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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The SSTA Strike Ballot closing date is coming fast. Please get your ballot paper in the post as soon as possible. Ballot closes 16 November 2022. Every last vote is important! Meeting with the DFM and Cabinet Secretary for Education – 10 November 2022 The SNCT Teachers’ Side were invited to a meeting with the DFM and Cabinet Secretary for Education at the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2022. All six teacher unions/associations were represented together with representatives from COSLA (employers) and…

STRIKE BALLOT PAPERS ARE COMING  The SSTA strike ballot paper will be arriving at your home from Wednesday 26 October and I would like to encourage you to return your vote as soon as possible. This ballot must be conducted by post and votes not returned will be deemed to be a no vote. To meet the legal threshold more than 50% of members need to vote and more than 40% of the total membership (not just those who voted) need…