Herald Scotland (Andrew Denholm, Education Correspondent) – 28/10/10 06:03

A historic agreement governing the pay and conditions of Scottish teachers should be re-opened as council budget cuts loom, the Education Secretary said yesterday.

Michael Russell told the Scottish Parliament's education committee it was time for the 2001 McCrone deal to be “revisited”.

The comment came as the committee discussed suggestions from some councils that increasing the hours teachers spend in the classroom would allow them to cut staff and save millions of pounds.

Mr Russell said any such negotiations would have to take place through an existing tri-partite group of councils, Government officials and teaching unions.

But he added: “The McCrone agreement is 10 years old and any agreement that is 10 years old probably needs revisiting.

Full story available from The Herald Scotland.

This Association is prepared to consider any proposals put but will not accept the wholesale destruction of conditions of service.   Should any attempt be made to negotiate changes members will informed via email and the website.