Historic strike action at a Scottish private school has been called off - despite its pressing ahead with plans to withdraw its teachers from the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS).
This year, teachers at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow - the alma mater of first minister Humza Yousaf and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar - took what was believed to be the first-ever strike action at a private school in Scotland.
The teaching unions involved in the dispute say a compromise has been reached following beneficial changes to other terms and conditions, including better pay and guarantees over pension contributions.
The dispute is seen as pivotal given the mounting cost pressures in the independent sector and fears that participation in the STPS may be at risk in other private schools.
Strike action got under way at Hutchesons’ Grammar earlier this year after the school was accused of using “fire and rehire” tactics to remove its staff from the STPS and compel them to accept new contracts with what the EIS teaching union described as an “inferior pension provision”.
Today, the EIS announced its dispute at the school was now settled “on the basis of a seven-point agreement” - although the school’s teachers would still be withdrawn from the STPS. Details of the agreement have not yet been released.
On Saturday, the NASUWT Scotland teaching union said that it had also reached a resolution in its dispute with the school.
NASUWT Scotland said the school had agreed to the staged reintroduction of a 3 per cent salary enhancement above recommended pay levels for members, and a 10-year guarantee on the level of employer contributions in a new pension scheme.
According to the EIS, as well as “tangible outcomes for teaching staff”, the school had also agreed to become the first private school in Scotland to recognise trade unions.
EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “We absolutely welcome this and hope to establish positive and collegiate relationships within the school moving forward.”
NASUWT Scotland praised the “resolve of members”. Mike Corbett, the union’s national official for Scotland, said that they should “feel proud” that through their strength they had “secured a positive outcome from the employer”.
The school’s rector (headteacher), Mike Martin - who replaced Colin Gambles after he stepped down as rector in July - said that the deal had “required compromise on all sides” and that the school was “committed to maintaining this positive working relationship going forward”.
