LOCAL ASSOCIATION
FOCUS
Campaigning for Education & Teachers in Inverclyde In the first in a series of features exploring the ways in which the EIS supports members across the country, the SEJ focuses on the work of Inverclyde Local Association. Although Inverclyde is not one of the larger EIS local associations, it has long punched above its weight in terms of member activism and campaigning. In this special focus, we look at the work going on in Inverclyde on both local issues and in support of national campaigns.
A Collegiate Council
uncillors and Council officers, co In 2016, Inverclyde Partnership at s signed up to the ion un s de tra d the Trades recognise rclyde Council and ve “In s te sta It e. Work Pledg partnership at -operation with a co r te ea gr ve lie rce Unions be nisation, its workfo ll benefit the orga ers fic Of ’s cil work approach wi un Co de. Inverclyde cly er Inv of ns ize and the cit is Partnership mmit to making th co rs be em M d and Electe s to ensure it th the Trades Union at Work Pledge wi d progressive of an enduring an becomes the basis collaboration.” pty promise. This was not an em great example of s in Inverclyde is a The budget proces ch financial year eration. Across ea l the TU Pledge in op EO, Chief Financia agement Team (C int the Corporate Man Jo (LNCT ate Directors), EIS t Officer and Corpor presentatives mee re B GM d an ite Un , ON IS UN Secretary), the proposed cuts a month to debate on average twice ced budget. The to achieve a balan , to services needed ed and discussed impacts are outlin e th to ut staffing and service inp ve ps ha s are agreed. TU re ion and the processe e public consultat th , rs be em sent to m lp he to en giv communications e ar cted members ele ts ee sh d ile ta and the de ions. shape their decis
Regular Rep Meetings
Notre Dame High School rep, Derek McDonald, highlights the Secondary Reps meetings as partic ularly useful to him in his union role. “I enjoy getting to know the other reps, rea lising that other school reps experience the same joys and challenges as I do. It makes being a school rep much easier, as I can contact any of the others for ad vice if I am experiencing a new situ ation,” he says.
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The Scottish Educational Journal
LA Secretary profile – Paula McEwan
I’ve been an EIS memb er since 1988 and a pri mary teacher in Strathclyde and then Inv erclyde since 1992, wo rking in my current post since 1995. My union activity starte d early with the respon sibility of St Gabriel’s Primary ‘envel ope-from-the-union ope ner’. I was so effective that promotion to actual rep followed on quickly and I held that role through an amalgamation to St An drew’s Primary in 2011 until standing dow n in 2017 when I took on my LA secretary role. I couldn’t do my job wit hout the support (and goo d humour) of our current office-bearers Joh n, Sean and Colin. Casework on behalf of members takes preced ence and the bulk of my time, as you might imagine. It goes from a query about terms and conditions to high-tariff career threat ening accusations. Luckily, LA Secretaries have the suppor t of an Area Officer in under taking their duties . That support is vital wit h an unusual or difficult case or when a member is particularly vulnerable. I represent teachers on various local Education Services committees as LNCT Joi nt Secretary – for examp le, the attainment challenge reference gro up and school estates pro gramme board and in other meetings acr oss the Council. It mean s that teachers’ voices are represented across more than teachi ng and gives me a wider strategic view of the work of the Council. Another local aspect of an LA secretary’s role is to get into branches, suppor t reps and encourage member activism. The Value Education Value Teachers campaign has allo wed these visits in spades. It’s a busy role but I lov e it.
