HUMZA Yousaf has been urged to intervene in his former private school’s “bully tactics” amid fire and rehire accusations.
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach used his speech at the union’s annual conference in Glasgow to urge Scotland’s new First Minister to take action against his alma mater, Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow.
The union balloted members at the school, with 87% in favour of industrial action amid claims the school is forcing teachers to agree to new contracts which would see their pensions downgraded or face dismissal.
The school however has “strongly rejected” the accusations of fire and rehire and pension downgrades.
In March, 80% of EIS members – Scotland’s largest teaching union – at the school indicated their willingness to take strike action.
The EIS ballot will open on Tuesday and end on May 4, with strike action likely to commence two weeks later.
Unions said the school issued teachers with “contract terminations and offers of re-employment” for those who have not yet signed the new terms, with a deadline of April 14 imposed.
Fire and rehire refers to when an employer fires an employee and offers them a new contract on new, often less-favourable terms.
Speaking in Glasgow on Sunday, Roach urged Yousaf, who attended the independent school between 1997 and 2003, to tell the school to “desist”.
He said: “I’m today calling on Humza Yousaf to use his new position as Scotland’s First Minister to fix this broken system.
“Intervene to stop the use of those bully boys' tactics and to tell his alma mater Hutchesons’ Grammar School here in Glasgow to desist from bullying our members and withdraw immediately their threat to fire and rehire dedicated and committed teaching staff, otherwise our members will have no other option than to take strike action to defend their jobs and their livelihoods.
“Our members there have a mandate now for industrial action and they will use it if they have to and they will have our fullest support for as long as it takes.”
A spokesperson for Hutchesons’ Grammar School said: “The Board of Governors strongly rejects accusations of ‘fire and rehire’ with inferior pension provision.
"The new pension offers additional benefits including a 23.8% employer pensions and benefits contribution rate which is slightly higher than the current employer rate in the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS).
"It also offers double the Death in Service benefit from three times annual earnings under the STPS to six times annual earnings and it gives three years’ income protection in the event a teacher is unable to work for an extended period of time, which is not available under the STPS.
"In addition to this, a teacher’s remaining pension pot is paid into their estate when they die, a benefit not available under the current STPS and it offers flexibility of an early retirement age, should they wish, and to choose their own contribution rate, whether the same, more or less than under the STPS.
“Following a 60-day collective consultation process with teaching staff, and subsequent individual consultation meetings with some colleagues, the Board of Governors has taken the decision to withdraw from the STPS and to offer a generous defined contribution scheme in its place. The school is offering a different pension, not an inferior one.
“The school would welcome the opportunity to meet with the First Minister to see how he can support the independent school sector which is facing increasing economic pressures. The SNP decision to remove business rates relief, unlike in the rest of the UK, has been integral to the fiscal drag we are experiencing.”
It follows Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar – also a former pupil at the school, which charges fees of up to £14,000 per year – saying the school should “see sense” over the alleged policy.
Sarwar told STV last week: “I’ve met with the unions directly, I’ve met with representatives of the teachers themselves and I’ve engaged with the school.
"I think the actions are open to serious questions. Any approach to fire and rehire is unacceptable.
“To do things unilaterally without the backing and support of the workforce I think is unacceptable.
“Therefore I’ll continue to engage with the trade unions, I’ll continue to engage with the workers and I’ll continue to urge the school to see sense.”
Hutchesons’ Grammar School has previously said the contracts offer “slightly higher rate employer pensions”, alongside a raft of other benefits.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “The Scottish Government does not support the use of fire and rehire practices and they do not align with our Fair Work First principles. We have no role in the pay and conditions or contracts of teachers in the independent sector.”
