UNION bosses have warned that last ditch hopes to avoid strike action in Glasgow schools are fading.

GMB Scotland said it is increasingly likely that school janitors and cleaners will walk out, giving next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as strike dates.

The warning comes following six months of negotiations with employer Amey over pay and conditions.

Amey, which runs services under a PFI contract from Glasgow City Council, said every effort has been made to meet staff demands.

Workers want parity with a pay deal on offer from Cosla to staff in other local authority areas across the country.

But the union said a new, revised pay offer, which came 10 days before proposed strike dates, is too little, too late.

GMB Organiser John Slaven said: "The pay offer represents baby progress for some of our members but for others represents a pay cut which does not even reach the Scottish Government Recommendation of £800 for workers below £25,000.

"These are low paid workers providing essential services to the community.

"The covid heroes of last year are the forgotten workers of today and sadly if strike action is the only way to highlight the systematic low pay of these key workers so be it.

"We, as we always have been, are ready to sit and thrash agreement out all night if required."

Strikes are planned for December 7 and 9 in all 30 Glasgow secondary schools and on Saturday, December 11 - which would threaten school lets.

GMB Scotland is now contacting fellow trade unions to rally support around strike action, calling for members of sister unions to refuse to cooperate if Glasgow City Council attempts to bring in external workers to keep schools open.

The union criticised Glasgow City Council for an alleged lack of action.

So far the council has declined to comment when contacted by the Glasgow Times.

John added: "The silence of GCC is deafening, its stupor in facing up to this issue is breathtaking.

"They need to get off the fence as the funder and start talking to Amey and bring their influence to bear."

GMB Members voted 95.9% in favour of strike action two weeks ago, arguing that their pay and conditions were inferior to other council employees despite doing the same job and being funded from the same source.

The union is seeking a pay uplift of 4% for all janitors plus full payment for hours worked and is seeking £10 a hour for cleaners.

At present cleaners are paid £9.31 a hour and janitors between £10.05 and 11.54 per hour.

A GMB Senior Rep who works as a janitor added: "When the public see that the highest the highest paid janitor is on £11.54 per hour and most on little more than a tenner, with cleaners on even less, we are sure the public will support us despite the disruption.

"This is hard low paid work but work that is essential in keeping schools clean and pupils safe.

"Frankly we deserve better."

An Amey spokesperson said the company last year we became a Real Living Wage employer and raised our annual leave entitlement by four days, alongside an increase in other benefits.

She said: "Amey puts an incredibly high value on the work carried out by our frontline employees and we continue to look at ways we can enhance the benefits we offer them.

"Over the last few months we have been working closely with the GMB to present an offer that reflects this ongoing commitment.

"As a result, last week we put forward an improved proposal which is aligned to the offer made to council workers, and will create an hourly salary higher than the real living wage.

"The GMB are discussing this offer with their members and have advised Amey they will be able to share the outcome on Thursday.

"We are hopeful that this offer will be accepted so the pay increases and any backpay can be made to our teams in December pay before the festive break.

“As always, our priority is ensuring continuity of service and ensuring there is no impact on employees, teaching and learning across the region.”