Accusation of 'gagging order' on school staff

CITY council chiefs have been accused of imposing a "gagging order" on senior school managers after not allowing them to talk publicly about the impact of education cuts.

The budget passed yesterday included a proposal to merge secondary school business support managers and bursar managers into one role, as well as radical changes to the role of principal teachers.

A number of the staff affected had been due to give a deputation to councillors about the impact that the changes would have.

But it has emerged that an advisory note was issued to them by Gillian Tee, director of the council's children and families department, warning them that if they speak publicly they could face disciplinary action.

Kevin Duguid, lead negotiator for Unison in Edinburgh, said: "It is outrageous. They could have added real perspective of what the cuts mean."

Labour education spokesman Paul Godzik said: "I do think they were gagged to avoid embarrassment for the council."

Cllr Phil Wheeler, the city's finance leader, said: "The staff code of conduct clearly states you should not criticise the council either through the media, at a public meeting, in any written communication with members of the public or in any other context likely to cause harm to the council's reputation."