BUDGET cuts, staffing shortages and high workloads will be the main battle cries for teachers attending this year’s Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) AGM, the union’s leader told the Star yesterday.

But despite these issues and another £350 million cut planned in local government for this financial year, members are riding high on successful local and national strike action by teachers and lecturers, said Larry Flanagan.

Mr Flanagan lauded the victory of the further education section EIS-FELA members in a national strike for equal pay earlier this year.

The long-running dispute arose after many colleges failed to sign up to a national bargaining frameworks and an attempt by Colleges Scotland to impose a 1 per cent pay increase that workers rejected.

Mr Flanagan said: “Members built for strike action and sought agreement from the union for up to 32 days’ strike action, which would escalate in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections.”

After the first day of industrial action, and with a huge rally outside Holyrood, EIS was asked to attend negotiations the following day.

Through the strike action and negotiations, members won their claim for equal pay, with a commitment for a national pay scale within three years.

Mr Flanagan also said that it was a “significant gain” that as part of the agreement all pay scales will be harmonised to the top rate of pay, rather than a compromise.

He said that this will see some members see their pay increase from £24,000 to around £40,000, and to top it all off “college managers also agreed not to deduct pay from members involved in the strike.”

Mr Flanagan attributed the victory to strong support within the membership, adding that the huge level of support across the political spectrum would have caused “embarrassment for the SNP had the dispute continued.”