Staff at schools which are built on a former landfill site are starting action over health concerns after four teachers have developed bladder cancer. NASUWT union members are calling for the entire campus to be tested and the two schools to be closed early for summer.
The two schools, Buchanan and St Ambrose High Schools, have allegations of pupils and staff suffering with serious ill health and even incidents of blue water coming out of the taps. Some children have been pulled out of both schools after they have been found to have six times higher levels of arsenic in their blood.
The schools were opened in 2012 on a site that was used as a landfill for industrial waste including led and arsenic between 1945 and 1972. In March 2018, blue tinted water was discovered coming out of the taps and the water tests were revealing higher than recommended levels of copper.
The council and health board said specialist doctors did not believe cancer or any other serious illnesses were caused by the school or the site they are built on. The NASUWT said its members felt their concerns had been abandoned and that more needed to be done to reassure staff and parents.
BBC
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “Our members are suffering deep stress and anxiety about their health and welfare due to the failure of their employer to take the necessary action to provide assurances about the safety of the site.
“While the independent review promised by the Scottish government is a welcome development, it still does not commit to a full comprehensive site survey which tests the water, air, soil and fabric of the building.
“Teachers are deeply anxious about whether there is any link between conditions at the school, including the blue water and a range of health issues among staff.”
16 members of staff from Buchanan High will strike from 20th to 28th June. Members from St Ambrose joining the strike and bringing the numbers to about 40 on Tuesday 25th June. 16,000 people have signed a petition calling for an investigation. They also want staff and pupils to be tested for toxins.
Gerard McLaughlin, head of education at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We understand the impact that this will have on pupils and parents at Buchanan High School as a direct consequence of this action.
“Having assessed the potential impact, we have regrettably decided that Buchanan High School will be unable to receive pupils during the period of industrial action due to the specific medical needs of some of the pupils.
“Neither the school nor the council would ever take any risks with young people’s safety.
“Despite our disappointment that the NASUWT has taken this decision, we will remain in dialogue with trade union officials over the coming days.”
