Striking Dumfries and Galloway teachers hold rally outside council headquarters

dailyrecord.co.uk:

More than 100 people attended a rally at the council headquarters as teachers went on strike in Dumfries and Galloway yesterday.

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) took their fight for better pay to the council’s door as part of a 16 day series of national industrial action.

On Monday it was the turn of Dumfries and Galloway and East Ayrshire branches of the EIS to take strike action. And many gathered outside the council HQ to make their feelings known Andrew O’Halloran, EIS local association secretary, said: “The turnout is fantastic. “To have more than 100 teachers in a rural area with a population spread like Dumfries and Galloway and to get these numbers on a strike day is a very strong statement to the Scottish Government and COSLA about how we feel about pay, conditions, workload and the aftermath of the pandemic which are all worries. “Things cannot go on like this. “Teachers are on their knees. “We are trying to keep our heads above water amidst spiralling inflation and at the same time lack of investment is crippling education. “Our workload has increased dramatically, pupil behaviour is more challenging than ever post pandemic and funding for additional support needs is woefully inadequate.” Teachers are seeking a 10 per cent pay rise to deal with the cost of living crisis and rising inflation.

COSLA insist the demand is “unaffordable and therefore we still remain a distance apart in terms of a settlement”. Julie Irving, EIS president for Dumfries and Dumfries and Galloway, said: “The system is creaking and close to breaking point.