GLASGOW primary school janitors have won a pay rise, bringing to an end a long-running dispute with the council.
Unison said a 6 per cent pay rise has been secured for janitors working in the city’s primary, nursery and additional support for learning schools.
The union said the deal under the council’s new SNP minority administration would result in janitors’ annual pay increasing by £1184.
Dozens of janitors took to the streets to celebrate the victory, which has been described as a “landmark” for the typically low-paid employees.
The offer agreed by the staff will see the existing 196 janitors receive a six per cent wage rise, and the number of jobs rise to 213. This includes filling 12 vacant posts and creating five new relief positions to cover absence. Every primary school will also receive their own janitor, with the council scrapping the previous plan to share one janitor between multiple schools.
Brian Ashe, janitor at Carmunnock Primary, told our sister paper the Evening Times: “We are glad this has come to an end and we won our fight. We’ve been everywhere – Holyrood, the city chambers, Dundee, Falkirk, Edinburgh again, Govanhill – and it has all been worth it. If we hadn’t fought for this we would all be in clusters and going between schools. We have all stuck together and become a really strong group.”
Brian Smith, branch secretary for Glasgow Unison, said: “In January 2016, Unison members began a boycott and in March 2016 strike action began. The janitors took 67 strike days in blocks of three, five and then 10 days.
“The dispute shows that workers can win if they are determined and organised, supported by their local branch and the wider trade union, escalate strike action when necessary, involve the wider community and build pressure on elected politicians at key points.
“We will draw on the lessons of the dispute for future campaigns, particularly within Cordia, where there remains numerous unfair pay arrangements affecting members.”
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “I am pleased we have been able to bring about a positive end to this dispute, which has been one of longest disputes in Glasgow City Council in recent decades.
“This dispute was allowed to drag on far too long by the previous Labour administration.
“We promised parents and pupils this would be a priority for an SNP city government. Today’s agreement means we start the new school year with a deal that works for the janitors, the council and schools.”
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