The SSTA Rejects the 5% Pay Offer and Moves Closer Towards Strike Action

 The SSTA conducted a members opinion survey through school representatives, on the 5% pay offer from the employers (COSLA). The SSTA represents more than 6,500 members in Scottish secondary schools. 80% of members rejected the pay offer with 70% of members reluctantly prepared to take strike action in pursuit of a realistic pay deal. Seamus Searson the SSTA General Secretary said “SSTA members have given everything in the last number of years to keep education going and to ensure that all young people…

Message to Members - 26 August 2022

An Improved Pay Offer BUT STILL Not Enough The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (COSLA, Scottish Government, SSTA and EIS) met on 18 August and COSLA made a pay offer of 3.5%. The Teachers’ Side (SSTA and EIS) made clear that this offer was totally unacceptable and must be improved. COSLA then made a further offer of 5% the following day. The SSTA Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee met on 24 August to consider the 5% pay offer and took the…
Members' Briefing

SSTA Members' Briefing 2022

The SSTA has arranged a series of in-person members briefing in September. Seamus Searson the SSTA General Secretary would like to meet with SSTA members to discuss the issues that face secondary teachers (to include the 10% teacher pay claim, the future of national qualifications and the progress of the Muir review). This is your opportunity to have your say. Stuart McCullough, Independent Financial Advisor from Llife Ltd will also be giving a presentation on the changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme…

Message to Members - 19 August 2022

An Improved Pay Offer BUT Not Enough The SNCT Extended Joint Chairs (COSLA, Scottish Government, SSTA and EIS) met on 18 August with COSLA making an improved pay offer of 3.5%. The previous offer was undifferentiated 2% increase on all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2022. COSLA claimed that this offer was all that is affordable without further funding from Scottish Government.  The Teachers’ Side (SSTA and EIS) made clear that this offer was totally unacceptable and must be…
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SSTA Newsletter - July 2022

The post Congress, July 2022 Newsletter is now available for members to download. SSTA Newsletter - July 2022 The newsletter contains information on the SSTA 77th Annual Congress, including: Presidential Address from Catherine Nicol; Report of the General Secretary from Seamus Searson; Guest Speech from Professor Ken Muir;Motions passed at Congress;Financial statement to members.

Members Bulletin - 27 June 2022

No Improved Pay Offer for 2022-2023 The Extended Joint Chairs of the SNCT (COSLA, Scottish Government, SSTA and EIS) met on Wednesday 18 May to receive a pay offer from the employers for 2022-2023. The 2% undifferentiated increase on all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2022 was rejected by the SNCT teachers’ side negotiators. The employers promised a revised pay offer within a couple of weeks, after the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review announcement on 31 May 2022. No…

Message to Members - Teacher Unions reject 2% Pay Offer from the Employers

Teacher Unions reject 2% Pay Offer from the Employers The Extended Joint Chairs of the SNCT (COSLA, Scottish Government, SSTA and EIS) met on Wednesday 18 May to receive a pay offer from the employers in response to the SNCT Teachers’ Side pay claim of 10% for 2022-2023.The 2% undifferentiated increase on all SNCT pay points effective from 1 April 2022 was rejected by the SNCT teachers’ side negotiators as it did not come close to an offer that would…
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Report of the General Secretary

SSTA General Secretary, Seamus Searson SSTA General Secretary Report to Congress 2022 Friday 13 May 2022 Dear Colleagues, it is a great pleasure to stand before you and see so many familiar faces and so many new faces in the room as we try to return to a normal SSTA Congress. Unfortunately, I unable to see the 20 plus delegates who are joining us virtually today. I would also like to welcome the large number of members, guests and observers…
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Presidential Address - 77th Annual Congress

Catherine Nicol, SSTA President Address to the 77th Congress of the SSTA In October 2021 we were all aware that the Pandemic was not yet over. At that time news of the Omicron variant was emergent but the impact it would have on society was as yet unknown.  It was abundantly clear that the measures that teachers had called for to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, our families and friends, pupils, care givers and other service users…

Home Economics is disappearing from Secondary Schools

The SSTA conducted a school representative survey to gauge the situation of home economics and home economic teachers in secondary schools across Scotland. The survey was completed by 190 school representatives (53% of secondary schools). Seamus Searson, SSTA General Secretary said “Home economics as a subject is at serious risk of disappearing from secondary school timetables due not only to the shortage of home economics teachers but by the lack of support by local authorities and headteachers”. “How this can…