Schools ‘planning to rely on unpaid labourers’

Press, 27 December 1989, Page 7

Schools ‘planning to rely on unpaid labourers’

PA Wellington Dozens of school cleaners and caretakers had already been sacked by new cash-strapped boards of trustees, the union’s secretary, Mr Pat Kelly, said yesterday. He accused some schools of axeing jobs to free money for other purposes and said the jobs of at least 1200 cleaners and caretakers were at risk. A sixth of all schools were planning to move totally to unpaid student and parental labour for cleaning and upkeep, he said. Other schools were planning to contract out cleaning work. Union members would be asked in February to vote for an indefinite strike beginning on February 19. “I would advise parents not to be putting too much confidence into their kids returning to school for any length of time early next year,” Mr Kelly said. Reports of redundancies had been coming in from throughout New Zealand. “We have got dozens of cleaners and caretakers who have been given notice that they will not be required in the new term.” Some schools were sacking

staff because of a funds shortage caused zby the new formula applied to cleaning needs, Mr Kelly said. ... ' ..... .....■ . “We’ve got other schools doing it where there’s not a- funds shortage but see the ability to have extra money. The union had surveyed schools last year before its submission to the Government on the Tomorrow’s Schools programme. One out of eight respondents planned to use volunteer labour and 19 per cent said they did not know. The union estimated at least a further 3 to 4 per cent would turn to volunteer labour, Mr Kelly said. “We’re talking 15 to 16 per cent of the schools using unpaid labour. Nationally, that means about 1200 jobs,” he said. There were about 8000 union members. Award talks between the union and the State Servicing Commission broke down this month. The commission’s offer of a 2 per cent wage increase followed by a further 1 per cent in August was rejected by the union. Mr Kelly accused the commission of trying to “casualise” the work force.