Anger over council supply teacher move

Union hits out at ‘short-sighted cuts’
THE education of Oldham pupils will be hit by a short-sighted move to employ cheap supply teachers.

That is the warning from the National Union of Teachers (NUT) after Oldham Council decided to stop using the Rochdale and Oldham Supply Agency (ROSA)

But Tony Harrison, NUT Oldham branch secretary, blasted the move, saying other agencies did not pay proper rates or contribute to the teacher’s pension.

He explained: “The Greater Manchester authorities are going to hire the private company Comensura which will be an umbrella group for all supply agencies.

“If ROSA wants to be part of that they can go in and be treated like any other supply agency.

“The problem is ROSA pays the proper rates for the job.

“It pays the nationally agreed teachers’ pay and conditions, contributes to the teacher’s pension and also provide training.

“Nobody will use ROSA because it is more expensive which means in effect you are getting rid of ROSA because it won’t be able to compete.

“This is another example of short-sighted cuts which will result in a poorer supply pool for Oldham’s schools.”

ROSA was set up as an in-house agency to provide supply staff to Rochdale schools in 2002, and Oldham Council joined in 2005.

Its supply teachers are paid by schools using the council’s payroll system.

Rochdale Council will continue to use ROSA, whose staff is also being cut.

But Oldham has written to supply teachers saying that they will have to register with another agency to continue working in the borough’s schools from January.

Mr Harrison is angry the unions weren’t consulted.

He also said that the letters incorrectly state that supply staff would still be able to contribute to their pension.

A council statement said that the vast majority of schools — if not all secondaries — do not use ROSA.

It added that all schools have been advised that they could cut costs by using Comensura.

Councillor Jack Hulme, cabinet member for children and families, said: “I would like to make clear that schools within the borough are free to use supply teachers from any agency that they want. However, the council will now be advising schools to procure staff via Comensura.