Bulletin no 390/03 14 October 2003

1. Council 4 October 2003

a) Council heard reports on the McCrone Implementation Process including Job Sizing and Conditions of Service.

b) Council heard a preliminary report on the impact on teachers of the proposed changes to pensionable age and endorsed the SSTA Campaign “It’s Your Money” which is being launched on this. Members are urged to take part in this Campaign in the next two weeks.

c) The following motions were approved by Council.

• “This Association expresses grave concern about the application of the Job Sizing toolkit by Scottish Local Authorities in the recent Job Sizing Exercise, and in particular the use of the toolkit to facilitate the introduction of plans for restructuring promoted posts in secondary schools.”

• This Association believes that the effect of the Job Sizing exercise has been to create disquiet and disillusion among secondary teachers with regard to promoted post structures.

“This Association believes that any changes to the promoted post structure should fully reflect the curriculum and pastoral demands within a secondary school.”

2. Direct Debit Payments in December

Members who pay their subscription by monthly direct debit are advised of the following payment dates for December’s subscription. The Association will input data to BACS on Monday 29 December which will be processed on Tuesday 30 December for payment on Wednesday 31 December.

3. PRE-RETIREMENT COURSE

Members who are considering retiring from the profession within the next two years may be interested in the pre-retirement course which has been arranged in conjunction with Planned Futures for the weekend of Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March 2004. This residential course is to be held in the Marine Hotel, North Berwick and all interested members should telephone the office or visit the website www.ssta.org.uk, for further information and an application form. Please note that the course is free to SSTA members. Spouses or partners may be able to attend, at a charge, if places are available.

4. PROBATIONERS’ CONFERENCES

There are still spaces available for the Probationer conferences. The conferences will be held on Saturday 8 November 2003 at the New County Hotel, Perth and the Quality Hotel, Glasgow. Any member interested in attending the conference can find full details on the website at www.ssta.org.uk/Probationer_Conf.htm. Application forms are available from the Associations Office. Place at the Glasgow venue are now limited.

5. CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Members who change their home address are asked to notify the Association office in writing. It is also advisable that changes of address are notified to the school, the authority, GTCS, the nearest Social Security office, the Inland Revenue and the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. In all cases, please quote any reference number (GTCS, National Insurance etc.)

The Social Security Office will make arrangements for NI records to be amended

6. CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR CLOSURE OF THE SSTA OFFICE

Members are asked to note that the Association office will close at noon on Friday 19th December and will re-open for normal business after the New Year on Monday 5 January 2004.

ALAN McKENZIE, President
DAVID EAGLESHAM, General Secretary