School jannies to stage City Chambers protest

SCHOOL janitors are to target Glasgow City Chambers during their upcoming three-day strike.

Jannies working in Glasgow primary schools have taken 64 days of strike action since March 2016 in a dispute with Cordia, an arms-length company of Glasgow City Council.

The janitors will be picketing, protesting and leafleting the public across the city during their latest three-day strike taking place from April 25 to 27.

The janitors are in dispute with employers Cordia over its refusal to pay a Working Context and Demands Payment for duties which involve physical demand, work- ing outdoors or dealing with unpleasant conditions.

An offer to pay jannies was withdrawn by Cordia after unions rejected a new scheme that would end the system of one janitor per school.

UNISON opposed the cluster model, saying it would leave compromise health and safety and security.

A UNISON spokesperson said: “UNISON raised its concerns with parents’ councils and many began to lobby councillors and organise protests against the clustering. In late March 2017, Cordia withdrew their reform proposals. Whilst some wage increases were on offer UNISON members were not prepared to accept the clustering model.

“Our agenda has always been to secure a working context payment and defend the current set-up of one school, one janitor. Alongside the city’s parents we secured the latter and the fight for a Working Context and Demands Payment goes on.”

The group will be protesting outside the City Chambers tomorrow.