SCHOOL staff have called off tomorrow’s strike action after bosses made an improved offer on pay and conditions. 

The Glasgow Times exclusively told last week how GMB Scotland members in 30 secondary schools planned to walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday over failing pay talks with employer Amey. 

But now cleaners and janitors are considering an enhanced deal, meaning schools will remain open tomorrow. 

A full workplace consultative ballot of GMB members is now taking place until Wednesday on the offer, with the prospect of scheduled strikes on Thursday and Saturday also being lifted if staff vote to accept.

GMB Organiser John Slaven said: “Cleaners and janitors in Glasgow’s secondary schools have fought hard to get Amey to match the pay and conditions of staff directly employed by the City Council, and this deal represents massive progress. 

“Our message has been clear and consistent: ‘Pay up for these key workers.’

Glasgow Times:

“All school support staff should be valued the same for the essential services they provide, irrespective if they are employed by a council or a council contractor.

“Amey’s new offer represents  progress and merits suspension of the strike scheduled for Tuesday so staff can be fully consulted and subject to ballot, and this process will be  run in the workplace with our reps talking to our members face to face. 

“This  Wednesday  the result will also be confirmed.”

The offer proposes changes to rates of pay and conditions for staff employed by the PFI contractor that would be comparable to those made by Cosla for workers directly employed by Scottish local authorities.

Last week cleaners and janitors, supported by the EIS teaching union, held a rally over the issues with their pay and conditions outside Glasgow City Chambers. 

If the deal is accepted then this will effectively end the six month pay dispute that began last April. 

An Amey spokesperson said: “Amey is pleased that industrial action planned for Tuesday has been cancelled.

"We are continuing to work with the GMB and our employees to try to reach a resolution.

“We put a high value on the work carried out by our Glasgow school employees and our enhanced offer comes on top of a number of recent enhanced benefits, is in line with the Cosla offer made to council workers and is above the Real Living Wage.

"Our priority remains ensuring teaching and learning across the region is not affected.”