Union’s concern over return to schools

UNION leaders in Dundee fear too many children will be going back to school too soon as Covid continues to spread.

Unison members in schools and nurseries throughout Dundee are to meet tomorrow to discuss the implications of reopening.

Arthur Nicoll, cochairman of Dundee City Unison, said: “There was some caution in the approach to reopening schools in the new year, but we think there will have to be a much more serious look at the risks the new variant poses.

“It is extremely concerning, therefore, that a stronger message was not sent before Christmas about the limitations on who should be able to send their kids into the schools under the guise of being keyworkers.

“Due to this failing and the decision to leave it to school heads to say who could attend, we believe many schools have already signed many more kids to attend in the new year than were attending hubs during the first wave.”

Mr Nicoll added: “This figure will likely increase as less-organised parents face going back to work in the coming week. With teachers understandably being asked to focus on online learning, we are concerned the bulk of this ‘childcare’ will likely fall on our members among school support staff.”

The union also believes that a recent surge in Covid-19 cases will see these arrangements extended for some weeks.

Mr Nicoll added: “We, in the Dundee City Unison branch, will do our best to ensure that schools will only be open if every measure has been taken to make them as safe as possible – both for our members in those schools and in terms of them possibly becoming a source of spread throughout the wider community.

“We will need help in identifying concerns, pushing for safety precautions, clear communication and fair application of duties. We hope that the employer will be similarly minded, but we will be prepared to tell them when they’re not.”

POLICE are continuing to probe a fire which badly damaged a vehicle parked near the Grosvenor casino.

The incident happened just off Brown Street some time on December 10 and officers later cordoned the vehicle off with tape.

Locals said they are “surprised” to see the burned-out wreck of the Volkswagen Passat still in the car park.

One man – who did not wish to be named – said he regularly uses the access path via the car park to make his way on to West Marketgait.