An SNP MP has slammed the top private school attended by Humza Yousaf for using "callous fire and rehire tactics" against its own staff.
Hutchesons’ Grammar in the southside of Glasgow is facing strike action after it demanded teachers sign new contracts which change their pension entitlements.
Gavin Newlands, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has long campaigned against the use of fire and rehire tactics - which sees employers sack staff only to then immediately reemploy them on less favourable terms.
He branded Hutchesons' "appalling" over the way it had treated staff and called on the school to "think again".
The educational institution charges pupils up to £13,000 per year and counts the new First Minister and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar among its former pupils.
But Hutchesons' denied it was using fire and rehire tactics and insisted most of its teachers had already signed new contracts.
Newlands told the Record: "The attempt by Hutchesons’ Grammar School to deploy discredited and callous fire and rehire tactics against staff at the school is simply appalling.
"I urge the school to think again, speak to teachers and their representatives, and negotiate with the people who are engaged in the vital task of educating young people, without the threat of termination hanging over the staff’s head.
"I know that while there is a ballot for industrial action on the table, there is also willingness to enter into free negotiations with the school and that spirit of openness should be met by management.
"More broadly we’ve seen organisations like British Airways, British Gas and P&O Ferries use these tactics in the past and been roundly condemned for their actions. The management at Hutchesons’ should think carefully about the huge damage on their own reputation they are about to unleash.
"We’ve also heard umpteen words of sympathy from the UK Government over the last few years about these tactics, yet still no legal ban on employers treating their staff so disgracefully.
"I’ve introduced a number of bills into the UK Parliament in an attempt to bring these companies to heel, yet have had no support from the UK Government, despite their public condemnation."
A spokeswoman for Hutchesons’ Grammar School said: “Previous increases to the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer costs have impacted on our expenditure and with further increases expected next year, the Governors believe this future increase would make it less sustainable as they wish to keep Hutchesons’ affordable to as many families as possible.
"Following a 60-day collective consultation process with teaching staff, and subsequent individual meetings with some colleagues, the Board of Governors has taken the decision to withdraw from the STPS and to offer a generous Defined Contribution scheme in its place.
"During the collective consultation we engaged with the teacher representatives and answered more than 200 teachers’ questions. The minority of teachers, who have not yet signed the contract variation letter have been issued with a letter serving formal notice to terminate their existing contract of employment alongside an immediate offer of re-employment.
"The only change in the new contract will be in relation to the pensions. All other terms and conditions will remain unaffected and continuity of service will be preserved in every respect.
"We remain hopeful that all teachers will choose to continue teaching at Hutchesons’. We do not wish to lose any member of staff and no job roles will be lost."
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