Think of the Children
Scottish Ministers appear to be showing interest, albeit belatedly in the suggestion that the McCrone Agreement should be revisited - as a way of protecting schools and children from the worst effects of budget cuts.
The McCrone Agreement was introduced ten years ago - and governs the pay and conditions of Scottish teachers.
Education Minister - Michael Russell - has apparently told the Scottish Parliament’s education committee it is time - for the 2001 McCrone deal to be 'revisited' - which is a very interesting development.
Mr Russell said: “I am not going to start that negotiating process in public, but one thing is absolutely clear; there are very substantial financial pressures that are coming on Scotland’s local authorities and education is 40% of the costs of those local authorities and salaries are 50% of that.
Earlier this year, Councillor Gordon Matheson - leader of Glasgow City Council - wrote to Mr Russell asking him to reopen the McCrone agreement - which guarantees teachers more than 12 hours a week on preparation.
Mr Matheson suggested increasing the amount of time teachers spend teaching by 30 minutes a day – at the expense of preparation time – would save Glasgow £15 million annually and prevent cuts to frontline education services.
The cost of the McCrone Agreement was estimated at £800 million in the year 2000 - with that sum being built into council's base budget in successive years.
So the same Scottish councils that complain about the costs of equal pay - clearly had plenty of money to deliver a costly new pay and conditions package for teachers.
'Fairness at work' is a principle that should apply right across the whole workforce - not just for elite or selective groups.
The McCrone Agreement was introduced ten years ago - and governs the pay and conditions of Scottish teachers.
Education Minister - Michael Russell - has apparently told the Scottish Parliament’s education committee it is time - for the 2001 McCrone deal to be 'revisited' - which is a very interesting development.
Mr Russell said: “I am not going to start that negotiating process in public, but one thing is absolutely clear; there are very substantial financial pressures that are coming on Scotland’s local authorities and education is 40% of the costs of those local authorities and salaries are 50% of that.
Earlier this year, Councillor Gordon Matheson - leader of Glasgow City Council - wrote to Mr Russell asking him to reopen the McCrone agreement - which guarantees teachers more than 12 hours a week on preparation.
Mr Matheson suggested increasing the amount of time teachers spend teaching by 30 minutes a day – at the expense of preparation time – would save Glasgow £15 million annually and prevent cuts to frontline education services.
The cost of the McCrone Agreement was estimated at £800 million in the year 2000 - with that sum being built into council's base budget in successive years.
So the same Scottish councils that complain about the costs of equal pay - clearly had plenty of money to deliver a costly new pay and conditions package for teachers.
'Fairness at work' is a principle that should apply right across the whole workforce - not just for elite or selective groups.
