SSTA STATES MCCRONE AGREEMENT

WORKING WELL IN SCHOOLS  

In a survey findings (Adobe Acrobat is required to open survey findings) released 26 June 2002, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association announced that schools were reporting good progress on implementing the McCrone Agreement in secondary schools.

"97% of schools reached a school Agreement over the last session, and 44% had already concluded an Agreement for the coming session by early June", said David Eaglesham, General Secretary.

"There was much ill-informed comment on lack of Parents’ Meetings following the McCrone Agreement, and I am delighted that this survey gives the lie to these comments. Consultation between parents and teachers continues to be very regular and effective as it was in previous years."

However, 53% of schools reported that relations between unions and school management during the process of reaching agreement had been "poor" or "bad" and only 30% found these relations "good" or "very good".

"Given that over 80% of schools report that both unions and management have not proposed changes for next session, it seems clear that even if relations were strained at times, school agreements have been very effective at delivering the McCrone Agreement.

This contrasts very sharply with the view of those organisations who seek to attack the Agreement for their own narrow purposes.

This survey states that the "bedding-in" process for the McCrone Agreement is proceeding well.

Further information from

DAVID EAGLESHAM

General Secretary

Telephone: 0131 556 5919 or 07770988312

Notes:

The survey was conducted in 423 secondary schools across Scotland. The survey took place between 31 May and 12 June 2002.