Teachers are preparing to vote on strike action in a fresh dispute over workloads.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has issued statutory industrial action ballot notices to all 32 local authorities, warning of potential strike action and action short of strike (ASOS).
The statutory ballot will open on February 2, and close on March 4.
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The dispute centres on long-standing demands for reduced teacher workload, additional staff recruitment, and a cap on class contact time.
Andrea Bradley, general secretary of the EIS, said: "In opening this ballot, the EIS is clearly signalling that we will not back down over teacher workload.
"Promises were made, 5 years ago, to tackle teacher workload, to recruit 3,500 additional teachers in schools, and to reduce teachers’ maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week.
"None of these commitments have been met, despite pledges by the Scottish Government and local authorities to work to deliver them ‘at pace’.
"This failure to deliver has let down pupils and teachers the length and breadth of Scotland."
In the consultative ballot, 92% of EIS members backed ASOS while 83% supported striking, with a turnout of 64%.
A subsequent statutory ballot, which closed last week, saw even stronger support, with 93% in favour of ASOS and 86%in favour of strike action.
However, under current UK trade union laws—which require postal-only ballots and a 50% turnout to be legally valid—the result fell short of the threshold by just three per cent.
Andrea said: "It is clear from both our consultative and previous statutory ballot results that support for industrial action on workload remains high amongst Scotland’s teachers.
"It is extremely unfortunate that, as a result of a Tory-era law that is in the process of being repealed, a very clear vote in favour of industrial action has not delivered a legal mandate for action to commence.
"In opening this new statutory ballot, the EIS is urging our members to smash through the restrictive thresholds of this outdated, discredited and scheduled-for-repeal law, and to start to take back control of their own workload by compelling the Scottish Government and local authorities to act on their promises."
Demands include the recruitment of 3500 additional teachers and a reduction in maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week.
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Andrea said: "We simply cannot let the Scottish Government and local authorities off the hook on teacher workload.
"Five years ago, very clear and binding commitments were made to Scotland’s teachers and pupils.
"There was a promise to reduce teacher workload, there was a promise to employ 3500 additional teachers, and there was a promise to cut teachers’ maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week.
"None of these promises have been kept, and none of these promises will be kept unless we take a collective stand and fight for them.
"The message to Scotland’s teachers is clear – look out for the yellow envelope containing your ballot paper, and complete and return your postal ballot as soon as possible to ensure that your vote is counted and your voice is heard on teacher workload, on more jobs for teachers, and for delivery of the promised cut in teacher class contact time."
Glasgow City Council has been approached for comment.
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