Inservice day and trade union meetings Feb 24

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Agenda Item .......... 
Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers 
To: Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers 
On: 6th Feb 2024 
Report by
Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) 
In-service Days and Time for Trade Union meetings. 
Background 
There was communication prior to the October 2023 in-service day between management
and the EIS about the agendas for that day which necessitated staff relocating to other
establishments for training in the afternoons.  As well as travelling expenses, the issue of
time for trade union meetings was raised because many schools would normally allocate
time to unions meetings in the afternoon slot. Many schools however, as a result of the
training event, did not incorporate trade union meetings into their agenda for the day.   
The Teachers’ side noted at the time that teachers’ have an entitlement to trade union time
to be allocated during in-service days as agreed in JNC 11 (Revised) Par 3 : 
3. TRADE UNION MEETINGS : Two hours will be set aside for trade union meetings. Agreement on the
duration and timing of individual meetings should be reached between head teachers and union
representatives at school level at some time in the course of the five in-service days. 
As a result of the October training which took place in the afternoon it was requested that
Head teachers be reminded to incorporate trade unions meetings into the morning block
but the trade unions are disappointed that not all schools received this communication
and so some teachers have not received their entitlement to time for Trade union
meetings. 
Action 
The trade unions would reiterate the need for time for union meetings in schools during
in-service days and expect that headteachers in all sectors will be reminded of that
entitlement. 
And, where time has not previously been given due to other Council business, that this
time will be rolled over and added to the subsequent in-service days in February ’24 or
May ’24 to fulfil the agreed allocation of two hours per session and thereby allow
teachers time to meaningfully engage with their respective trade unions.