Union Wars
Scotland's two main teaching unions - the EIS and SSTA - are at loggerheads over a pay dispute - see post dated 29 March 2011: 'Supply and Demand'.
Apparently the EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland) and the SSTA (Scottish Secondary Teachers Association) have fallen out - with the EIS recommending acceptance of a new deal - and the SSTA urging its members to reject.
Could it be that the real problem here is a silly inter-union rivalry and competition for members - rather than a point of real principle?
The two unions have a history, of course - the SSTA was born out of a move to put primary school teachers onto the same pay and rations as their colleagues in secondary schools - many years ago.
Many of the secondary school teachers were resentful of the move to have equal pay and equal status for primary school colleagues - regarding their jobs as more onerous and demanding - given the older profile of secondary school students.
And so a split emerged and a fierce rivalry was born - which lasts to this day.
Which just goes to show that unions are sometimes very backward looking and conservative organisations - sad to say.
Apparently the EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland) and the SSTA (Scottish Secondary Teachers Association) have fallen out - with the EIS recommending acceptance of a new deal - and the SSTA urging its members to reject.
Could it be that the real problem here is a silly inter-union rivalry and competition for members - rather than a point of real principle?
The two unions have a history, of course - the SSTA was born out of a move to put primary school teachers onto the same pay and rations as their colleagues in secondary schools - many years ago.
Many of the secondary school teachers were resentful of the move to have equal pay and equal status for primary school colleagues - regarding their jobs as more onerous and demanding - given the older profile of secondary school students.
And so a split emerged and a fierce rivalry was born - which lasts to this day.
Which just goes to show that unions are sometimes very backward looking and conservative organisations - sad to say.
