Teachers face holiday pay entitlement cut

THE number of days for which teachers can claim holiday pay while they are off sick or on maternity leave could be slashed under plans being drawn up by council chiefs.

Teachers are currently entitled to claim full holiday pay for up to 66 days at a cost of around 1.1 million to the city council. But education bosses want to reduce the maximum entitlement to 40 days in a bid to save 340,000 a year.

It is part of a number of money-saving education proposals will require national agreement.

Labour councillor Angela Blacklock, who sits on the education committee, warned: "It seems that teachers are being hit hard under these proposals and that the McCrone agreement is under threat as well."

A spokesman for the council said: "These proposals are part of a national discussion between Cosla and the Scottish Government and any changes would require agreement through the national negotiating committee for teachers."