Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association
Discounted car purchase scheme
A garage concession scheme for SSTA members to purchase new or nearly-new cars at specially discounted prices
Car Rental for SSTA Members
National Car Rental and Guy Salmon Prestige Rental offer members competitive car hire rates on national and international hire.
Planned Futures - Independent Financial Advice
Offering members discounts on home and car insurance, Independent Financial Advice
Holiday Inn Offers
Holiday Inn Hotels & Crowne Plazza has arranged discounts and various special offers for SSTA members
Friday 27 January 2012 • International
ACT NOW: Tell Bahrain to free Mahdi!
Mahdi's health is rapidly deteriorating and the authorities have refused him access to medical treatment. He was unjustly jailed for ten years for legitimately leading his union during the nation-wide protests of March 2011.
Please sign the labourstart action calling for his release.
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) has called for the release of all political prisoners like Mahdi - a recommendation the authorities continue to ignore. The BICI report also describes detention and torture methods that have been inflicted on Mahdi and other detainees by the authorities. His retrial is on 19 February.
According to Amnesty International, Mahdi and Jalila al-Salman (the BTA's Vice President) appear to have been targeted solely for their leadership of the BTA and for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.The Bahraini authorities have cracked down on teachers and trade unionists through arbitrary arrests, military prosecution, investigation, suspensions, dismissals, salary cuts and torture. While some workers have been reinstated in response to the global outcry, the situation remains dire for most. None of the 55 trade union leaders - including six national leaders - have been reinstated.
Please sign the labourstart action calling for his release.
For more information see:
Amnesty International (21 December 2011), Health fears for Bahraini teacher
Education International (9 December 2011) Bahrain: Drop all charges against teachers, unionists and student
Thursday 19 January 2012 • Pensions
Pensions Contributions Update January 2012
Imposed Contribution Increases 2012 (2013 and 2014*)
*The Scottish Government is still to consult on the Proposed increases for these years.
The contribution increases for April 2012 have been imposed.
The across the board flat contribution rate (currently 6.4%) will be replaced by a tiered system with the highest earners paying a higher percentage contribution rate
Employers’ contribution rate will remain unchanged.
It should be noted that the tier relating to part-time teachers will be based on the full time equivalent salary and not on actual salary earned. Details of increases are attached here .
The Association’s Position
The SSTA is totally opposed to the introduction of a tiered contribution rate
The SSTA is totally opposed to any“cash grab” by the UK Government since the increased contribution is to be absorbed into general Government revenue rather than used to fund current pensions.
The SSTA predicts that opt-out rates will increase (in particular those in part time employment who may feel that they can no longer afford to be part of the scheme)
*The Scottish Government is still to consult on the Proposed increases for these years.
The contribution increases for April 2012 have been imposed.
The across the board flat contribution rate (currently 6.4%) will be replaced by a tiered system with the highest earners paying a higher percentage contribution rate
Employers’ contribution rate will remain unchanged.
It should be noted that the tier relating to part-time teachers will be based on the full time equivalent salary and not on actual salary earned. Details of increases are attached here .
The Association’s Position
The SSTA is totally opposed to the introduction of a tiered contribution rate
The SSTA is totally opposed to any“cash grab” by the UK Government since the increased contribution is to be absorbed into general Government revenue rather than used to fund current pensions.
The SSTA predicts that opt-out rates will increase (in particular those in part time employment who may feel that they can no longer afford to be part of the scheme)
Thursday 19 January 2012 • Pensions
Pensions update January 2012
Negotiations on the Future of Public Sector Pensions
The Government Offer – Changes in Public Sector Pensions from 2015
TO DATE THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ON THESE PROPOSALS
Since the last report, the Government tabled their “final offer”. The unions undertook to refer the matter to their decision making bodies.
To date there was been no general acceptance of this offer (though some individual unions have accepted it).
The offer may be summarised as:
1. Normal Pension Age would be the same as the State Retirement Age
2. The career average mechanism would be introduced
3. Pension accruing in relation to service after 2015 will be payable only at age 65 (NPA)
4. The career average accrual rate would be 1/57th of pensionable earnings
5. Optional lump sum commutation at rate of 12:1
6. Average contribution rate to be on a tiered basis at an average of 9.6%
7. New contribution rates to be phased in between April 2012 and April 2015
8. Employers contribution rate would be reduced from 14.9% to 12.1%
9. The revaluation rate for active members would be CPI + 1.6%
10. Pensions in payment would be revalued using the “Prices Index” (currently CPI)
11. Actuarially fair early/late retirement factors
12. Early retirement factors reduced to 3% per annum for period between ages 65 and 68
13. There will be transitional protection for older teachers as described below
There is much technical detail in the above. Members will be given further information when/if an agreement is reached on the detail of the Teachers’ Scheme.
Read more
The Government Offer – Changes in Public Sector Pensions from 2015
TO DATE THERE IS NO AGREEMENT ON THESE PROPOSALS
Since the last report, the Government tabled their “final offer”. The unions undertook to refer the matter to their decision making bodies.
To date there was been no general acceptance of this offer (though some individual unions have accepted it).
The offer may be summarised as:
1. Normal Pension Age would be the same as the State Retirement Age
2. The career average mechanism would be introduced
3. Pension accruing in relation to service after 2015 will be payable only at age 65 (NPA)
4. The career average accrual rate would be 1/57th of pensionable earnings
5. Optional lump sum commutation at rate of 12:1
6. Average contribution rate to be on a tiered basis at an average of 9.6%
7. New contribution rates to be phased in between April 2012 and April 2015
8. Employers contribution rate would be reduced from 14.9% to 12.1%
9. The revaluation rate for active members would be CPI + 1.6%
10. Pensions in payment would be revalued using the “Prices Index” (currently CPI)
11. Actuarially fair early/late retirement factors
12. Early retirement factors reduced to 3% per annum for period between ages 65 and 68
13. There will be transitional protection for older teachers as described below
There is much technical detail in the above. Members will be given further information when/if an agreement is reached on the detail of the Teachers’ Scheme.
Read more
Wednesday 18 January 2012 • Information for members
SQA - Replacing the Appeals
Please see below the text of a letter from Karen McCallum, Director of Operation of the SQA regarding the introduction of new services to replace the existing Appeals Service for National Qualifications.
16 January 2012
Dear Colleague
Replacing the Appeals Service
Can I take this opportunity to tell you about the introduction of new services to replace the existing Appeals Service for National Qualifications.
The two new services, the result of a wide-ranging consultation and review, will provide better support for candidates and reduce the burden for teachers/lecturers and schools/colleges, enabling them to focus on teaching and learning.
These new services will be introduced in academic year 2013-2014;
This will ensure that candidates, who their school or college believe have suffered as a result of exceptional circumstances, will be able to submit alternative evidence of demonstrated attainment before results are published.
This will ensure that if, afterresults day in August, a school or college is concerned by a candidate’s result they can request an administrative review of the script and/or a request to have the marking of the script checked. This could result in a candidate's grade going up or down.
There will be no consideration of alternative evidence with this service and, to ensure that costs are covered, there will be a charge to the school or college for an unsuccessful request.
In order to ensure that these new services are fit for purpose, future proof and fully tested 2014 is the first available year to bring the new services in. A project has been established to manage the development and implementation. We will be engaging with schools, colleges and other stakeholders on the supporting guidance that will be required to support these new services.
I will keep you informed of progress, as the systems develop. I would be grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your colleagues. In the meantime if you have any questions about these changes, please submit your enquiry by e-mail to mycentre©sqa.org.uk
Kind regards
Yours faithfully
Karen McCallum
Director of Operations
16 January 2012
Dear Colleague
Replacing the Appeals Service
Can I take this opportunity to tell you about the introduction of new services to replace the existing Appeals Service for National Qualifications.
The two new services, the result of a wide-ranging consultation and review, will provide better support for candidates and reduce the burden for teachers/lecturers and schools/colleges, enabling them to focus on teaching and learning.
These new services will be introduced in academic year 2013-2014;
- The Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service
This will ensure that candidates, who their school or college believe have suffered as a result of exceptional circumstances, will be able to submit alternative evidence of demonstrated attainment before results are published.
- The Post-Results Service
This will ensure that if, afterresults day in August, a school or college is concerned by a candidate’s result they can request an administrative review of the script and/or a request to have the marking of the script checked. This could result in a candidate's grade going up or down.
There will be no consideration of alternative evidence with this service and, to ensure that costs are covered, there will be a charge to the school or college for an unsuccessful request.
In order to ensure that these new services are fit for purpose, future proof and fully tested 2014 is the first available year to bring the new services in. A project has been established to manage the development and implementation. We will be engaging with schools, colleges and other stakeholders on the supporting guidance that will be required to support these new services.
I will keep you informed of progress, as the systems develop. I would be grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your colleagues. In the meantime if you have any questions about these changes, please submit your enquiry by e-mail to mycentre©sqa.org.uk
Kind regards
Yours faithfully
Karen McCallum
Director of Operations
