Created on: 23 Jan 2018 | Last modified: 08 Apr 2020
1.1 The following resolution was approved by the 2011 Annual General Meeting:
"This AGM instructs Council to prepare a campaign of action to ensure that teachers on temporary contracts are not denied employment rights through deliberate breaks in their continuous contracts".
1.2 Employment rights are established after one year's continuous employment but in addition there is a statutory right to seek permanence after 4 years.
1.3 Additionally, under local agreements set out by LNCTs replacing paragraph 8.5 of the Yellow Book, teachers will acquire permanence.
1.4 The SNCT has also set out a Code of Practice on the use of temporary contracts.
2.1 An employee in employment until 6 April 2012, could bring a claim for unfair dismissal after one year’s continuous employment. This laid an obligation on an employer to ensure that, where a contract comes to a natural end, other work is sought.
2.2 The Coalition Government increased the qualifying period for raising an unfair dismissal claim to two years from 6 April 2012. This will have a significant impact in removing workplace protection from temporary teachers.
2.3 After two years' continuous employment, an employee is entitled to statutory redundancy pay if a contract is brought to an end and no other work is forthcoming.
2.4 After 4 years' continuous employment, an employee is generally entitled to a permanent contract unless the employer can provide an objective justification for the continuation of a temporary contract.
3.1 In the Scheme of Conditions of Service for Teaching Staff in School Education (the "Yellow Book") a teacher who had one year's full-time satisfactory continuous service was entitled to seek a permanent contract.
3.2 Following a court decision the right was extended to part-time employees with one year's satisfactory continuous service.
3.3 In 2004 arising from the 2001 Agreement, "A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century", the SNCT devolved the transfer of permanence to LNCTs in SNCT/31 which was issued on 29 March 2004.
4.1 The 2011 teacher census reveals that 13% of the teacher workforce are on temporary contracts. It is clear that across Scotland's councils there is considerable casualisation of the profession.
4.2 Part of any campaign will require further evidence to be gathered on this issue.
5.1 The SNCT Code of Practice is appended.
5.2 The Code of Practice sets out the purposes under which fixed-term contracts should be issued. These relate to a contract being defined by a specific purpose (e.g. maternity cover), for a specific time (i.e. a specified end date) or for a specified purpose (e.g. curriculum development).
5.3 Part of the problem lies in the indiscriminate use of fixed-term contracts which are for a specific time and which may not be renewed if the teacher is on the cusp of acquiring employment rights or acquiring permanence under the local LNCT agreement.
If that teacher is not offered further work then a break is created which cuts across both employment rights and access to a permanent post.
5.4 The approach taken by some councils is to end a contract at a holiday period (most commonly in the summer) or in secondary schools when study leave commences in May. The teacher is often not re-engaged if a continuous period of engagement would lead to that teacher acquiring employment rights if the work continues.
5.5 There is little scope for legal remedy if the council has handled the notice period correctly. While there is scope to argue a breach of contract if a contract for a specific time or specific event is prematurely brought to an end, it is difficult to argue a break if the contract comes to a natural end. While it is poor employment practice to stand down a teacher if the work continues unless there is a breach of contract it is difficult to argue the case legally and there is no scope to pursue on unfair dismissal since that teacher will not have the qualifying service.
6.1 Any campaign on this matter will require current evidence. Therefore, it is recommended that, in the autumn, the EIS should write in the first instance to all 32 councils asking for details of the number and nature of fixed-term contracts.
6.2 At the same time LA Secretaries should be asked to forward names and numbers of teachers who have been denied continued employment to avoid employment rights being conceded.
6.3 Once evidence is gathered and mindful of individual identities the EIS should publicise any abuses and mount a campaign with local and national politicians thereafter.
6.4 LNCTs should continue to monitor the issue of fixed-term contracts to ensure compliance with the SNCT Code of Practice and thereafter to establish good practice in discussion with councils.