School caretakers have demanded a meeting with the head of education in Dundee, amid concerns for their future.
The GMB, the manual workers union, wants an assurance from education director Jim Collins that there won’t be a cull of janitorial staff.
It comes after the local authority performed a U-turn and agreed to hand over duties in the city’s eight PPP (public private partnership) schools to Robertson Facilities Management saving £110,000.
GMB spokesman John Begley said, “We were vehemently opposed to PPP but we were given a cast-iron guarantee.
“We were told Robertson’s would build the schools and maintain the hard surfaces, like roofing and flooring, but our members would continue to maintain all soft surfaces. But the council is getting other people to do the same job but for cheaper.
“Robertson’s is starting to take over… and the GMB is very concerned that this is the start of a cull in facilities management staff in Dundee.”
Dundee City Council last week approved the 2011/12 budget of £356.824 million after savings of £14.977 million ensuring a council tax freeze for the fifth year in a row.
Among the £4.079 million cuts in education was the transfer of janitorial services.
Mr Begley said, “Robertson’s are taking over more and more posts and they only have one way to go. We, on the other hand, can only go the other way.
“I can see the day when there is not a Dundee City Council employee in any school. We want a meeting with Jim Collins this week so we can sit down and discuss what’s happening and where we’re going.”
Speaking at the budget meeting, Mr Collins said, “I stand by the finding that there is duplication in facilities management. We now have a two-tier system, whether we like it or not.
“I don’t know why these PPP schools need two sets of staff to carry out the same range of duties, therefore I don’t think it’s unreasonable to revisit the original agreement.”A spokesman for Dundee City Council said they would be happy to discuss this issue with the unions.