academy will be participating in the strikes called by the NASUWT teachers' union.

The notice of action was issued to the council after an alleged failure to tackle management practices which have an adverse impact of the workload and working conditions of teachers.

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Union bosses have warned that if progress is not made, more action and other schools could follow.

Ms Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “Whilst the Government must take responsibility for the year-on-year deterioration in teachers’ pay and conditions, there are actions that employers have the power to take locally to address some of the concerns raised by teachers and alleviate some of the pressures on them.

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“It is disappointing that we have been forced to take action in East Dunbartonshire, but having attempted to engage in constructive discussions to work together on these issues, regrettably the Council changed its position and instead of confirming it would work with us on the issues we had raised, would only commit to them informing local discussions.

“By the Council’s own admission, these discussions have been going on for years.

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“Endless meetings that fail to produce outcomes which make a tangible difference to teachers’ working lives to enable them to do their best for pupils are pointless.

“East Dunbartonshire missed a golden opportunity to demonstrate it was prepared to listen to its teachers and act on their concerns.

“It underestimated badly the depth of teachers’ anger and frustration.

“Strike action could have been avoided if the Council had agreed, for example, to our proposals to make sure the recommendations from the national working group on tackling bureaucracy are being implemented in schools, or to ensure that teachers are not burdened with clerical and administrative tasks which are diverting them from teaching, or to stop the excessive amount of cover teachers are being asked to do.

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“Other employers should take note. Teachers’ patience and goodwill is exhausted.

"The NASUWT is appalled by the news that East Dunbartonshire is attacking the terms and conditions of service of support staff.

“Support staff have a vital role in schools and are an important part of the education team around the child.

“This is another example of the Council’s callous disregard for staff and its failure to understand the importance of valuing its school workforce.

“The NASUWT has announced already its strikes for next week because of the Council’s failure to respond positively to the concerns of teachers.

“The Council should be in no doubt that the NASUWT and its members stand side by side with the support staff and their unions in defending decent working conditions.

“Rather than attacking teachers and support staff, the Council should be seeking to ensure that staff have working conditions which enable them to work effectively in the interests of the children and young people in our schools.

“The news about support staff, following on from the NASUWT’s announcement of strikes by teachers, will rightly cause deep concern to parents across East Dunbartonshire.”

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Jacqui MacDonald, Chief Education Officer at East Dunbartonshire Council added: "East Dunbartonshire Council regrets the decision of the NASUWT to take strike action in three of our secondary schools.

“The Council has made positive steps through collegiate working with the Teacher Trades Unions to address issues in relation to workload and tackling bureaucracy.

"We do not accept that we have refused to work with the NASUWT or any Teacher Trades Union to address issues or concerns within our schools.

“The Council is seeking legal advice and we will keep parents and carers updated.

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“Meanwhile headteachers are working to assess the impact of the industrial action and will inform parents as soon as that is complete.”