It’s been a tough few weeks at Douglas Academy, Milngavie, where all the administrative and technical staff have been pulled out on strike by Unison, causing considerable grief and inconvenience to pupils, staff and parents.
Heidies are not meant to be answering phones, apparently having more important things to do. There’s relief all round at neighbouring secondaries in East Dunbartonhire that their back-up staff are not members of the striking union. Turnbull High in Bishopbriggs is one such example that springs to mind.
Parents there must be thankful their children are not affected by the wages dispute, including, no doubt, the school board chairman, Joe di Paolo.
In real life, di Paolo doubles as Unison’s Scottish organiser for local government.
