Published: Tuesday, 16th September, 2008 12:30
Pupil safety fears if schools open during second strike
By Colin Hutton
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SCHOOL pupils’ safety could be at risk if council chiefs encourage headteachers to open as normal during a day of strike action, it has been claimed.
Another workers strike has been planned across Dumbarton and the Vale for September 23 and 24.
As education chiefs aim to avoid another day of school closures, crisis talks were held with all headteachers on Tuesday afternoon.
No conclusions were drawn from the meeting and no decision will be made until the end of the week at the earliest.
But unions have warned that opening the schools to staff and children with no learning assistants, janitors, catering staff and crossing patrollers, is a health and safety risk.
The strike is part of a national pay dispute, in which council workers have already rejected a “derisory” 2.5 per cent pay rise offered by CoSLA.
It follows industrial action in August which caused West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) to close schools to pupils, whilst teachers worked in empty classrooms.
Unions — UNISON, Unite (T&G) and GMB — have formally notified WDC about the action, which will last from 10pm on September 23 until midnight the following day.
Denise McLafferty, from UNISON, is concerned that the same health and safety issues which caused schools to shut last month will still be evident during this month’s action.
She told the Reporter: “There is not an issue about breaking the strike action, but the concern is with is the safety of the children who would potentially be in the establishments. The people who will be on strike in these establishments are cleaning staff, crossing patrollers, janitors and learning assistants — a lot of the people who are concerned in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the children.
“Learning assistants tend to be first aiders and janitors are responsible for opening up the schools and ensuring that they are safe for all the pupils, so without these staff we do not believe the children would be safe.
“When the schools were closed during the strike action on August 20 the letter sent out from Terry Lanagan [director of Education] said that it was on health and safety grounds.
“But the issues will still be the same, so I do not possibly see how they could open the schools.
“During the last strike action we did not picket the schools because they were closed, but if the authority decides to open them then we will [picket].”
A council spokesman said: “As always, the priority for West Dunbartonshire Council will be to ensure minimal disruption for local service users and the provision of essential services for our most vulnerable residents.
“The council reaffirms its desire for a fair and speedy end to the dispute for all council staff across Scotland.”
For further updates on the schools situation, go to www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk.
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