Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

Category: Conditions of Service

  • Threatened action by Aberdeen City Council

    TO Members in Aberdeen City

    Dear Colleague

    You will have received a communication from Aberdeen City Council this morning, which is a blatant attempt to blackmail teachers in the authority. This Association utterly condemns any attempt to blackmail teachers into accepting a salary reduction. We will take all necessary steps to support members in Aberdeen and will certainly ballot on industrial action should either of these measures be imposed. Please note however that Aberdeen City Council will not take any steps to reduce salaries or impose redundancies at this stage. The next step will begin in January when we expect a consultation from Aberdeen City Council to be sent out. Please reply to the consultation from Aberdeen City Council in the new year, and state your views as strongly as possible.

    We expect the council decision to be made in February, after a period of consultation. The Council will take no action before then.

    Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have concerns or wish to discuss this further. You can also contact the District Secretary, John Gray, by email at jgray@oldmachar.aberdeen.sch.uk

    should be grateful if you could forward this email to any member who has not received a copy.

    With best wishes

    Yours sincerely

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Update for members

    Dear Colleagues

    We were informed today that the SNCT meeting on Wednesday has been cancelled due to inclement weather.   There is no date as yet for the rescheduled meeting.   As soon as we have information it will be added to the website and emailed to those members for whom we have email addresses.   If we do not have an email address for you please email us and we’ll add you to the mailing list.   At this time of year the post is not a reliable method of communication.   After the Christmas holiday ends we will begin sending information by post to school reps in addition to emails and notices on the website.

    On another, more immediate, matter please do not hesitate to contact us if you have problems with reasonable requests to work from home being denied.   There is information on the website regarding travel during inclement weather and your district secretary will also have local information to assist you.

    With best wishes

    Yours sincerely

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Advice to members regarding travelling to school during severe winter weather.

    In severe winter weather you may have problems travelling to school. It is important to balance your safety with your employer’s right to expect you to attend work, but safety must always be the most important consideration.   Members are advised to take the following steps:

    • Make sure you have a copy of the Local Authority procedure for inclement weather and follow the advice in the document.
    • Check the appropriate website for school closure advice.
    • Listen to official advice about travel and assess the risks for you.
    • If you are unable to use your usual form of transport contact the school, explain the situation and inform them that you intend to seek an alternative safe method of travel. (if necessary by leaving a message on the answering machine)
    • If other methods of transport are impossible contact the school again and inform them you intend to travel to your local school if you live in the authority.
    • If you live out ¬-with the authority seek advice on whether you should offer your services to the local school.
    • If travel to a nearer school is also impossible inform the HT that you will work from home, and keep a record of work done.
    • Contact the office at info@ssta.org.uk or 0131 313 7300 for further advice

  • Press speculation about changes to conditions

    Dear Colleagues

    You may have noted speculation in TESS about the creation of new posts for current probationers. I have sought assurances that teachers currently seeking employment will not be penalised and am somewhat reassured by the promise that posts will be advertised and the selection process will be that normally used by local authorities.

    We have been informed that the only relevance the phrase ‘current probationers’ has is numerical, and will dictate the number of posts to be appointed.

    As I noted in my last email to you we have no new information about the details of the COSLA proposals. Any clarification from COSLA will have to include a statement detailing exactly which local authorities they represent. Some authorities appear to be intent on their own agendas.

    The SNCT meets on Wednesday 8 December at 14.30 when the situation should become much clearer. As yet COSLA has released NO papers for the meeting. When further information becomes available I will contact you immediately. In the meantime please take no action until the situation has been clarified and we know exactly what the proposals are.

    If you have immediate concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at info@ssta.org.uk.

    With best wishes

    Yours sincerely

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Speculation about changes to teachers’ conditions of service

    Dear Colleagues

    Speculation about changes to teachers’ conditions of service

    Many of you will be aware of recent speculation in the press and elsewhere about attempts by COSLA to change those parts of the McCrone deal they dislike. Shortly after the budget announcement on Wednesday 17 November John Swinney wrote to the leaders of all Scottish local authorities confirming the following arrangements. COSLA agreed to protect the number of teacher posts as far as possible in order to secure:

    • places for all probationers who require a place under the induction scheme in August 2011;

    • Sufficient teaching posts available for all probationers who achieve Standard for Full Registration in summer 2011 (i.e. successfully complete their probation); and

    • A reduction in the total number of unemployed teachers.

    The use of the phrase ‘as far as possible’ suggests that any reliance on this ‘promise’ would be at best misplaced. Previous promises regarding teacher employment have been conveniently forgotten almost as soon as the ink dried. In return the Scottish Government agreed to support proposals for:

    • A pay freeze in 2011/12 and 2012/13 for all employees (teachers and all associated professionals);

    • An increase in contact time for probationers to 0.9 FTE;

    • Agreement that all supply teachers are paid on Point 1 of the Main Grade Scale and only for hours worked;

    • Removal of salary conservation;

    • Agreement that the Teacher leave year is moved to 40 days per annum for the calculation of family leave entitlements; and

    • Freeze entry into the Chartered Teacher Scheme.

    You will note the absolute lack of any detailed information in these proposals, making it very difficult to be certain of likely repercussions.

    The SNCT meets on 8 Dec 2010 where details of these proposals will be put to the teachers’ side. Your Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met today to discuss the likely effects of these proposals and agree our response at the SNCT. You will not be surprised to learn that the committee was unanimous in its opposition to any detriment to our conditions of service.

    Your representatives at the SNCT will continue this opposition and refuse to negotiate away hard fought for conditions.

    Regular updates will be posted on the website and emailed to school reps. In the meantime please encourage your colleagues to ensure they are members of a union. The future of education in Scotland may depend on the strength of our voice.

    If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the SSTA using the email address info@ssta.org.uk if possible.

    With best wishes

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • Press reports and rumours regarding possible changes to teachers conditions of service

    Dear Colleagues

    You will be aware of press reports and rumours regarding possible changes to our conditions of service, and the renegotiation of the McCrone deal.

    As yet there have no proposals put to any teaching union by COSLA so any information is at best speculation.

    We have a meeting with COSLA on 8 December to discuss their proposals.   Presumably these proposals will be known shortly before then.

    As soon as we know what COSLA are demanding the information will be posted on our website and emailed to members.   In the meantime I assure you that no deals have been done and this Association will oppose any proposal detrimental to teachers.

    With best wishes

    Ann Ballinger

    General Secretary

  • URGENT – Claims in relation to accrued maternity leave

    16 November 2010

    TO:       SSTA MEMBERS

    Dear Colleagues

    URGENT – Claims in relation to accrued maternity leave

    Further to the information provided on the poster sent to schools at the start of the session, the Association now additionally advises as follows.

    In order to protect the position of members who were on maternity leave during leave year 1/9/09 to 31/8/10 with regard to the accrual of leave during maternity leave, such members are advised to contact the Association as soon as possible if they have not already done so.

    Members should provide as much information as possible, including:-

    • Full name:
    • Home address:
    • Date of birth:
    • Dates of maternity leave:
    • Current post:
    • Period of appointment:
    • Current salary:
    • Any contact with the employer regarding the right to the accrual of leave during the period of maternity leave itself:

    THIS MATTER IS URGENT.  

    For those who may have claims, further information will be required in order for a claim to be prepared for the Employment Tribunal.   The Association has determined to lodge such claims not later than 30 November 2010.   To achieve this please respond not later than 23 November 2010

    Members should write to the General Secretary or email to info@ssta.org.uk

    Yours sincerely

    ANN BALLINGER

    General Secretary

  • Minister in call to revisit McCrone deal for teachers

    Herald Scotland (Andrew Denholm, Education Correspondent) – 28/10/10 06:03

    A historic agreement governing the pay and conditions of Scottish teachers should be re-opened as council budget cuts loom, the Education Secretary said yesterday.

    Michael Russell told the Scottish Parliament’s education committee it was time for the 2001 McCrone deal to be “revisited”.

    The comment came as the committee discussed suggestions from some councils that increasing the hours teachers spend in the classroom would allow them to cut staff and save millions of pounds.

    Mr Russell said any such negotiations would have to take place through an existing tri-partite group of councils, Government officials and teaching unions.

    But he added: “The McCrone agreement is 10 years old and any agreement that is 10 years old probably needs revisiting.

    Full story available from The Herald Scotland.

    This Association is prepared to consider any proposals put but will not accept the wholesale destruction of conditions of service.   Should any attempt be made to negotiate changes members will informed via email and the website.

  • Maternity Leave and the Accrual of Holidays

    In June of this year the SNCT amended the national Conditions of service in relation to accrual of holidays during Maternity leave in order to bring teachers’ conditions of service in line with legislation. The new arrangements are more complex that the previous ones. The text of the arrangements is available from Part 2: Section 7 of the The SNCT Handbook of Conditions of Service

    Outline of the Arrangements

    Teachers on maternity leave now accrue holidays on the same basis as a teacher was at work.

    For every day a teacher is on maternity leave (which would normally have been a day of work) the teacher accrues 0.3385 of a day’s holiday. The calculation of holiday entitlement has 3 elements to it:

    1. Holidays accrued and taken prior to commencement of Maternity Leave 2. Holidays accrued during Maternity Leave 3. Holidays accrued and to be taken after Maternity Leave

    Any outstanding balance of holidays accrued will normally be taken immediately after the end of the Maternity Leave period (with consultation with the employer).

    The teacher has the option to take at least some of this outstanding balance as an additional cash payment rather than as holidays. It must be remembered that a teacher while on holiday does not accrue further holiday entitlement.

    Who is affected?

    The following 3 groups will be affected by these changes:

    1. Those currently on Maternity Leave 2. Those about to go on Maternity Leave 3. Those who have recently returned from Maternity Leave

    The SNCT did not make any decision regarding the back-dating of these new arrangements. In the opinion of the Association’s legal adviser, teachers whose babies were born on or after 5 October 2008 may be entitled to claim.

    What to do?

    In the first instance the Association advises any member with questions relating to Maternity Leave and the accrual of holidays should contact their employers HR department to ascertain the employer’s view on the matter. A profoma letter is available to help you contact your employer. Where the information from your employer differs from advice above please email the Association at info@ssta.org.uk for further support.

  • Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher – SNCT-09-14

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    The SNCT has reached agreement on a Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher.   The Code of Practice is incorporated into the SNCT Handbook: Part 2, paragraph 9.22 and is provided in a new Appendix, Appendix 2.16.  

    The SNCT circular is available from the SNCT section of this website.   The relevant circular is SNCT 09/14.

    An SSTA advice note will follow shortly regarding the Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher.