Glasgow janitors in five day strike for pay justice
UNISON trade union members employed as janitors in Glasgow’s primary, nursery and additional support for learning schools have begun a five day strike coinciding with the start of the new school term.The janitors have been in dispute with Cordia and the Labour council since January. Socialist Party Scotland and TUSC give our full support and solidarity to the striking Janitors.
Cordia,is refusing to pay a Working Context and Demands Payment (WCD) to school janitors and is using spurious arguments to justify not making this payment. There are five levels of annual WCD payment ranging from just over £500 to over £1000.
The council is now undertaking a “review” of janitorial services across the city with the impact on jobs, wages and conditions unknown and no timescale for its completion.
The strikers will protesting outside the city chambers on Monday and Thursday and leafleting parents at the school gates every day.
The janitors began industrial action on 19 January 2016 by boycotting weeding, litter picking, snow clearing, salt spreading, leaf clearing, heavy lifting, spillage clearing and animal clearing. Schools cleaners, catering staff, education support workers, teachers and headteachers have all been advised by their trade unions not to undertake the duties which the janitors are boycotting. Since March, the janitors have taken nineteen days of strike action in an escalation of the dispute. UNISON says its members have been left with no option other than to take this action as both Cordia and the Council are wrong and refuse to listen.
Cordia, an ALEO of Glasgow City Council, is refusing to pay a Working Context and Demands Payment (WCD) to school janitors and is using spurious arguments to justify not making this payment. There are five levels of annual WCD payment ranging from just over £500 to over £1000.
Brian Smith Secretary of Glasgow City Unison said: “UNISON is very clear that the janitors meet the criteria to be awarded the WCD payment. Cordia has spent thousands of pounds every month since January trying to undermine the official boycott of the duties through the use of non-trade union replacement workers. They would be better getting round the table and sorting out our legitimate claim.”
