Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Cleaners to hold strike ballot
SCHOOL cleaning and catering staff across Tayside could go on strike over pay and conditions.
Cleaners, who have to clear up discarded lateral flow tests and used face masks, have been offered an “unacceptable” pay rise.
Stephanie Smith, a representative for GMB Dundee branch, yesterday gave notice to Tayside Contracts of an intention to ballot members on strike action.
It comes after GMB Scotland members rejected the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) offer of £850 for local government staff earning up to £25,000 a year.
Cleaning and catering staff worked in schools throughout the pandemic, even when schools were only open for children of key workers.
Ms Smith said: “Tayside Contracts are affiliated by the councils as such and they are under the group Cosla who have offered the £850 increase.
“But for a term time, part-time worker it will equate to maybe 90 pence a week (increase) which is pretty unacceptable. They have been in schools during the pandemic.”
The potential strike action is also due to concerns over some of the working conditions cleaning staff are having to deal with.
Pictures taken in schools show toilets and sinks blocked with paper and food, as well as chairs littered with rubbish.
Ms Smith added: “Some of the conditions the cleaners are having to come into are atrocious.
“There are masks and even lateral flow tests lying about. It’s absolutely shocking.
“From the cleaners I have spoken to, they feel like they are totally overlooked all the time.
“It’s like they are not part of the school but just people that clean up.
“I feel like they have totally disregarded us a key workers.
“Our caterers, cleaners, school workers have been in during the pandemic making sure the schools are safe for key workers’ kids.”
Concerns have also been raised about the rising number of Covid cases in schools and the potential danger this could pose to the families of catering and cleaning staff.
Stephanie added: “The state of the schools just with the cases coming out, it’s quite scary for them. “
“For example, I have a vulnerable husband and I’m having to go out to work and I’m scared, with the cases rising, that I could pass it on to him.
“It’s always the low paid, women workers that get this.”
Tayside Contracts declined to comment.