SCHOOL janitors across Glasgow began three days of strike action yesterday in a long running-dispute over pay.

More than 130 janitors in primary schools, nurseries and ASL schools represented by Unison were forced to take action as their employer Cordia, an arms-length body of Glasgow City Council, continues to refuse them extra payments for their working conditions.

The supplement for undertaking duties which are dirty, involve working outside regularly and include heavy lifting, ranges between £500 and £1,000 a year and is received by other Glasgow City Council staff working in similar environments.

Janitors have already been boycotting such duties for six weeks but have now decided to escalate action as Cordia and Glasgow City Council refused to talk to Unison to resolve the dispute.

Unison Glasgow branch secretary Brian Smith told the Star that he was pleased to see a solid turnout of 95 per cent on the first day of the strike.

He stressed that, although “regrettably the strike has had a disruptive effect on schools,” the janitors “were left with no other option but to take strike action when employers fail to listen.”

Unison Glasgow branch officer Sam Macartney urged the council to “get round the table with Unison and agree a negotiated settlement of our members’ legitimate claim.”

A council spokesman said: “Some of the city’s janitors took part in industrial action in a number of our primary, ASL schools and nurseries.

“This action unfortunately meant that breakfast clubs in affected schools had to be cancelled.”

• There will be a lobby outside the Cordia HQ in Borron Street at 8am today and another outside Glasgow City Chambers at 12.30pm.