Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

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The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association today expressed disgust at in the middle of continuing attempts to produce a Scottish solution to the Public Sector Pension fiasco the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee has failed to protect Scottish teachers by not opposing further increases in pension contributions.

Acting General Secretary Alan McKenzie this afternoon said “This extra tax on teachers imposed by the UK Government simply cannot be justified. It is difficult to defend the aspiration for a Scottish solution when the Education Committee cannot protect us. We are sailing closer to crisis in Scottish schools.”


Further information from Alan McKenzie on 0131 313 7300

26 March 2013

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There are still places available for the Association pre-retirement courses which will be held as usual in 2013. The first course is in Glasgow on Saturday 9 March 2013 and the second in Stirling on Saturday 18 May 2013.

Topics Include

• Investment
  
• State Benefits
  
• Superannuation
  
• The Need for Planning
  
• Taxation in retirement

Members interested in attending should complete the form here to register for a place. Alternatively members may contact the office for a postal application form. Members should apply as soon as possible to guarantee a place.

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Scotland’s two largest teaching unions, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) have today been united in their condemnation of an increase in the pensions contributions paid by Scotland’s teachers. The Scottish Government has announced, today, an increase to the contribution rate for the Scottish teachers’ pension scheme. The increase, which follows on from a similar increase in 2011, will impose a further 1.2% in pension deductions from teachers’ pay, taking the contribution rate to 8.96%, on average.

Condemning the increase, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “The contribution hike that the Scottish Government has set out today is absolutely unjustifiable. It has nothing to do with the cost of teacher pensions but is simply an austerity tax which was originally designed by the UK Government to raise finance for the UK treasury.”

Mr Flanagan continued, “Scottish politicians, including those in the Scottish Government, have long-claimed to oppose the increase but, in meekly passing on changes designed by the Coalition government at Westminster, the Scottish Government has become complicit in this attack on the public sector workforce, and teachers in particular.”

Mr Flanagan added, “The EIS is about to commence a consultative ballot on potential industrial action around future pension scheme design. This tax increase will simply incense members as they prepare to vote on future action.”

Alan McKenzie, Acting General Secretary of the SSTA, also condemned the increase, saying, “Once again Scottish teachers have become the victim of double speak. Scottish Government in particular needs to be honest and declare that it is powerless in the face of this additional and unnecessary tax from Westminster that simply ignores the very real plight of our members.”

Mr McKenzie added, “The SSTA already has a mandate for Working to Contract .We are preparing for the reinstatement of that and will additionally consider taking industrial action beyond that. We are determined to work in concert with other unions to protect our members.”

(ENDS)
Further information from: Alan McKenzie on 0131 313 7300

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Due to Lack of interest in the Seminar we have had to cancel the event. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. 7 March 2013

The Seminar is an all day event, which will take place on Friday 15 March at the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld and is free to SSTA members.

The programme will include:

• National Update
• Professional Update Implication for Senior Managers - Tony Finn, Chief Executive, GTCs
• Children and Young Persons Bill