Category: Conditions of Service

  • SSTA to Take Two Further Days of Strike Action

    SSTA to Take Two Further Days of Strike Action

    The SSTA National Executive has, following another failed SNCT negotiating meeting, authorised two days of strike action on Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March. The SSTA will be joining members of sister unions in national strike action in a coordinated campaign of industrial action.

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said.

    “The SSTA has taken a measured approach to industrial action due to the impact it would have on the pupils preparing for exams. The deliberate inaction of the Scottish Government and COSLA just shows the lack of respect and level of contempt, not only for teachers, but for the pupils they teach, forcing teachers to take more strike action. The Scottish Government and its accomplice COSLA are failing education, having deliberately refused to put any new money on the table since August last year”.

    “The Scottish Government and COSLA were adamant during the pandemic that schools needed to be kept open and education needed to be continued regardless of the risks and dangers that teachers were placed in. These are the same people who have allowed this pay dispute to continue, see schools closed and pupils’ education disrupted. How can these people sit on their hands and seek compromise when they have refused to make any movement in five months?”.

    “How many more times are teachers to hear the same old rhetoric ‘we value teachers, and we are putting together a new offer’ only for another week to pass without a penny being put on the table. The SSTA has no option but to step up its industrial action”.

    Catherine Nicol, SSTA President said.

    “Teacher unions are standing together and, with the support of the public and parents, we will succeed. However, we urge parents and members of the public to help by demanding action from the First Minister and Councils and get teachers back to school teaching”.

    “Teachers have been propping up the education system for years by working many more hours a week than they are paid for and this goodwill is running out due to the arrogance of the employers and government who appear to want to break teachers resolve. I can assure them teachers are standing firm to get a fair pay settlement. Teachers need to say ‘No to Free Overtime’ and demand a salary that will retain and recruit teachers for the future”.

  • Pay Dispute – Another Wasted Opportunity

    Pay Dispute – Another Wasted Opportunity

    Following the latest meeting of the SNCT Extended Joint Chairs meeting on Thursday evening to discuss a possible solution to the 2022-2023 pay dispute

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said

    “The Scottish Government and COSLA have again failed to put an improved pay offer on the table and have blocked the path towards further negotiations. Despite a range of meetings in the last week with the Cabinet Secretary plus two ‘negotiating’ meetings of the Extended Joint Chairs no new offer has been made”.

    “This meeting was another wasted opportunity to bring the dispute to an end and prevent further strike action. The approach to negotiation with the trade unions is causing more disruption to pupils’ learning and giving unnecessary worry to parents. It is time the Scottish Government and COSLA took responsibility for the position and tried to resolve this pay dispute”.

    “It is evident that COSLA and the Scottish Government are refusing to listen to the view of the Teachers’ Side and are happy for teacher strikes that began in November and December to extend into January and to allow further strikes to take place in the coming months”.

    Catherine Nicol, SSTA President said

    “The SSTA are insisting that only a suitable pay offer that will encourage teachers to remain in the profession will be acceptable. This would attract the highest quality graduates and ensure we sustain the high-quality education system we have in Scotland: a system that is respected across Europe. However, the current lack of negotiations shows a level of disrespect to the profession”.

    “The SSTA Executive has no option but to look at taking strike action and other measures to get the message across.  We are not just fighting for a fair salary increase but for the future of education in Scotland”.

    5% is not Enough!
  • SSTA Announces Strike Action on Wednesday 11 January 2023

    SSTA Announces Strike Action on Wednesday 11 January 2023

    Following the successful strike action taken by SSTA members on 7 and 8 December the SSTA National Executive has announced the next step of the teachers’ pay campaign. A further day of strike action will take place on Wednesday 11 January 2023.
     
    Catherine Nicol SSTA President said
     
    “The Executive Committee would like to thank all of the SSTA members that took strike action this week. You were willing to come out in freezing conditions and this showed the strength of feeling there is against acceptance of the current pay offer.  Scottish secondary school teachers answered the call and stood together to fight for a fair and reasonable pay deal. SSTA members have sent a clear message to the Scottish Government and COSLA. Pay teachers properly: not just for now but for the future”.
     
    “If the Scottish Government values its teachers it must be prepared to act and negotiate sensibly. We must have a pay offer that we can take to our members. If not, the SSTA is prepared to take strike action to obtain a fair deal and further our cause”.
     
    Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary
     
    “The strikes this week have been an outstanding success with most secondary schools either been closed or severely disrupted by the action of SSTA members. I take my hat off to SSTA members, they have shown their resolve and determination to get a deal done. This can be seen by the videos and pictures of SSTA members taking strike action”.
     
    “The SSTA strike will join with other teacher unions on Wednesday 11 January in a united front to send a clear message that the teacher unions are not for turning. Three years ago, the Deputy First Minister when Cabinet Secretary for Education, promised the teacher unions that teachers pay must be settled on time and without the prolonged procrastination orchestrated by the employers (COSLA). This pay increase should have been in teacher wage packets in April this year: but we still await payment. The SSTA calls on the DFM to be true to his word and settle this pay dispute now”
     
    “Further strike action days in furtherance of the dispute are being considered by the Executive Committee and will be announced in the coming days”

    5% is not Enough!

  • SSTA STRIKE ACTION TO GO AHEAD

    SSTA STRIKE ACTION TO GO AHEAD

    The SSTA National Executive Committee urges all members to take part in the strike this week to send a hard message to the employer and Scottish Government that teachers demand to be respected and receive a professional salary that will act to retain teachers in Scottish schools. The rejected offer was deliberately divisive and inadequate so that has forced the SSTA to take the strongest form of action. For many SSTA members this will be the first strike they will have taken part in and this action will have caused a great deal of anxiety not only for themselves but the pupils they teach. Please be assured this is a just campaign and one on which all Scottish teacher unions are united.

    The employers (COSLA) and the Scottish Government has failed to make contact with the SSTA since 22 November to avert the strikes taking place this week. The SSTA strikes have had continuous coverage in the press due to the confusion it is causing local authorities in trying to keep schools open. The situation is constantly changing, and our strike action is having an impact. The number of local authorities who are intending to close most schools is increasing. Hopefully, the employers and the Scottish Government will understand that all teacher unions are united in seeking a fair and reasonable pay settlement and action is needed soon.

    SSTA members are encouraged to join with NASUWT colleagues and form a picket at all school gates. Details are included in our guidance on picketing. Please post photographs on the SSTA social media (Facebook and Twitter) and encourage members to share. It has been confirmed that EIS will be supporting our pickets on the day and will not undertake the work of those colleagues participating in strike action despite threats from the employers.


    Strike by Postal Workers

    Materials have been posted to all schools to be used on strike days and there is a concern that there may be a delay in arriving in schools.  Please look out for the large grey envelope. Should the materials not arrive in time we would encourage members to make their own. Posters, blank SSTA templates and armbands are available on the SSTA Website.
     

    STUC ‘Scotland Demands Better’ Rally – Thursday 8 December
     
    SSTA Members on strike on Thursday 8 December are encouraged to support the STUC ‘Scotland Demands Better’ Rally at Scottish Parliament at 11.00am. Further information on the rally can be found at www.scotland-demands-better.com
     
    Bring Your Banners!
     

    Additional FAQs – Members have sought further information in last few days and additional FAQs have been added below.
     
    Q27. Do I need to leave work for my classes on the day of the strike?
    No. SSTA members are on strike and are not required to set work.
     
    Q28. Do I need to inform the police or my employer that a picket is taking place at my school?
    No. The SSTA has informed the police that SSTA members will form a picket at all schools on the day of the strike. The SSTA has informed the employer as required by the legislation.
     
    Q29. Are any pregnant members exempt from taking strike action?
    Exemptions can be granted in exceptional circumstances, for example pregnant teachers whose maternity pay might be negatively affected by taking strike action, i.e. if date of action falls within their qualification period for calculation of future maternity pay. This period can be identified using this online calculator: https://www.gov.uk/maternity-paternity-pay-leave/
     
    Please contact Info@ssta.org.uk if strike action falls within your qualification period or you need further help with identifying whether you require an exemption to be made.
     
    Q30. My employer has told me I am exempt from taking strike action because…?
    Some local authorities have contacted SSTA stating that certain categories of staff and workplaces are exempt from taking strike action. Only the SSTA will authorise exemptions for members from strike action.

    Any member who feels they may need an exemption are asked to make contact with SSTA Head Office at info@ssta.org.uk
     
    Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for further information.

    For those members working in the independent sector, please note that this post is for information purposes only.  See FAQs Question 25

    5% Is Not Enough
  • TEACHING UNIONS UNANIMOUSLY REJECT DIVISIVE PAY OFFER FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT & COSLA

    TEACHING UNIONS UNANIMOUSLY REJECT DIVISIVE PAY OFFER FROM SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT & COSLA

    Trade unions representing Scotland’s teachers have today (Wednesday 30 November) issued a formal unanimous rejection of the latest ‘revised’ pay offer from the Scottish Government and COSLA. The differentiated 5% offer which was presented by the Scottish Government and COSLA represented no real improvement on their previous offer, which was rejected by teaching unions three months ago.

    A letter from the Teachers’ Panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT), the negotiating forum for teachers’ pay in Scotland, has made clear that the latest divisive offer was wholly unacceptable to Scotland’s teachers. The letter (copy attached) highlights that the offer represents no improvement on the previous offer for the vast majority of teachers, and is actually a worse offer for many. Commenting today, Des Morris, Chair of the Teachers’ Panel of the SNCT, said, “All of Scotland’s teaching unions – representing teachers in all sectors and in all grades of post – are united in rejection of this wholly unacceptable and divisive offer from COSLA and the Scottish Government. In rejecting this proposal, we have highlighted the lack of improvement on the previous offer, which was itself rejected unanimously some three months ago. In addition to offering no tangible improvement, this proposal is also worse for many experienced teachers in promoted posts compared to the previous offer. This proposal also quite absurdly given employers’ responsibilities around Fair Work and SNCT conditions of service, suggests that even more demands of teachers could have been made, adding to their already intolerable workloads, had employers chosen to do so. Also a red line is that the proposal offers a differentiated pay increase which is something that teaching unions made clear from the very start would never be acceptable to Scotland’s teachers.”

    Mr Morris added, “If the Scottish Government and COSLA are truly serious about reaching a pay settlement with Scotland’s teachers – and halting industrial action in our schools – then they must come back with a much more credible, fair, undifferentiated  and substantially improved pay offer for all of Scotland’s teaching professionals. The offer that we have rejected unanimously today is neither credible nor fair, nor does it make any tangible improvement to the previously rejected offer. The united message from Scotland’s teaching unions and Scotland’s teachers is clear – the Scottish Government and COSLA need to stop the spin and get back to the negotiating table with a fair, credible and substantially improved, undifferentiated pay offer.”

  • SSTA Rejects Pathetic and Insulting Pay Offer

    SSTA Rejects Pathetic and Insulting Pay Offer

    The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met yesterday evening and unanimously rejected the pathetic and insulting pay offer from COSLA (teachers’ employers).

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary:

    “The Scottish Government and COSLA have deliberately misled the teacher unions into believing a serious increased pay offer would be made. After three months what we received was a pathetic and insulting pay offer that penalised senior teachers to the benefit of a very small number of new entrants. This treatment only shows contempt for teachers. How they think this is a sensible offer is beyond belief”

    “A misleading statement by Scottish Government that falsely twists statistics to try and give the impression that this is a serious and substantial pay offer only compounds the feeling of contempt. For the vast majority of teachers there is no new offer. SSTA members have no option but to continue with planned strike action on 7 and 8 December”.

    Paul Cochrane, SSTA Salaries and Working Conditions Committee Convener:

    “It is evident that COSLA and the Scottish Government have refused to listen to the view of the Teachers’ Side that any offer should be undifferentiated and reflective of the current economic situation faced by a workforce that stood tall during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

    “COSLA’s behaviour has illustrated that, by dint of delay and late postponement of timetabled meetings, it has never been serious about settling with teachers. The tripartite consensus has been deliberately sabotaged and used as a stick to frustrate and punish teachers”.

    5% is not Enough!
  • 24 November – Teacher Strike

    24 November – Teacher Strike

    The latest pay offer has been rejected by EIS and AHDS and the strike planned for Thursday 24 November will go ahead. SSTA members and members of other unions or none are unable to participate in the strike action and must attend their normal place of work. To not attend their place of work the local authorities will deem the teacher is taking strike action and deduct the salary for that day.

    The SSTA has been in contact with local authorities to reaffirm that SNCT Handbook Conditions of Service remains in place for those teachers not taking striking action. Unfortunately, some local authorities still believe they have the power to set aside the SNCT Handbook. SSTA will be challenging this misunderstanding in the coming weeks.

    Unfortunately, there are inconsistent instructions being issued to schools that is causing confusion to teachers not participating in strike action. As a consequence, SSTA is advising members to work normally and follow the instruction issued by the Headteacher on the day of strike action. This includes

    1. report to your normal place of work, unless you have been asked to do otherwise
    2. to avoid issues at a later stage, ascertain on the day from your line manager (or if they are unavailable, the next person in line) that you are no longer required for any in-school tasks before considering signing out (see below*)
    3. undertake only the work you would normally do on the day; this does not include teaching remotely (which was a temporary pandemic adjustment)
    4. only teach the children that you would normally teach and not any child that would be taught by a colleague who is taking strike action
    5. do not accept any changes to timetables

    Industrial Action by Other Teacher Unions

    It is unlawful for any member of the SSTA to take industrial action where the SSTA has not given a specific notice to the employer advising that action will be taken.

    Where members of another STUC-affiliated trade union are involved in industrial action, SSTA members should:

    • report for work as normal; and
    • not accept any variation to their contracted duties and/or undertake the timetabled or other responsibilities of those involved in the strike.

    Should the decision be taken to close the school, staff not involved in strike action must report to work or remain at home as directed by the headteacher.

    SSTA members should not suffer any salary deduction if the school closes.

    The SSTA is aware that some employers are contending that they are entitled to suspend the terms of the Handbook of Conditions in relation to “Time and Place” (T&P) on a day when pupils are not in school because of industrial action by teaching unions. The Association rejects this view and advises members as follows.

    For those staff available for work there is no reason why National Conditions of Service should not continue to apply.  This includes the provision in Part 2 Section 3 – SNCT Handbook  ‘3.10 All tasks which do not require the teacher to be on the school premises can be carried out at a time and place of the teacher’s choosing: teachers will notify the appropriate manager of their intention in this respect.’ 

    This National Condition of Service is not subject to suspension at the whim of the employer. The SSTA has informed employers of this misunderstanding.  *A COSLA spokesperson has offered us this response, which aligns entirely with our advice to members:
    While respecting the provision in the SNCT Handbook it is clear that the employer has to be satisfied that the worker is reporting for work and there for eligible to be paid normally rather than being considered to be on strike.

    Having taken legal advice, it is our view that Section 3.10 of the SNCT Handbook is the exception, not the rule. Teachers will have to attend on the school premises to work. If it transpires that some or all of the tasks allocated to them “do not require the teacher to be on the school premises” then (and only then) does 3.10 apply.

    For that reason, there will not be a universal approach applied.  It will depend.”


    Picket Lines

    Where a union taking strike action establishes a picket line, refusal to cross it would render a teacher who is not a member of a union taking strike action liable to disciplinary action, including the deduction of salary, as it would be considered as participating in unlawful industrial action.

    The single exception to this is where there are genuine grounds to believe that crossing the picket line would put the person concerned at risk of injury.

    In these circumstances, SSTA members should contact the headteacher, an appropriate senior person in the school or an appropriate person in the employing authority, if the headteacher is not available. They should also contact SSTA Head Office to advise them of what has taken place and to seek further advice or support.

    Members are asked to stop and listen and offer support to any case made and those undertaking strike action. Members are advised to cross the picket line having assured those picketing that they will not undertake work those on strike would normally have carried out.

    Further advice can be obtained from the SSTA Head Office.

  • SNCT Revised Pay Offer – 22 November 2022

    SNCT Revised Pay Offer – 22 November 2022

    Please find a link to the latest pay offer from COSLA received at 4.16pm.

    The SSTA Salaries and Executive Committees will be meeting on Wednesday to consider the latest pay offer.

  • SSTA Two Strike Days Announced

    SSTA Two Strike Days Announced

    The SSTA National Executive Committee has authorised 2 days of targeted strike action on Wednesday 7 December and Thursday 8 December in pursuit of a fair and just pay settlement for 2022. 

    Catherine Nicol, SSTA President said
    “The Executive Committee felt it had no option but to move to strike action due to the failure of the employers (COSLA) and the Scottish Government to make an improved pay offer. The last pay offer was made on the 19 August and was quickly rejected by the teacher unions. Despite a series of engagements not even one more penny has been put on the table”.

    “Teachers have had enough of fine words and are being forced to take strike action to achieve an improved pay award. I hope the Scottish Government will step up and help to avoid teacher strikes that nobody wants”.

    Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said
    “This common practice of waiting to the last minute to reach a pay agreement shows a complete lack of respect for teachers as this pay award should have been paid in April. Teachers pay has fallen in real terms by 25% over the years and the failure to act promptly only adds to teachers’ frustration”. 

    “The SSTA strike action will take place over two days and is intended to send a clear message to COSLA and Scottish Government that teachers are serious about fair pay deal”

    The list of local authorities and the days that strike action will take place are: 

    Wednesday 7 December 2022

    • Argyll and Bute
    • Dumfries and Galloway
    • East Ayrshire
    • East Dunbartonshire
    • East Renfrewshire
    • Eilean Siar
    • Glasgow, City of 
    • Highland
    • Inverclyde
    • North Ayrshire
    • North Lanarkshire
    • Orkney
    • Renfrewshire
    • Shetland
    • South Ayrshire
    • South Lanarkshire
    • West Dunbartonshire

    Thursday 8 December 2022

    • Aberdeen, City of 
    • Angus
    • Aberdeenshire
    • Clackmannanshire
    • Dundee City
    • Edinburgh, City of
    • East Lothian
    • Falkirk
    • Fife
    • Midlothian
    • Moray
    • Perth and Kinross
    • Scottish Borders
    • Stirling
    • West Lothian
  • Statutory Ballot on Strike Action – Result

    Statutory Ballot on Strike Action – Result

    The SSTA postal ballot for strike action closed today and we have received the result from the independent scrutineer.

    90% of SSTA members have voted to take strike action with a ballot turnout of 62%. The ballot passed the statutory requirements of a postal ballot and gives the SSTA the legal mandate to take part in legal industrial action.

    The SSTA National Executive will meet later this week to confirm the date of strike action and will be considering a strike in the week beginning the 5 December. The SSTA is required by law to give at least 14 days’ notice of industrial action.

    Please Note: The SSTA will be issuing advice to all members regarding strike action in schools planned to take place on Thursday 24 November later this week.

    Seamus Searson
    SSTA General Secretary