A PRIVATE firm is having to "break in" to school grounds to grit playgrounds because of a work to rule by janitors.

Cordia has hired south-side firm John McGeady Ltd to carry out the work, outwith school hours.

Janitors have been instructed by cordia bosses to leave school gates unlocked at night to allow the firm to grit the playgrounds.

However, some workers have refused to leave the gates unlocked because of the security risk, on the advice of union officials, which has led to the firm having to break padlocks with bolt cutters to gain entrance to schools.

In an email seen by the Evening Times, Ian Robertson, Assistant Director of Education, writes: "I can confirm that Cordia has used the sub contractor for gritting in 12 schools and in 4 instances had to break padlocks to gain access."

The council carried out a risk assessment ahead of the janitors' strike action and advised that school gates should remain open but unlocked.

The local authority said this was to allow children and staff access to the grounds first thing in the morning, avoid over-crowding at entrances and enable gritting to be done in the absence of the janitor.

One janitor said: "The union are saying we should close the gates but we are being pressured by area managers to keep them open which is putting the schools at risk.

"Last Sunday at 4pm the company came up to the school and came across the problem and bust the padlock open with bolt cutters.

"Our school has got cameras.

"They are effectively breaking and entering."

A Cordia spokesman said: “Following consultation with the City Council’s Education Services it was jointly decided that having the gates open to allow gritting was the right thing to do, due to concerns over someone slipping or falling when temperatures dip below zero.

"To allow this to be carried out when janitors are locking gates, the company involved has been instructed to break open the padlock when necessary for access.”