Dear GMB Member
GMB School All members / Branch Secretaries
Update
Following the Scottish Governments announcement, that schools across Scotland will remain closed until mid-February, your union has continued to lobby the Scottish Government and COLSA regarding testing and vaccinations for all school-based staff, not just teachers.
We want workplace testing for all school-based staff, vaccinations programme rolled out for all school-based staff and safe working practices in place in every school.
The Education Secretary has stated that he is hoping to give a minimum notice period of 2 weeks, for the return of all children and young people to schooling. However, we currently have over 22500 staff currently working in schools right now and more must be done to protect everyone.
GMB have written to COSLA and Scottish Government about our demands and concerns, but we are also working with local management about staff rotas, updating risk assessments and ensuring you are safe at work right now.
COLSA have indicated that any vaccine rollout, would include all school-based staff, but no details have been shared with your union at this time. To ensure this is the reality, we will continue to push for a vaccination plan to be put in place and we will share that with GMB members as soon as we can.
The health and safety of our members is our priority; therefore, we want to ensure that a vaccine pathway is available to all staff and more importantly, that is sustainable for long term success.
We still need your help. For too long the forgotten workforce in schools have been Pupil Support Assistants, Cleaners, Catering staff, janitors, and admin workers… we want each of you to sign an open letter to Nicola Strugeon calling for safer schools – This can be done by clicking on the following link https://bit.ly/35IEA30
Kind Regards
Stephen Massey
GMB Scotland – Schools Support Team
Posted: 26th January 2021