Many, schools in Chch closed

Press, 24 February 1988, Page 1

Many, schools in Chch closed

Dirty schools and fears of reprisals are forcing many Christchurch schools to close in the wake of industrial action by caretakers and cleaners. About 30 schools in Christchurch confirmed last evening that they would not admit pupils today. Several school committees said yesterday that threats of reprisals by the cleaners' union if volunteers cleaned toilets had forced them to close their schools. Chisnallwood Intermediate School would be closed today but would reopen on Monday, with committee members doing the cleaning if the strike was not over, said the committee’s chairman, Mr Terry Dolby. Ham School is open today, but the school committee decided yesterday that members would clean the school toilets if “it became absolutely necessary,”

said the chairman, Mr Warren Dobbs. The decision to clean the Ham toilets, if it became necessary, had not been unanimous. Mr Dobbs said the committee realised it would probably provoke the wrath of the cleaners’ union but the school had a “hefty programme” to get through this term and it was in the best interests of the pupils to stay open. The following schools are among those which have indicated that pupils should be kept at home today: Addington, Allenvale, Avonhead, Beckenham, Bromley, Central New Brighton, Christchurch South Intermediate, Ferndale, Freeville, Linwood Avenue, Linwood Intermediate, Manning Intermediate, Merrin, Northcote, North New Brighton, Oaklands, Papanui, Queenspark, Richmond, Phillipstown, Shirley Intermediate, Thorrington, Wairakei.