Category: Information for Members

The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met on 14 January to consider developments in the 2018 Pay Negotiations.

1) COSLA Offer – 7 January 

The Committee firmly rejected the COSLA offer (3% in April 2018 plus a further 2% in August). This offer also included a 3% increase in April 2019 and a 3% increase in April 2020. The Committee appreciated that this offer removed the divisive intent in previous offers but did not meet the aspirations of members. Should this be the only offer on the table from COSLA the Committee recommended that SSTA move to a statutory ballot for industrial action.

2) Deputy First Minister’s Letter – 10 January

The Committee then considered the Deputy First Minister’s (DFM) letter. This letter sets out the willingness of Scottish Government to improve the 7 January offer by restructuring the 2% originally being offered in August 2018 to a new figure of 3%, payable in January 2019.  (Draft Salary Scales based on the DFM’s letter can be downloaded here)

At the moment the DFM’s letter is not an offer. Only COSLA, as our employers, can legally make an offer and COSLA has said it cannot consider making an offer until its Leaders meeting planned for 25 January. The Committee is concerned that COSLA has been a major stumbling block throughout the negotiations if it were keen to resolve this dispute they should be able to table a new offer quickly.

The Committee agreed should a new offer be forthcoming SSTA would conduct a Consultative Ballot of members.

3) The View of Members – Opinion Survey

In preparation for the next stage of the SSTA Campaign the Committee has agreed to conduct an opinion survey of members on the proposal contained within the Deputy First Minister’s letter.

This opinion survey is to be conducted through SSTA School Representatives. The Committee is recommending that school representatives hold a meeting of members in schools to discuss the proposal and report the views of members back to SSTA Head Office.  The opinion survey will be sent to the school representatives on Wednesday 16 January.

School Representatives will receive an e-mail invitation for the survey on Wednesday morning. If you do not receive this invitation please contact the SSTA Office.

Should your school not have a School Representative members should elect a rep and inform the SSTA Office. Information on the duties of a School Representative can be found here

Members Details

We are reaching the final stage of negotiation and we need to be ready to conduct a formal ballot of members. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses to ensure members views are recorded. Members can notify us of any changes to their details by completing a form at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails

2018 PAY UPDATE – 14 January 2019

COSLA Offer – 7 January
COSLA (the employers) tabled an offer on 7 January. No further improvements were presented.  For those on the main-grade scale the offer essentially remains the same as the one previously rejected in the consultative ballot (3% plus a further 2% in August), with the addition of 3% for Year 2 (2019/20) and 3% for Year 3(2020/21).

SNCT Teachers’ Side –  8 January
The SNCT Teachers’ Side (SSTA, EIS, NASUWT, Voice, ADHS and SLS)  met on 8 January and rejected the COSLA offer and also recorded a “failure to agree”.  In an attempt to agree a settlement, the Teachers’ Side confirmed its willingness to meet again, as and when required should any improved offer from COSLA / Scottish Government be forthcoming.

Deputy First Minister’s Letter – 10 January
The DFM issued a letter late on 10 January. The DFM sets out the willingness of Scottish Government to improve the 7th January  offer by restructuring the 2% originally being offered in August 2018 to a new figure of 3%, payable in January, 2019.

The net impact of this change is that over a 2-year period the offer would be worth a 9.25% increase compared to March 2018 [3% April 2018 (backdated) + 3% January 2019 + 3% April 2019]. For Headteachers on more than £80,000 it would be worth slightly less as the April 2018 offer is capped at a flat rate of £1,600; and for probationers and those on main grade Point 1 it is worth more as the proposal would still be to shorten the main grade from 6 points to 5. A further proposed 3% in April 2020 would take the compounded increase to 12.5%, compared to March 2018, i.e. current scales.

However, at the moment the DFM’s letter is not an offer. Only COSLA, as our employers, can legally make an offer. COSLA has said it cannot consider making an offer until its Leaders meeting planned for 25 January. It cannot be taken as a formality as COSLA has had difficulties internally in making any improved offer to teachers’ pay throughout the negotiation process.

SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee – 14 January
The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee will consider developments at its meeting today. In the absence of an improved offer from COSLA it will need to plan the next phase of the campaign including moving to a statutory ballot for strike action.

The View of Members
We are reaching the final stage of negotiation and we need to be ready to conduct a formal ballot of members. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses to ensure members views are recorded. Members can notify us of any changes to their details by completing a form at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails

Further updates will be issued.

Career Pathways – BME Teachers

The Independent Panel on Career Pathways has been set up to gather evidence in relation to possible new career pathways for the teaching profession to address the issues related to recruitment and retention, and to provide recommendations to the SNCT. As an element of its evidence-gathering work, the Panel has organised a consultation event exclusively for BME teachers.

The details of the event are:

Date:       Thursday 17th January 2019
Time:       1630-1800
Venue:    Meeting Room 108
                 Jurys Inn Glasgow
                 80 Jamaica Street
                 Glasgow
                 G1 4QG

Refreshments will be available on arrival.

SNCT Joint Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and Government) met on Monday 7 January in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement before the offer is considered by the unions.

A further version of the December offer was tabled which resolved some anomalies in the previous offer. No further improvements were presented.  For those on the main-grade scale the offer essentially remains the same as the one previously rejected in the consultative ballot (3% plus a further 2% in August), with the addition of 3% for Year 2 (2019/20) and 3% for Year 3(2020/21).

SNCT Teachers’ Side (SSTA, EIS, NASUWT, Voice, ADHS and SLS) met on Tuesday 8 January and rejected the COSLA offer and also recorded a “failure to agree”.  In the absence of an improved offer from COSLA, the SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee will consider its next phase of the campaign including moving to a statutory ballot for strike action.

In an attempt to agree a settlement, the Teachers’ Side proposed options which would improve the offer for all teachers, but it remains to be seen if these will be taken up. We confirmed our willingness to meet again, as and when required should any improved offer from COSLA / Scottish Government be forthcoming. A further update will be issued next week

Important Information for Members

As we move to the final stage of negotiation we need to be ready to conduct a ballot of members. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses to ensure members views are recorded.

In the event of a statutory ballot for industrial action only members who are employed by Local Authorities will be entitled to take part in the ballot. As the dispute and any action can only be taken against an employer not the Government. It is therefore, essential that membership details are correct so that the Association and members taking action are protected legally by the conditions of the statutory ballot.

Members can notify us of any changes to their details by completeing a form at www.ssta.org.uk/updatedetails

2018 Pay Update – 20 December 2018

Following on from a meeting of the SNCT Joint Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and Government) on Monday 17 December a further meeting took place on Thursday 20 December in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement.

COSLA and Scottish Government confirmed the revised offer that addressed the need for a universal offer for all teachers at all grades except for Headteachers above £80,000 who are limited to £1,600 increase.

This offer remains short of the SNCT pay claim with the Scottish Government still seeking agreement around a multi-year deal. Discussions took place on suggestions made by teachers side in seeking to improve the value of the offer.

It was agreed to arrange a further meeting of Extended Joint Chairs and this has been set for the afternoon of Monday 7 January 2019. This is seen as the last opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement before the offer is considered by the unions. It has been a long and slow process but please be reassured that SSTA is pursing every avenue to get the best deal for teachers.

The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee are awaiting the outcome of the negotiations and it will then be deciding upon the next steps in the 2018 Pay Campaign. As we move to the final stage of negotiation we need to be ready to conduct a ballot of members. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses.

A meeting of the SNCT Joint Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and Government) took place on Monday 17 December.

COSLA and Scottish Government tabled a revised offer, which addressed the need for a universal offer for all teachers to be made. This offer still fell short of the SNCT pay claim and as anticipated Scottish Government was seeking agreement around a multi-year deal.

The teachers side made a number of suggestions, seeking to improve the value of the offer and both Scottish Government and COSLA have taken these suggestions away for consideration.

A further meeting of Extended Joint Chairs has been set for the afternoon of Thursday 20 December.

The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee are awaiting the outcome of the negotiations and it will then be deciding upon the next steps in the 2018 Pay Campaign. The SSTA is determined not to allow the 2018 teachers’ pay rise to be delayed much longer and we need to be prepared for the potential for a postal ballot for industrial action. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses.

Please update your details with us by completing a form here

Following the close of the Consultative Ballot a meeting of the SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (SSTA, EIS, COSLA and Government) took place on Thursday 22 November and  negotiations were re-opened. At the meeting, the reasons why the pay offer had been rejected by the vast majority of Scottish teachers and the merits of our pay claim were set out in very clear terms. The need for a much improved and undifferentiated offer was emphasised and the December “negotiating window” was the timescale we referenced.

The union side expressed its disappointment with the decision of the Government and COSLA to attempt to undermine the negotiations by issuing a letter directly to teachers with inaccurate information. The union side made it clear that this must not happen again. The union side also emphasised its intention to reach a negotiated settlement.

As the negotiations have resumed it has been made clear to COSLA and Scottish Government that there is an expectation that there will be an improved proposal for discussion at the next meeting.  The next negotiation meeting is scheduled for 3 December.

As we are approaching a critical time in the 2018 pay campaign we need to be prepared for the potential for a postal ballot for industrial action. It is essential that we have accurate postal addresses and preferred email addresses.  You can update your details with us by completing a form here