CLEANERS DOING WORK OF FIVE IN SCHOOL STAFF CRISIS
Council employees ‘quitting’ over massive workloads
SCHOOL cleaners are doing the work of up to five people.
A whistleblower said the stress of having such a heavy workload was leading to staff quitting.
They backed up union claims that the city’s schools are becoming dirtier. The source said classrooms were left ‘in a filthy state.’
STRESSED-OUT school cleaners are quitting due to excessive workloads with some doing five people’s jobs.
A Glasgow City Council whistleblower has revealed that some cleaners are expected to cover up to five cleaning beats in just three hours – previously done by five people.
And the source backed-up union claims that the city’s schools are becoming dirtier.
Council chiefs have admitted that they are struggling to recruit cleaners, leaving staff to cover the gaps in the cleaning schedule.
Our source said: “When somebody leaves they’re not taking on more cleaners.
“If anyone is sick or leaves, other people get ‘pulled in’. The cover is supposed to last a few days but, in some cases, it has been over a year.
“People are leaving because it’s too stressful.
“When the council monitors come around and check the classes they are finding them half-cleaned and a lot of the time in a filthy state. When that happens, the cleaner gets into trouble and has to do it again.
“The reason it happens is that we’re being expected to do three or four times the amount of work in the same space of time that we used to be expected to do one beat.
“I have personally had to do up to five beats in one threehour shift before. In that time, you’re expected to empty bins, clean classrooms, and clean the toilets.”
She added: “We’ve not got the time to do what we’re being asked. And we’re not being paid overtime if we stay later. Some of the rooms are being left in a disgraceful condition because there’s no time. I’ve seen janitors helping out even though they’re not supposed to. That’s how bad it has gotten.”
Glasgow City Council reiterated that recruitment for cleaners has been slow.
A spokeswoman said: “Our school cleaning staff carry out a valuable service and take
When somebody leaves they’re not taking on more cleaners
pride in being part of the team that keeps the school operating.
“Some vacant positions have taken a little longer than normal to fill but in those schools, we will utilise all resources available.”
Last week, Scotland’s largest trade union, Unison slammed cuts to cleaning budgets, which they claimed has affected 350 schools and nurseries across Glasgow.
Union steward, Ingrid Bain, claimed members had become stressed-out with increased workloads. She added: “Our schools are becoming dirtier. This is not the fault of school cleaners. We need more staff.”