GLASGOW'S school janitors are to walk out in a five-day strike from the first day of the new school term.
Unison trade union members employed in Glasgow’s primary, nursery and additional support for learning schools will picket next week following on from strikes earlier this year.
The action is in response to demands placed on janitors and a refusal of bosses to pay a Working Context and Demands Payment (WCD).
Janitorial staff are employed by Glasgow City Council arm's-length company Cordia.
There are five levels of annual WCD payment ranging from just over £500 to over £1000.
Brian Smith, Unison Branch Secretary, said: “The payment due to our members for these duties means that they lose earnings of £500 to £1000 every year.
"We are sure that parents will understand that it would be wrong for this unfairness to continue.
"Cordia has spent thousands of pounds every month since January 2016 trying to undermine our official boycott of the duties through the use of non-trade union replacement workers.
"They would be better getting round the table and sorting out our legitimate claim.”
Industrial action was first taken on January 19 when staff boycotted weeding, litter picking, snow clearing, salt spreading, leaf clearing, heavy lifting, spillage clearing and animal clearing.
The janitors began industrial action on 19 January 2016 by boycotting weeding, litter picking, snow clearing, salt spreading, leaf clearing, heavy lifting, spillage clearing and animal clearing.
Schools cleaners, catering staff, education support workers, teachers and headteachers were advised by their trade unions not to undertake the duties janitors are boycotting.
Since March, the janitors have taken nineteen days of strike action in an escalation of the dispute.
Unison said that its members also have concerns about a forthcoming review of janitorial services across the city and the impact this may have on jobs, wages and conditions.
The trade union also highlight a variety of issues it considered detrimental to pupil and staff health.
These include: a lack of daily fire tests and trained, competent fire wardens; schools being left open and unattended; no evidence of any amendments to premises Fire Risk Assessments; a lack of daily heating plant checks; untrained staff loading coal into fires; untrained staff opening schools and leaving them unattended; cleaners covering janitors duties; litter picking not being completed; after school care
evening school lets unattended; and a lack of daily boiler house checks; asbestos logs not being completed for external contractors.
Strikers will protest outside the city chambers on Monday and Thursday and leaflet parents at the school gates every day.
Cordia has been contacted for comment.
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