ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Lecturers at Glasgow University are allegedly being forced to clean their own classrooms because too few cleaners are being employed for the task, according to reports.

Trade union Unite claims that some cleaners are being asked to carry out the work of two or three people - a practice that is raising stress levels among staff.

And Unite representatives have called on bosses to offer better working conditions including longer hours to allow staff to clean campus buildings to a more acceptable standard.

In a survey carried out at the end of last year, more than 70 per cent of cleaners at Glasgow University said staff cover was the biggest issue they had to face. And the poll revealed that many employees found their current workload "unreasonable".

Unite organiser Derek Thomson, who helped carry out the survey, said the situation represented an exploitation of staff and added: "The university is not being cleaned properly. They need staff in place to make sure it is fit for purpose."

University of Glasgow rector Aamer Anwar claims staff morale among cleaners has been low over the past year. "The union is right to highlight concerns that mean hygiene takes a hit in the name of cost efficiency," he said. "In a number of areas around campus the reduction in cleanliness has become more noticeable, with added concerns for health and safety."

However, a university spokesman claims the institution has received no formal complaints about cleanliness or staff pressures and adds that overtime shifts are being used to cover most staff shortages.