Government's Offer on Public Sector Pensions

You will have seen the announcement from the UK Government today and their claim that this ‘new proposal’ answers all of our concerns. They even claim this new proposal is a good deal for teachers. To assist your deliberations the proposals are explained below:

SSTA to Ballot on Strike Action on Pensions

The SSTA today decided to ballot its members on strike action in defence of members’ pensions. The decision was taken unanimously by the union’s Executive at a meeting in Edinburgh today.

New National Qualifications - October Update

Have Your Say – Latest Documents The latest draft documents for the new qualifications have now been published. Course Specifications for Access 2 and Access 3 are now available on the website and feedback can be given by 31 December 2011 on our Have Your Say page. A summary of all the feedback we've received to date is available here. The subject drop-down menu can be used to view the latest information for each subject.

Pensions - The Current Situation

As members will be aware, there has been discussion between the TUC and Treasury on the issue of public sector pensions. Additionally, the Independent Public Sector Pensions Commission, chaired by Lord Hutton, reported in March this year. The Report contained much which would be attractive to the Government.

Dealing with the McCormac Proposal and the Attack on Teachers' Pensions

The most recent attack on teachers’ conditions of service is encapsulated in the word flexibility. Professor McCormac believes teachers must be more flexible in their approach to every aspect of their employment. Conversely he recommends that employers reduce the flexibility of their approach by, for example, requiring skilled professionals to remain in the school during the pupil day.

Attention Supply Teachers!

Working as a supply teacher and receiving the disgraceful remuneration agreed by another union in the sell out agreement (SOA), you will be very aware of the system now used to pay supply staff in differing authorities. We are now able to begin the process of collecting evidence of unfair treatment to enable us to legally challenge this disgrace. Many of you will have worked for at least a few days on supply contracts. Please email us with information about…

McCormac Review- The Report of the Review of Teacher Employment in Scotland

The full report of the McCormac Committee "Advancing Professionalism in Teaching - The Report of the Review of Teacher Employment in Scotland" is available to download from here A Summary of main proposals by the McCormac Committee is listed below. Annex B should be removed and all teachers work to a set of standards produced by the GTCS Annex E of the Teachers' Agreement should be removed All teachers should remain in school during the pupil day. Additional time should…

McCormac Review - Letter to School Representatives

Dear Colleague The results of the review by Professor McCormac and his Committee are due to be published on Tuesday 13 September 2011. These deliberations will take the form of a set of proposals delivered to the Scottish Government. The Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament will take evidence concerning the Committee’s proposals on 22 September. The Association will make its views known. It must be pointed out that the Government cannot negotiate directly with the teacher unions on conditions…

Pensions Update - Letter to School Representatives

Dear Colleagues Pensions Update I wrote before the summer holiday to inform you of discussions taking place with the UK Government with regard to proposed changes to pension rules. I informed you that discussions were under way at the UK Working Party on Superannuation (UKWP) but that no firm proposals had been tabled. That remains the position. The teachers’ side has demanded factual information which has not yet been received. Without this information the talks cannot reach a conclusion. SSTA…