A THREAT of strike action by staff at Scotland's exams body before and on results day has been lifted.
The Unite union said “positive progress in talks” had ended the long-running dispute at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
It means workers will not be striking on Monday of next week or Tuesday, August 6 – the day thousands of pupils across the country are to receive their exam results. A walkout on June 26 had already been suspended to allow the discussions to take place.
Unite regional industrial officer Alison MacLean said: “We have made significant progress in talks with the SQA’s executive management team who have committed, in tandem with the authority’s new chief executive, to work positively with Unite.
“We are pleased that the dispute is now over and pay tribute to the support of our members who have stood firm through this very long and difficult dispute.
“The intervention of the Scottish Government and the commitment from the SQA’s incoming chief executive Fiona Robertson has been key to addressing the issues at the heart of this dispute.
“We are under no illusion that there is still a lot of work to do.
She continued: “Following the recognition by the authority’s executive management team that mistakes have been made, we are both committed to a large joint programme of work to make improvements across the organisation which will benefit all staff.”
The dispute stemmed from restructuring in the exam body.
A statement on the SQA website said: “SQA welcomes Unite the Union’s decision to end the industrial dispute, and cancel all planned strike action.
“This outcome follows another constructive meeting between SQA management and Unite the Union, and recognises the significant progress that has been made to address the issues raised by the union’s members.
“SQA remains fully committed to continuing to work collaboratively with Unite the Union, to continue the positive work that has already begun, and ensure SQA can fulfil its ambition to be a leading public sector body.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here