Commenting on the "Future of Teaching Employment" statement by Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, SSTA General Secretary Ann Ballinger said:

The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, representing over 9,000 Scottish teachers has determined to ballot its members on industrial action if the UK Government attempts to impose detrimental changes to teachers’ pension arrangements.

The Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today unanimously rejected the proposals from the employers' organisation, COSLA, regarding changes to Scottish teachers' conditions of service. The matter will now be put to a ballot of SSTA members with a recommendation to reject the offer. Speaking in Edinburgh, SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger said: “The meeting of the SNCT last Wednesday considered a new offer from COSLA. The SSTA representatives undertook to refer the offer…

The Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association today unanimously rejected the proposals from the employers’ organisation, COSLA, regarding changes to Scottish teachers’ conditions of service. The matter will now be put to a ballot of SSTA members with a recommendation to reject the offer. Speaking in Edinburgh, SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger said: “The meeting of the SNCT last Wednesday considered a new offer from COSLA. The SSTA representatives undertook to refer the offer…

The SSTA, representing 8500 Scottish Secondary Teachers, today accepted much of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission (the Hutton Report) but at the same time rejected one of the central proposals. Speaking today in Edinburgh, SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger commented on the report. “Lord Hutton and the Commission members are to be congratulated on the scope, depth and readability of the Report. It contains wide ranging proposals which do substantially deal with all relevant issues and do provide a…

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, representing 8500 teachers in Scotland's Secondary Schools, today warned its members over problems caused following harassment of some of its member via electronic mail.   In particular harassment by pupils was now a significant concern. The union issued its advice today on its website pointing out that the situation had become worse in recent days as teachers worked from home and tried to maintain contact with students especially those who would take national examinations next…

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, representing 8500 teachers in Scotland's Secondary Schools, today warned its members on the impact of the cuts in education budgets currently under discussion in many Scottish local authorities.   The union expressed particular concerns that Councils did not have enough knowledge of educational systems and arrangements to be fully aware of the impact of the cuts. Speaking in Edinburgh today, Ann Ballinger, General Secretary of the union said, “The SSTA accepts that local authorities are…

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, representing 8500 Secondary Teachers, is to hold an indicative ballot on the Scottish Government's proposals for a new curriculum for Scottish schools. Following a meeting of the Executive Committee today SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger commented "Our members will be balloted on the same issues which have concerned us since the early days of the Curriculum for Excellence proposals, namely: Inadequate curriculum guidance for teachers planning the implementation of this initiative. A complete lack of…

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association representing 8500 teachers in Scotland's secondary schools today attacked proposals for the arrangements for the new examinations to replace the current Standard Grades. In a message to members, Ann Ballinger, General Secretary of the SSTA criticised the current proposals for the assessment mechanisms. "Members of the SSTA at their recent Council meeting passed a motion demanding that action is taken to prevent the introduction of a two-tier system of assessment which will penalise the least…

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association today supported complaints made by secondary headteachers in relation to issues now being delegated to them. In a newsletter to members, SSTA General Secretary, Ann Ballinger, attacked local authorities in their approach to the issue. She noted in particular "There seems to be a myth circulating that delegation to "schools" is a good thing. Regrettably no Scottish school ever did anything in the cause of education: the headteachers and staff many do that. The "school"…