By Bruce Robbins

THE COMPANY that manages Dundee’s new PPP (public private partnership) schools last night failed to dispel the fears of janitors who believe their council jobs might be transferred to the private sector.

Robertson Facilities Management revealed it is in talks with Dundee City Council with a view to providing “additional services.”

RFM’s involvement in the schools project already has janitors looking over their shoulders, concerned that their jobs will be taken over by private sector employees.

As part of the PPP agreement, the school buildings are managed by RFM under a long-term maintenance contract. However, although the company employs its own staff in the schools, council janitors are also part of the team.

Local government union Unison has asked the PPP Project Board, which includes representatives of the council and its private sector partners, to look urgently at the issue.

Dundee branch secretary Rory Malone said he was hopeful that the matter could be resolved by discussion between the parties.

The union official added that any attempt to remove local authority janitors from the schools would involve “reneging” on previously negotiated contracts.

The PPP schools change would affect 13 janitors and, while they may not find themselves out of a job entirely, a question mark would hang over their future redeployment, he suggested.

Robertson Facilities Management was asked to respond to Unison’s fears and a spokesman said, “Robertson FM is currently in charge of hard facilities management services for the eight new PPP schools in Dundee. We are presently in discussions with Dundee City Council to provide additional services.”

Dundee City Council has said it is reviewing the deployment of facilities staff with the unions.