Glasgow Life staff demand same enhancements as council workers
Staff at Glasgow Life could strike during the Commonwealth Games over a dispute regarding overtime and shift patterns.
Glasgow Life, which is operated as an arms-length charity by Glasgow City Council, runs the city’s museums, libraries and leisure facilities and employs around 2,800 workers.
Unison, the public sector union, said staff were being treated like a “second class workforce” and are currently balloting members on whether to take part in a one day strike either before or during the games.
Unison says staff have been offered no enhancements for working overtime in the build-up and during the games and has altered some workers shifts without agreement.
In contrast staff at Glasgow City Council have been offered time-and-a-half overtime for committing to a set number of hours plus a payment of £244.
They are just as important to the delivery of the games as other council workers and should be afforded the same deal - Brian Smith
Brian Smith, Unison 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.”
However, a spokesman for Glasgow Life said staff have been offered overtime payments and a day off on Christmas Eve.
He said: "We are deeply disappointed that there has been a call for strike action and would urge those who have a vote, to vote against industrial action.
"The Commonwealth Games is an outstanding opportunity for Glasgow to present itself on the world stage and staff across Glasgow Life is proud to be part of it.
"In recognition of the work being done across the company, all staff will benefit from an additional day's annual leave on December 24 and any member of staff who works additional hours will be compensated as normal."
The ballot will run until July 11.
