After school clubs could be closed during a week-long strike by primary school janitors.

A warning has already been issued by Glasgow City Council that breakfast clubs may be shut “at short notice”.

It has now been claimed that after school care across the city could also be affected.

The local authority has denied this although it was confirmed that cleaners are being asked to carry out janitorial duties during industrial action.

Read more: Labour-run city council accused of 'union busting' in row over financial inducements​

Glasgow Times:

More than 130 janitors are in a stand-off with employer Cordia over Working Context and Demands (WCD) payments which range from £500 to £1000 a year.

Primary school janitors are not currently entitled to WCD payments, which are handed over to employees who carry out duties involving physical demand, working outdoors or in unpleasant conditions.

Janitors who are members of trade union Unison will walk out of primary schools for five days from Monday May 16. They previously went on strike from March 11 to 13, from April 20 to 22 and from May 4 to 6.

One after school care worker, who asked not to be named, said: “We were affected by the first three-day strike. We have a key but it’s a let so that requires there to be a janitor on the grounds.

Read more: Glasgow janitors to stage second strike in dispute over additional payments for unpleasant duties​

Glasgow Times:

“We had to shut one of the after school clubs. One of them stayed open because the janitor is not a Unison member.

“During the second strike we could run but we had to close one of the clubs early because a Cordia cleaner was given janitorial duties and insisted on leaving at a set time.”

A member of staff at another after school club added: “We had to shut for all nine days of strike action and will likely be closed next week. I think many of the clubs could be closed for five days.

“The odd couple of days parents can find cover – maybe they ask grandparents or take a days off - but for five days it’s going to have a huge impact. How will they find cover for five days?

“There will be a lot of families affected because it will be affecting after school clubs all over the city.”

Despite the inconvenience, it is understood that many parents back industrial action.

“I think there hasn’t been a bigger fuss because the parents support the janitors,” said one after school care worker.

“We do too. We think it’s really unfair what’s happening to them.

“I’m just sad it hasn’t had a bigger impact so that it can be resolved quicker. If the janitors going on strike had shut the schools it would have been resolved a lot faster.”

A council spokeswoman said: “All after school care lets in our schools next week will operate as normal next week during the industrial action.”

The spokeswoman also confirmed that cleaners are being asked to cover for janitors.

“Cordia utilise suitably trained employees such as cleaners to carry out key janitorial tasks during industrial action,” she added.

“All staff members contributing to contingency arrangements are paid the normal janitorial rate for any hours they work out of their normal working patterns.”