Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

Category: Conditions of Service

  • SSTA Members Update – Pay, SQA and Covid

    SSTA Members Update – Pay, SQA and Covid

    Teachers’ Pay 2021-2022. The story so far…….

    In the autumn of 2020 the SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee submitted a claim to the SNCT Teachers’ Side for a restorative pay award that promoted the retention and recruitment of teachers. This was expected to be paid to teachers on 1 April 2021.

    In December 2020 the SNCT Teachers’ Side agreed the following pay claim that would be paid to all teachers without differentiation:

    “A range of 3%-5% is the financial scope of the claim, depending on other measures and benefits also being considered as part of the pay and reward package, in particular those measures aimed at tackling excessive workload”.

    On the 15 March 2021 Cosla responded with the following pay offer

    “A 2% uplift for those earning up to £40,000; and
    A 1% rise for those earning over £40,000 with a cap of £800”.

    This offer was rejected by the SNCT Teachers’ Side as it was not only too low but a differentiated offer. Despite further negotiations no further formal offer was made until November.

    On 4 November 2021 Cosla made the following

    “A 1.22% increase at all SNCT pay points.
    A back dating of the implementation date of the pay award to be effective from 1 January 2021”.

    This was followed on 13 December 2021

    “A 1% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2021.
    A further 1% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 January 2022.
    A one-off non-recurring payment of £100 to each SNCT member of staff in post on the date the offer is agreed (pro-rata) and a cap of £800 for those earning £80K and above”.

    A further offer was made on 10 February 2021

    “A 1.22% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2021.
    A further 1% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 January 2022”.

    All these offers were rejected by the SNCT Teachers’ Side and Cosla made the following offer using the following statement on 25 February 2022.

    “..to make a best and final offer within the overall cost envelope allocated and with scope to reconfigure aspects such as the percentage and maintain a one-off non-recurring payment:

    A 1.22% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2021.
    A further 1% increase at all SNCT pay points effective from 1 January 2022.
    An £800 cap for those earning £80K and above
    And a one-off non-recurring payment of £100 to each SNCT member of staff (pro-rated for part-time) for all SNCT members in post on 31 March 2022 and based on working hours at that time”.

    The SSTA Position

    In September 2021 the SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee took the position that it would not consult members on an offer that was less than 3% and was paid universally to all SNCT grades.

    The Committee maintains that the 25 February 2022 pay offer has not met its baseline but has agreed due to the totally unacceptable protracted period of negotiations to consult SSTA members on the pay offer. The SSTA will conduct a consultative ballot of all members that will be issued separately to members at their preferred email address. It is, therefore, essential that members ensure that the Association holds your correct personal details. You can updated your details at www,ssta.org.uk/update-details/

    *Please note on 7 February 2022 the SNCT Teachers’ Side submitted a 10% pay claim to be applied to all grades and pay points without differentiation or discrimination for 2022-2023.

    The SQA and National Qualifications

    The SSTA has received many messages from members regarding the latest communications from the SQA and preparations for the examinations next term. The SSTA is meeting with the SQA later this week and would welcome further comments from members at info@ssta.org.uk

    Covid 19 – Safety First

    The Scottish Government has reduced mitigations in schools and is attempting to return society back to ‘normal’. However, Covid-19 is still with us and members are advised to take precautions to ensure their safety.

    The current Government guidance ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools’ to ensure a low-risk environment for learning and teaching still applies

    This still includes:

    • Risk assessments to be continued
    • Environmental cleaning, hand and respiratory hygiene to continue
    • Ventilation – strengthened guidance for local authorities on CO2 monitoring
    • Support for people in the highest risk groups/pregnant staff

    SSTA says ‘Put Teachers at the Centre’

  • SNCT Teachers’ Panel Pay Claim 2022

    SNCT Teachers’ Panel Pay Claim 2022

    The SNCT Teachers’ Panel met on Friday 4 February to consider the current pay offer (2021-2022) and a potential pay claim for (2022-2023).
     
    2021-2022 Pay Claim
    The existing Cosla offer

    • 1% from April 2021,
    • a further 1% from January 2022 and
    • a one-off payment of £100

    This offer was rejected by the SSTA in December and was formally rejected by all members of the SNCT Teachers’ Panel. It is expected that negotiations are to continue later this week.
     
    2022-2023 Pay Claim
    The Government’s public sector pay policy for 2022-2023 is a flat £500 increase for those earning above £40,000. This would mean teachers at the top of the main scale would receive a 1.25% pay increase with less for those beyond.
     
    The SNCT Teachers’ Panel discussed a pay claim for 2022-2023. With inflation increasing and the importance of a restorative pay claim it was agreed to submit a 10% one year pay claim for the coming year.
     
    SSTA Advice to any member that may have left or are intending to leave the service in the coming months, must ensure to make a backdated pay claim or they may lose the benefit of an increase in salary. Please follow the link for further information and prepared pro-forma. Backdated-Pay-Claim.pdf (ssta.org.uk)

  • Teacher Pay Negotiations 2021 – Insulting Offer Rejected

    Teacher Pay Negotiations 2021 – Insulting Offer Rejected

    The SNCT Teachers’ Side pay claim for 2021 was lodged in December 2020 and despite a series of meetings COSLA had only been prepared to make a pay offer of 1.22% to all SNCT grades from April 2021. That was rejected by the SNCT Teachers’ Side as a derisory offer.

    COSLA subsequently submitted a further offer with a minimal adjustment with a 1.22% increase from January 2021. This offer was rejected by the SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee earlier this week and this position was confirmed at this afternoon’s meeting of the SNCT Teachers’ Side.

    The Teachers’ Side of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) declared a formal dispute and sought the intervention of the Scottish Government to help to break the impasse.

    The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (Employers, Government, SSTA and EIS) is due to meet on Wednesday 17 November to formally reject and seek a meaningful improvement on the pay offer.
     
    Paul Cochrane (SSTA Salaries and Conditions Convenor) said “ This offer is an insult to teachers who worked assiduously throughout the pandemic and continue to do so. The pay claim was submitted nearly a year ago with very little progress. There is no prospect of teachers pay award being settled in the near future”.
     
    Seamus Searson (SSTA General Secretary) said “COSLA has said how much it values its teachers, but words are cheap whilst the lack of a real wage increase speaks volumes. Teachers’ need to consider whether COSLA is working on behalf its employees, or has it reached the stage where teachers would be better served negotiating directly with the Scottish Government”.

  • SSTA Members Bulletin – 11 June 2021

    SSTA Members Bulletin – 11 June 2021

    Printable PDF

    School Teacher Pay 2021
    The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs met on Monday 7 June but COSLA were not prepared to make an improved offer.  COSLA said the reason for the lack of progress was that it is awaiting discussion on local government funding with Cabinet Secretary Kate Forbes and Shona Robison. The further discussions on finance between COSLA and Scottish Government are deemed necessary before there can be any reconsideration of the terms of the pay offer. 

    The Teachers’ Side noted COSLA’s position and made clear that the ongoing delay was very disappointing.  COSLA was also urged to exhibit more urgency in improving its offer and reaching a pay settlement.  The point was made forcibly that allowing this situation to drag on would not be conducive to educational recovery in session 2021-2022.

    No date was set for the next meeting of the Extended Joint Chairs as this will be dependent upon the outcomes of the meetings between COSLA and the Cabinet Secretaries for Finance and Local Government.
     
    Professional Update
    The SSTA welcomes the GTCS announcement that the deadline for Professional Update has been extended to 31 October due to the current pressures in secondary schools.  The SSTA would expect, therefore, that both PRD and Professional Update meetings do not take priority over the important focus on learning and teaching, as well as the gathering of evidence and assessment necessary before the end of this session.
     
    Lead Teacher
    The new post of Lead Teacher will be introduced into the SNCT Handbook from August 2021. The SNCT Lead Teacher report

    The new role – which will command a salary of more than £47,000 a year – is to provide a promotion route for teachers who want to further their careers but who do not want to move into school management.

    The Lead Teacher Role is described as: “school-based Lead Teachers will remain classroom teachers and should not be regarded as part of the school’s management structure. Their role therefore will include the duties of a teacher as set out in the SNCT Handbook. Lead Teachers would function alongside and complement the existing leadership roles, structures and posts, bringing clear additionality to the system through supporting the professional learning of colleagues in their context and beyond”.
     
    National Qualifications 2021
    The Alternative Certification Model (ACM) and the submission of grades is drawing to a close and there is an increasing concern that the process may lead to a rise in appeals. The ACM is restricted to demonstrated attainment only.

    This is different to 2020, when teachers were able to use a mix of demonstrated and inferred attainment. Last year teachers had some flexibility to take into account the disruption caused by Covid. This year the SQA has made it clear that inferred attainment cannot be used. In the recent SSTA survey only 36% of members believed the evidence that they collected truly demonstrated their pupil’s attainment.

    As a consequence, SSTA believes that there will be an increase in appeals and further scrutiny of how the schools submitted grades to the SQA. Therefore, SSTA encourages members to retain all records of their assessment.
    This should include:

    • Your expected pupil attainment level (taking into account Covid-19)
    • Your initial attainment level before moderation/verification, and
    • The final grade submitted to the SQA by the school

     
    Appeals Process (National Qualification 2021)
    The SQA Appeals Process has been published and is to be managed by the SQA.

    Students have been told they have to register for appeals between Friday 25 June and Thursday 12 August. If they miss the 12 August deadline, they have been told teachers and lecturers can appeal on their behalf until Monday 16 August.
     
    However, as mentioned above, because students are also told they should have another discussion about their options with their teacher or lecturer after results day on Tuesday 10 August, questions are being asked about how this will be possible when many schools are still off for the summer break.
     
    SSTA advises its members not to pre-empt any appeals but to await the formal notification from the SQA in August.
     
     
    The SQA ‘out of touch’
    The SSTA understands that the SQA are conducting post submission checks to take place between 25 June and 7 July. Schools are being advised that SQA will contact them and they must respond by 5 July. This is totally unrealistic as the vast majority of schools will be closed for the summer and teachers will be unavailable.
     
    In addition, priority appeals are now scheduled to be submitted no later than 16 August when a number of schools are due to return. This would not allow schools sufficient time to identify the appeals, gather the evidence and have it packaged without teachers working through their holidays.
     
    The SQA appears to have little understanding or respect for schools or staff if it expects teachers to work through the summer vacation.
     
    SSTA recommends that all teachers take a well-earned break and step away from all work until they return to school in August. The last thing teachers need is another vacation period ruined.
     
     

    Teachers Deserve A Break – Make Sure You Take It

  • SNCT Pay Negotiations 2021 – SSTA Rejects Pay Offer

    SNCT Pay Negotiations 2021 – SSTA Rejects Pay Offer

    The SNCT Teachers’ Side Negotiators (SSTA and EIS) met with COSLA (the employers) and Government Officials on Wednesday 17 March to respond to the Employers 2021 Pay Offer.
     
    The SNCT Teachers’ Side submitted a pay claim for 2021 for a pay increase in the financial range of 3% – 5% in December 2021 . COSLA responded by making an offer in line with Government’s pay policy.
     
    The offer from COSLA is:

    • A 2% uplift for those earning up £40,000 (all main grade teachers up to Point 4); and
    • A 1% rise for those earning over £40,000 with a cap of £800 (all teacher grades from Point 5 and above). (please add the COSLA Pay Offer)

    The SNCT teachers’ side were clear that the offer was unacceptable as not only would it leave some members with below inflation pay increases but moreover the differentiated nature of the offer was contrary to the need for a universal percentage for all teachers and associated professionals at all grades.
     
    Further negotiations are planned and the next meeting will be on 31 March.

  • General Secretary Report – October 2019

    General Secretary Report – October 2019

    Teachers Pay Deal 2018-2020 included

    • Job Sizing Review (to include ASN, Guidance and PEF appointments)
    • 2 Additional in-service days – aimed at reducing unnecessary workload and addressing challenges in supporting pupils with additional support needs.
    • SSTA guidance issued to members. SNCT to monitor and identify good practice

    SNCT Career Pathways Report– SNCT 26 September 2019

         3 SNCT working groups established

    • Career pathway established for specialist roles in curricular, pedagogical and policy delivery through the creation of a new post of Lead Teacher.
    • Career pathways for Headteachers within and beyond Headship should be recognised including new opportunities in system leadership.
    • A national model for sabbaticals should be developed for all teachers, including Headteachers that is both attractive and sustainable.
    • Full report available at

    https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-panel-career-pathways-teachers-final-report/

    SSTA Survey on S4 Classes 

         SSTA members survey 1247 replies in June 2019

    • Subjects with most single qualification classes (French 50%, Maths 43%, Chemistry and English 34%)
    • Subjects with two or three qualifications (Business Management and Modern Studies 87%, Graphics and Geography 83%, Administration IT and History 82%).
      https://ssta.org.uk/subjects-and-multi-course-teaching/

    SSTA meeting with Deputy First Minister – 28 August 2019

         Issues discussed

    • Raising Attainment – SSTA S4 Survey initial results
    • Multi-Course teaching and subject distribution
    • Qualification Process, value of Assignment, Units and Length of Papers
    • Teacher Workload – sought up-date of the Government reports
    • Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on Tackling Bureaucracy – 2013
    • Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on Tackling Bureaucracy Follow-up Report – 2015
    • Empowering Schools: education reform – concerns raised
    • Headteachers’ Charter – the need for a school committee of union representatives to discuss school policy in addition to condition of service matters
    • Enhancing the Teaching Profession – acknowledged the Teachers’ pay deal and the Career Pathways report but highlighted the lack of the ‘Teacher Voice’ in the empowering schools agenda

    SSTA – Getting It Right for Every Secondary Teacher

    Review of Senior Phase – 16 September 2019

    • Education and Skills Committee following an inquiry on the number of subjects available to pupils in secondary school and in particular concerns regarding reduction in subject choice at S4 called for a review

    https://sp-bpr-en-prod-cdnep.azureedge.net/published/ES/2019/9/16/Subject-choices-in-schools/ESS052019R6.pdf

    • DFM announces Independent review to consider implementation of Curriculum for Excellence between S4 and S6.

    https://news.gov.scot/news/review-of-senior-phase

    Named Person – 19 September 2019

    • Information sharing proposals dropped and named person provisions repealed.
    • The proposed new law on information sharing on named persons will not proceed.
    • Existing voluntary schemes that provide a point of contact for support will continue under current legal powers, where councils and health boards wish to provide them and parents want to use them.
      https://www.gov.scot/news/children-and-young-people-information-sharing-bill/

    Empowering Schools: education reform progress update – published 25 June

    SQA – Removal of Recognising Positive Achievement

    • The interim measure of ’Recognising Positive Achievement’ – the automatic ‘fallback’ to National 4 – came to an end of the 2018-2019 session.
    • From session 2019-20, candidates who are unsuccessful in their National 5 course assessment but who have passed a combination of SCQF level 5 freestanding units, and the National 4 added value unit, will no longer achieve National 4
    • Follow link to SQA document 

    Strategic Board for Teacher Education (SBTE) – 11 September 2019

       Alternative Routes into Teaching

    • 778 participants over two years – retention rate of 84% (traditional routes 80%)
    • 346 have completed their programmes and 304 are continuing.
    • attracting a more diverse group of individuals to access the teaching profession, particularly career changers;

       Enhanced Leadership Support Package for Teachers

    • Excellence in Headship Programme (EiH) two or more years in post
    • EiH residential events in 2019, 27% of all headteachers will have completed EiH Induction; 35% of all secondary and 26% of all primary headteachers.
    • Engagement of headteachers ranges between 20-32% across Regional Improvement Collaboratives

       Masters Guidance

    • Review the Masters Framework – variable, confusion, opportunity to strengthen professional learning and a link with Career Pathways.
    • Life-span of credits and transferring of credits to be considered further

    STUC GENERAL COUNCIL – 4 September     

       POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN SCOTLAND

    • One in five people in Scotland are in relative poverty. The figure is higher for lone mothers, black and ethnic minorities and disabled people.
    • Poverty and inequality are at historically high levels and are far higher than they were in the 1970s. Despite progress in reducing poverty in the 1990s and 2000s, poverty has been increasing since 2010.
    • 24% of children in Scotland are in poverty. Related to this, lone mothers are almost twice as likely (39%) to be in poverty than the population at large.

       STUC MEETING WITH COSLA – 27 August 2019

    • Spending Review 2020/21 – Agreement to continue to share information during the ongoing budget process and to make the case for increased revenue for Local Government.
    • Brexit – Resilience and planning around a no-deal Brexit and highlighted the positive role that union representatives at a local level can play in developing and implementing resilience plans.
    • Fairwork – STUC encouraged COSLA to do more to promote Fair Work and positive relationships with unions to its members in general terms. Further discussion on the role of COSLA in promoting Fair Work would be taken forward.
    • Change of the May Day bank holiday to the 8th May to commemorate VE day.

    STUC change had been made in many LAs without consultation with unions. COSLA agreed to remind COSLA members of their duty to consult with unions. 

       STUC/FIRST MINISTER’S BI-ANNUAL MEETING – 18 November 2019

    Agenda to include:

    • Economy, Brexit, Fair Work, Public Ownership, Poverty and Inequality

      SCOTTISH UNION LEARNING(SUL)

    • Development Fund and Learning Fund 2019/21

    Applications to the Learning Fund for a total of 249 courses have been received since 1 April 2019. 

    • Fair Work: Leadership and Equality Programme

    Fifteen applications were received for funding through the Fair Work: Leadership and Equality Programme in 2019/20.

    Forthcoming Events

    STUC Black Workers’ Conference, Clydebank, Glasgow 5-6 October 2019

    STUC Women’s Congress, Perth 28-29 October 2019

    STUC Congress, Perth, 20-22 April 2020

    SSTA Congress, Crieff,15-16 May 2020

    SSTA Members Briefings

    • Tuesday 22 October – Dundee, Hampton Hilton Hotel
    • Wednesday 23 October – Edinburgh, SSTA Head Office

    SSTA Professional Learning (SUL) – Dates to be confirmed

    • Understanding Mental Health

    – Glasgow and Edinburgh (Nov 19)

    • Understanding Dementia

    – Dundee (Nov 19) and Glasgow (Feb 20)

    • Understanding Autism

    – Aberdeen and Dundee (Feb 20)

  • SSTA Workload Guidance No.4

    SSTA Workload Guidance No.4

    The SSTA is committed to supporting members to manage and reduce workload and will be giving members regular advice and guidance on managing and tackling workload.

    Please find a link to the fourth SSTA workload guidance document which provides advice on Measures to Reduce Teacher Workload and information on the additional in-service day.

    Previous workload guidance documents can be found here.

  • 2018 Pay Claim – What Next?

    2018 Pay Claim – What Next?

    I would like to thank all members for their efforts in making a tremendous 76% return in the consultative ballot. The 64% vote to accept has indicated the direction for the Association. It was clear from the comments made by members in the ballot that there was a reluctance to accept and that morale in schools is very low. The issues of teacher workload, pupil behaviour and lack of support were highlighted throughout the ballot process. The SSTA will be ensuring as part of any pay agreement that these issues must be addressed. A failure to make a real difference in these areas will only see more teachers leaving the profession.

    The next steps in the pay negotiation process are:

    1. The SNCT Teachers’ Side will meet on Monday 25 February to agree a formal response to the pay offer. The union positions are:
    • SSTA – conducted a members ballot and has voted to accept
    • EIS – conducted a members ballot and has voted to reject
    • Voice – Did not consult members but are prepared to accept
    • AHDS (primary heads) – conducted a members ballot and has voted to accept
    • NASUWT – no indication of what actions they have taken on the pay offer
    • SLS (secondary heads) – is not allowed to consult its members as it is not a union (is only an observer at the meeting)
    1. The likely outcome is that SNCT Teachers’ Side will formally reject the pay offer (the EIS hold the majority when it comes to the vote). This will become the SNCT Teachers’ Side position. As a member of the SNCT Teachers’ Side the SSTA will accept the outcome of the vote and be seeking further negotiation in an attempt to resolve the dispute. This will include seeking action on teacher workload and pupil behaviour.
    2. The SNCT Teachers’ Side rejection will be taken to the SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, Government and COSLA) on Tuesday 26 February. This would be the opportunity for the Government (should they chose to take it) to try and negotiate a settlement. It is fair to say the Government is keen to resolve the dispute and avoid industrial action.
    3. The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee are awaiting developments and will be preparing guidance for members.
    4. The SSTA National Executive (Friday 1 March) and Council (Saturday 2 March) will be meeting next week to consider the situation and any further action.

    It will be our intention to keep members updated on developments.

    Thanks again for all your efforts in taking part in the members surveys and ballots during this difficult time.

    Seamus Searson
    General Secretary
  • SSTA VOTES TO ACCEPT PAY OFFER

    SSTA VOTES TO ACCEPT PAY OFFER

    The SSTA conducted a Consultative Ballot of its members on the latest pay offer from COSLA. The ballot closed at noon today with 76% of SSTA members making a response. The latest pay offer was a 3% increase from April 2018 with a further 3% from January 2019. This would be followed by a 3% increase in April 2019 and April 2020.

    64% of SSTA members voted to accept the latest teacher pay offer with more than a third of members prepared to take strike action to seek an improved offer.

    Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary said “The Government must not see this decision as a boost to teacher morale as many members were voting to get a pay rise that has been long overdue. Members are equally unhappy with a 3 year deal and are insisting on a reopener clause for 2020 so that teachers’ salaries are not allowed to deteriorate. Members are demanding urgent efforts to address teacher workload and support in dealing with pupil behaviour”.

    “The SSTA welcomes the measures to improve salaries for those entering the profession but has real a concern that this offer is going to do little to encourage teachers to remain in the profession. The Government must accept there is much more to be done in the battle of teacher retention. The large number of teachers who were prepared to take strike action to improve teachers’ pay shows the level of frustration and must not be ignored”.

    Kevin Campbell, SSTA President said “I would like to thank all members for taking part in the ballot. A 76% return is a tremendous achievement. Looking at the responses from members it is clear there is a great reluctance amongst members to accept the offer but many teachers are desperate for a pay rise. Despite this pay offer there is still a great deal of teacher unhappiness in our schools. We need to move quickly in tackling teacher workload and reinvesting in measures to tackle the increasing problem of pupil behaviour”.

    Members were invited to make comment on the offer and a small sample has been included below.

    “On paper the offer looks good but our working conditions/expectations have caused many to become very stressed and workloads have increased massively without any significant monetary reward for many years, and the hours which many of us are putting in every week is horrific”.

    “Whatever the outcome of the ballot it is imperative that negotiations continue regarding workload and teacher retention. There is a lot of focus on attracting teachers to the profession, but for me the bigger issue is in retaining the excellent practitioners who already do a fantastic job”.

    “I’m reluctant to accept but I don’t see how we will get anything better at this point”.

    “It’s ridiculous that we have had to fight for this for so long. It’s not a great deal but I think it’s the best we will get without losing public support”.

    “This is not about the salary. What I actually want this all to be focused on is pupil behaviour and conditions in teaching. I am in my 10th year of teaching, and behaviour in schools has degraded so much in the last few years that we are no longer a teaching profession, but instead becoming a babysitting service for pupils”.

    “I don’t believe the offer addresses the recruitment and retention crisis, I have no confidence in management’s intent to deal with workload issues”,

    “I believe that this offer is well below what is acceptable. The headline of 9% is for 2 years not one and is misleading”.

    “I genuinely feel extremely torn by the offer. I am very worried about the impact of Brexit & accepting the pay deal for a year when we have no clue what state of play the economy will be in if & when Brexit goes through! In addition to this I am still extremely concerned about the workload issues that teachers face & the fact that there has been very little done to address this”.

    “The (new) three Rs’: Retention; Recruitment; Respect”

     

    (Ends)

  • SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee – 28 January 2019

    SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee – 28 January 2019

    The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met on 28 January to consider developments in the 2018 Pay Negotiations. The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and Government) met on Monday 28 January and COSLA (the employers) tabled an offer in line with the Deputy First Minister letter of 10 January 2019.

    The Pay Offer is in two parts:

    Part One

    • 2018/19 – 3% pay increase for all SNCT grades will apply, up to a cap of £80,000. At or above this figure a flat rate increase of £1,600 will apply. This award will be back dated to 1 April 2018.
    • 2019/20 – 3% increase will apply uniformly across all SNCT posts governed by the terms and conditions of the SNCT (no cap).
    • 2020/21 – 3% pay increase will apply across all SNCT posts governed by the terms and conditions of the SNCT (no cap).

    Part Two

    • restructure the Teachers Main Grade Scale to remove scale point one and add 3% to each of the remaining scale points from 1 January 2019. These changes will also mean a higher starting salary and faster progression for those coming into the profession.
    • to revalue the salary scales for promoted posts and associated professionals will add 3% from 1 January 2019 to all relevant pay points.

    The COSLA pay offer letter and associated pay scales are included for your information.

    Additional Information for Members

    • union side is insisting upon a re-opener clause as a requirement in any multi-year deal due to uncertainties (such as Brexit and increases in the retail price index).
    • the pay offer does not include any changes to conditions of service
    • the union side is insisting, as a part of any deal, a major commitment from Government and COSLA to address excessive teacher workload and the challenges in supporting pupils with additional support needs.

    Consultative Ballot

    The Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee was committed to a Consultative Ballot of members should a new offer be forthcoming. As the new offer has now been submitted the Consultative Ballot will commence on Thursday 31 January and will close at noon on Thursday 21 February. Please note only members employed by local authorities will be invited to participate in the consultative ballot.

    In the event of a rejection of the pay offer the Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee will move to a formal Ballot for Strike Action should the thresholds of the UK Government’s Trade Union Act be met.