It is confirmed that the teaching unions EIS & AHDS are calling their members to strike on Thursday 24 November 2022 as part of the ongoing national pay dispute.
As a result of this strike action, all East Dunbartonshire primary, secondary and Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools will be closed to pupils on Thursday 24 November.
All Early Years Centres, which are not included in the strike action, will remain open on that day and Education (Non Teaching) employees ie Early Years Workers, should report for work as normal. Teaching staff who are part of the ballot and working within a Nursery/ Early Years Centre should report to their nearest secondary school.
Signing in arrangements for education employees based in schools and not part of the ballot are detailed below.
OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS DURING STRIKE ACTION
EDUCATION EMPLOYEES (EXCLUDING NON TEACHING EMPLOYEES BASED IN EARLY YEARS CENTRES)
(i) SERVICE DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS
At this time, the arrangements for the following Education school based council facilities are detailed below and signing in locations identified. Please note, only Education employees (Teaching and Non Teaching) based within the schools are being requested to report to the locations listed below. On reporting for work on Thursday 24 November employees will be provided with further information on the day with regards to their work allocation / location for the day.
If you are a multi-postholder across different bases you should report to the location below for the school you would be expected to have worked at on Thursday 24 November.
Facilities Management employees based within the Education estate should report to their normal work location unless otherwise instructed.
Secondary Schools
| Facility | Planning Arrangements |
|---|---|
|
Bearsden Academy |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Bishopbriggs Academy |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Boclair Academy |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Douglas Academy |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Kirkintilloch High |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Lenzie Academy |
Will remain open for employees |
|
St Ninian’s High |
Will remain open for employees |
|
Turnbull High |
Will remain open for employees |
Primary Schools / ASN School
| Facility | Planning Arrangements |
|---|---|
|
Baljaffray Primary |
Report to Bearsden Academy |
|
Bearsden Primary |
Report to Bearsden Academy |
|
Castlehill Primary |
Report to Bearsden Academy |
|
Mosshead Primary |
Report to Bearsden Academy |
|
St Nicholas Primary |
Report to Bearsden Academy |
|
St Helens Primary |
Report to Bishopbriggs Academy |
|
Thomas Muir Primary |
Report to Bishopbriggs Academy |
|
Colquhoun Park Primary |
Report to Boclair Academy |
|
Killermont Primary |
Report to Boclair Academy |
|
Westerton Primary |
Report to Boclair Academy |
|
Baldernock Primary |
Report to Douglas Academy |
|
Clober Primary |
Report to Douglas Academy |
|
Craigdhu Primary |
Report to Douglas Academy |
|
Milngavie Primary |
Report to Douglas Academy |
|
Craighead Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Gartconner Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Harestanes Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Hillhead Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Holy Trinity Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Oxgang Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Twechar Primary |
Report to Kirkintilloch High |
|
Campsie View School |
Report to Lenzie Academy |
|
Holy Family Primary |
Report to Lenzie Academy |
|
Lenzie Meadow Primary |
Report to Lenzie Academy |
|
Millersneuk Primary |
Report to Lenzie Academy |
|
Campsie View School |
Report to Lenzie Academy |
|
Lairdsland Primary |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
Lennoxtown Primary |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
Merkland School |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
St Machan’s Primary |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
Torrance Primary |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
Balmuildy Primary |
Report to Turnbull High |
|
Meadowburn Primary |
Report to Turnbull High |
|
St Matthew’s Primary |
Report to Turnbull High |
|
Wester Cleddens Primary |
Report to Turnbull High |
Education (Teaching) Non School Based
| Facility | Planning Arrangements |
|---|---|
|
Donaldson Street |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
New College Lanarkshire |
Report to St Ninian’s High |
|
Instrumental Music (various locations) |
Report to Boclair Academy |
EMPLOYEE REPORTING BASES & OPERATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Attendance at Events – Meetings/Training Courses/Conferences/Further Education
- If you are pre-booked to attend an off-site meeting, training course, conference or attend Further Education on Thursday 24 November, you must make arrangements to report for duty to the location specified above no later than your normal start time on the day(s) of action.
- Reporting to the locations outlined above is required to take place before you attend the event to record your availability for work that day and ensure normal payment of wages.
EMPLOYEE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS DURING THIS STRIKE ACTION
In addition to the reporting arrangements detailed above and to help clarify and ensure consistency in approach and treatment of employees, I would also confirm the following:
If you are a member EIS or AHDS you are governed by the strike mandate:
- You are protected by the strike action mandate if you choose to participate in this strike action
Approved exemption if you are a member of EIS or AHDS:
- If you have reported to your Head Teacher/Line manager that you are pregnant, or intend to retire and are in your final year of service, you will be granted an exemption as to be on strike can impact on your Maternity Entitlement or Pension respectively. You will be provided a letter to state you are exempt.
Line Manager/Head Teachers should email the HR Business Partner mailbox with a list of names within each of the above categories.
If you are not a member of EIS or AHDS, you are not covered by a mandate and therefore are advised to report as directed above at the start of your normal contracted working time for Thursday 24 November 2022:
- You are not protected by any ballot mandate if you chose to participate in any form of industrial action and as such, participating in this action is a breach of your contract;
- If you have any uncertainties, please speak directly to your trades union Convenor or line manager.
If you are a non-trade union member:
- Regardless of your work location, you are not protected by any ballot mandate if you chose to participate in any form of industrial action and as such, participating in this action is a breach of your contract;
- You are therefore advised to report as directed above at the start of your normal contracted working day;
- If you have any uncertainties, please speak directly to your line manager.
Remarks / Comments in relation to Industrial Action:
- All employees must be aware of the implications of any posts or comments made either in person or through Social Media.
- This includes any derogatory language or remarks made or intimidating behaviours made towards those participating or not participating in action either before, during or after strike action taking place.
- In all circumstances, the established policies and procedures will be invoked in any instances.
As your employer it is vitally important that we ensure that all employees fully understand the implications of participating in industrial action.
IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES – AS PER NOTIFIED STRIKE ACTION ABOVE (TEACHING STAFF ONLY)
The Council wishes to ensure that all employees are treated consistently through this dispute and that sufficient information is available to all employees to enable them to make an informed decision about participation in this industrial action.
Sick Pay Scheme
As during previous strike action, if an employee reports as sick on the day of action, the facility to self-certify absence will not be available for Teaching employees on the 24 November. Payment for the day will only be made for those employees who are already on sick leave supported by a fit note or those who provide a fit note for the day.
Annual Leave/Special Leave
Annual leave/special leave will not be granted to all teaching employees for these days, except leave which has been pre-booked and pre-approved before Thursday 10 November 2022. Any leave requests made or approved on Thursday 10 November 2022 or after will not be granted
CPD/Conferences
Requests for CPD/Conferences
Any new requests received from Teachers to attend CPD/Conferences on Thursday 24 November 2022 will not to be approved
Out of Class Time
Non-Contact Time, preparation or marking time is not permitted to be approved for Thursday 24 November 2022.
Facility to Smart Work or Home Work
The facility to Smart or Home work to undertake out of class activities will not be available to Teaching employees on the days of strike action. Arrangements outlined within specific guidance above on working arrangements and sign in locations will apply.
Attendance at Off-site meetings/Training Courses/Conferences/Further Education
As detailed above, if you are pre-booked to attend an off-site meeting, training course, conference or attend Further Education on the 24 November, you must make arrangements to report for duty no later than your normal start time on the day of action to the appropriate location as directed above before you attend the event to record your availability for work that day and ensure normal payment of wages.
Pay Deduction for participation in industrial action
- The Council will not make any payment Thursday 24 November where an employee chooses to participate in industrial action.
- It is the Council’s position that if an employee does not report to work and perform their contractual obligations for that day, the employee will not be entitled to “quantum merit” – in other words they will not be paid for the value of any work performed on that day where they did not fulfil all of their contractual obligations.
- Employees who do choose to report for work but do not subsequently carry out their contracted job and the obligations expected of them that day will not receive payment for that day
- Pay deductions made as a response to employees taking part in strike action or industrial action short of a strike are excluded from the unlawful deduction of wages provisions in the Employment Rights Act.
- Employees taking part in the industrial action will lose a day’s pay calculated in accordance with their Conditions of Service, pro-rated in respect of part time employees.
- This will also be applied to other employees who do not present themselves for work on the day of action as detailed above and who have no formal prior authorisation to be absent from work.
- The deduction made will be the contractual hours for that day (as described above). This calculation applies to full-time and part time Teaching employees who are contracted to work on Thursday 24 November 2022 but who do not present themselves for work on those day(s) or who do not fulfil their contractual work obligations that day.
- Those employees who do participate in the strike action will have the appropriate pay deduction made from their salary/wage in December pay.
Pensions
- Time lost to industrial action does not count as pensionable service.
- Employees will therefore not pay pension contributions for the days of unpaid strike action on Thursday 24 November 2022, and this will not be counted in pension benefit calculations.
- Employees can contact the SPPA to enquire about restoring lost service.
- Whilst a strike breaks the contract of employment it does not break the continuity of employment if the employee returns to work after the strike ends.
- Detailed advice and guidance on pension issues can be provided by the pension providers.
I hope you find this information helpful in explaining the Council’s approach to the strike action and that it provides you, as an employee, with all relevant information to enable you to understand your position and any potential implications.
The Industrial Action page of the Council website will be updated with this latest information and the update will be shared through Council social media channels.
Thank you
Ann Davie
Depute Chief Executive