Hopes over jannies deal
TALKS take place today which could end the long running janitors’ strike in Glasgow schools.
Unison members are meeting to discuss a new pay offer made by the City Council in a bid to resolve the dispute.
Industrial action in the dispute started 18 months ago in a row over outdoor working and payments for cleaning up mess like dog fouling.
A LONG-running row over janitor’s pay may finally come to an end just hours before the new school term starts.
Janitors have been in a dispute with their employers Cordia, an arm’s-length company of Glasgow City Council, for more than 18 months.
The row erupted over pay for carrying out unpleasant duties, which jannies argue their council colleagues receive but they do not.
They say they should be paid the same as other departments for cleaning up mess and working outdoors.
Janitors staged their first walk-out on January 19, 2016, but it is hoped they will reach an agreement with the local authority today – – fewer than 24 hours before kids are due back to school.
A formal pay offer has been put to trade union Unison, which has the majority of members within the janitorial team, along with other unions in- volved. Unison will hold a meeting of its members today at 11am, where crunch talks will take place to decide if the offer is to be accepted.
Council sources have told the Evening Times the offer is “substantial” and they are hopeful a deal will be agreed.
However deals have been rejected in the past, knocking out previous hope of ending the dispute, so officials are remaining outwardly tight-lipped about their expectations.
Throughout the past 18 months, janitors have staged numerous strikes, picketing outside the city chambers and schools and personally targeted former council leader Frank McAveety over the lack of action.
Parents across the city have come out in support of the janitors, as have teaching staff.
A spokeswoman for Unison confirmed members will be meeting this morning.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Discussions with representatives of the janitors have been ongoing since the change of administration and in recent days a formal offer has been made.
“We are hopeful this will be received positively and this protracted dispute can be brought to a conclusion before the start of the new school year.”