Latest editorial
'Messing about': Teachers slammed John Swinney's defence of below-inflation pay rises
SCOTTISH Deputy First Minister John Swinney insisted that real-terms pay cuts had been necessary to maintain teacher numbers today, but trade unionists told him to “stop messing.”
Speaking at the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) congress, Mr Swinney, who is also Education Secretary, voiced hope that a settlement would be reached in the pay dispute between teachers, councils and the SNP government.
But SSTA general secretary Seamus Searson said that, when increased pension contributions and national insurance stamps were taken into account, the real shortfall in take-home pay stood at a whopping 18.7 per cent.
Cuts are sweeping campuses as cash-strapped universities slash staff and politicians fail to act on a growing funding emergency. VINCE MILLS reports
MATT WRACK issues a clarion call for a rejuvenation of public services for the sake of our communities and our young people
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK