A UNION leader today condemned a controversial deal which saw millions invested in Kirklees schools.

Mike Foster, joint chief education steward for Kirklees Unison, represents 300 cleaners who now work for Jarvis - the firm at the centre of the Private Finance Initiative deal with Kirklees Council.

The deal, seen as a way forward by the Government, saw millions of pounds worth of work at schools in the area but also brought a catalogue of complaints.

And Mr Foster said the problems would continue.

He said: "There was no surprise when the project ran into difficulties. Jarvis did not have the staff, expertise or resources to do the work.

"The words 'PFI and Jarvis' became synonymous with poor workmanship, delays, building faults and poor finishes.

"Their legacy of the last two years has been an industrial relations nightmare as they tried to deny caretakers a pay rise given to their council counterparts.

"Only a vote for industrial action stopped them in their tracks - but the pay rise was subsidised by the council."

He added cleaning staff will have had four different employers in as many years.

"The schools have inherited buildings which are already sub-standard, with many faults and problems; windows that won't open, faulty heating systems, cheap floor coverings, poor building work to name but a few.

"Whenever schools now need to repair or change the fabric of the school, they have to submit a change order to Jarvis.

"They are the only company that can do the work - a lot more expensively than the council's own repair and maintenance service.

"This is leading to increased payments to the company, bleeding school budgets dry."

Another company could be buying Jarvis out- potentially bringing a new round of disasters.