Equality: Fair Work

Taking Fair Work Forward

In this series we explore a range of key equality topics of current interest to the EIS and provide how-to guides for skills that may help in your work to address these topics and gain momentum locally.

The EIS continues to work towards a diverse, inclusive education system, and equitable workplaces for all. Since 2020, the EIS has worked on expanding our equality activism, including growing informal equality networks for groups who are underrepresented in the union and in education; LGBT, disabled and BAME workers.

About this week

Gender pay justice is an important component to the EIS #PayAttention campaign.

In this week’s learning you will gain a foundational understanding of the relevance of gender equality today, in relation to pay justice.

This week’s expert is Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Trainer Ellie Muniandy

About this week

During the establishment of the EIS Disabled Members Network in 2021, members noted the need for improved understanding of autism in the workplace and support for autistic workers.

In this week’s learning we will draw on work undertaken by an EIS focus group of autistic members, and a related small-sample survey. We will look at increasing knowledge and understanding of autism and facilitate proactive changes that can make workplaces more equitable for autistic workers.

The work of the Autism Appropriate Workplaces Focus Group has informed several EIS learning events and is intended to culminate in the publication of guidance for Reps on this topic.

This week’s expert is Marion McLaughlin, CEO of Autism Understanding Scotland.

About this week

For many disabled, and neurodivergent workers, online meetings can be more accessible, and this is often also the case for parents and carers, and people who live further afield.

In this learning, we will consider learning from online meetings and look at some examples of the types of information that can be gathered using MentiMeter. You can create your own MentiMeter account and create a draft presentation related to the topic of Autism Appropriate Workplaces.

About this week

Reasonable adjustments are an essential right in the pursuit of Fair Work for disabled workers.

In this week’s learning, you will be able to reflect on the importance of reasonable adjustments, consider some of the challenges that may exist, and how to overcome them.

This week’s expert is Sally Witcher, freelance trainer and former Chief Executive of Inclusion Scotland.

About this week

In this learning, we will consider how to create short, impactful surveys with findings that can be used in workplace organising and employer negotiations. You can create your own SurveyMonkey account and create a draft survey related to the topic of reasonable adjustments.

Your fellow Fair Work Forward Equality Reps will be your participants and test out your survey, so remember to post the link on the Padlet, and respond to others’ surveys, too!

About this week

The EIS has played an essential role in the planning and implementation of LGBT education in Scotland. The EIS affiliated with the TIE campaign in 2017 and EIS members have been involved with leading the work on designing resources and curricular plans for LGBT+ inclusive education.

The EIS has a LGBT informal network, and LGBT sub-committee, which feeds directly into the work of the EIS Equality Committee, and advises on LGBT issues.

In this week’s learning you will find out more about the experiences of LGBT pupils and the requirements for schools to actively implement LGBT-inclusive education.

This week’s expert is Co-Founder and Director of Time for Inclusive Education, Jordan Daly.

About this week

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has a strong commitment to anti-racism, and a longstanding track record of tackling discrimination and harassment within the workplace and within education.

Over the last three years, we have grown our anti-racist work and started a national EIS BAME network, as well as taken up chairing of the Diversity in the Teaching Profession and Education Workforce, a Scottish Government subgroup to the Anti-racism in Education Programme.

In this weeks’ learning, you will consider how racism may manifest for people of colour, and how we can have braver conversations about racism.

This week’s expert is Equality, Diversity and Inclusion trainer Ellie Muniandy.

About this week

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has a strong commitment to anti-racism, and a longstanding track record of tackling discrimination and harassment within the workplace and within education.

Over the last three years, we have grown our anti-racist work and started a national EIS BAME network, as well as taken up chairing of the Diversity in the Teaching Profession and Education Workforce, a Scottish Government subgroup to the Anti-racism in Education Programme.

In this weeks’ learning, you will consider how racism may manifest for people of colour, and how we can have braver conversations about racism.

This week’s expert is Equality, Diversity and Inclusion trainer Ellie Muniandy.

Archive Material

View our archived material on Fair-Work within Scotland’s education system