FIRST MINISTER Humza Yousaf has been urged to intervene against his former private school’s “bully tactics,” amid accusations over its use of fire and rehire.

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach used his speech at the union’s annual conference in Glasgow on Sunday to urge Scotland’s new leader to take action against his alma mater, Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow.

The union is balloting members at the school, who had previously come out 87 per cent in favour of industrial action, amid claims management are forcing teachers to agree to new contracts downgrading their pensions – or face dismissal.

The school has “strongly rejected” the accusations of fire and rehire and pension downgrades.

Members of EIS – Scotland’s largest teaching union – at the school indicated their willingness to take action In March. The formal strike ballot will open on Tuesday and end on May 4, with walkouts likely to commence two weeks later.

Unions have said the school issued teachers with “contract terminations and offers of re-employment” for those who have not yet signed the new terms, imposing a deadline of April 14.

Dr Roach urged Mr Yousaf, who attended the independent school between 1997 and 2003, to tell the school to “desist” in its action.

He said: “I’m today calling on Humza Yousaf to use his new position as Scotland’s First Minister to fix this broken system.

“Our members there have a mandate now for industrial action. They will use it if they have to and they will have our fullest support for as long as it takes.”

The Scottish government said it has no role in the pay and conditions or contracts of teachers in the independent sector.