Glasgow Life staff ballot on strike action after Commonwealth talks break down

Glasgow Life must stop treating staff as a second class workforce, says UNISON, as it calls for a fair deal for those working during the Commonwealth Games.

In contrast to other organisations, Glasgow Life has offered no enhancements for working overtime and has altered some workers shifts without agreement. UNISON believes that Glasgow Life workers who work overtime should be afforded the same deal as other council workers.

Glasgow City Council made an offer of time-and-a-half overtime for committing to a set number of hours overtime plus a payment of £244. In Community Safety Glasgow, a council-owned company, workers have been offered time-and-a-half, double-time on a Sunday and paid lunch breaks.

UNISON – together with UNITE and GMB – is balloting workers in Glasgow Life’s sports facilities and museums for a one-day strike to win a fair deal. The ballot opens today (Tuesday) and will run until July 11.

Brian Smith, UNISON City of Glasgow Branch Secretary, said: “Glasgow Life is treating its staff as a second class workforce and it’s no wonder these workers feel undervalued. They are just as important to the delivery of the Games as other council workers and should be afforded the same deal.

“Those in charge of the Games should treat all workers with respect and recognise the crucial role they will play over the next couple of months.”