Street cleaners vote on strikes after sudden depot switch

The drive to clean up Glasgow will be sabotaged by the sudden relocation of workers across the city, according to GMB Scotland.

The union is balloting members on strike action after dozens of staff were ordered to move to a new depot across the city with little warning or consultation.

The union, one of the biggest in the council, said moving the 30-strong Street Scene team based at the St Rollox depot is unfair, inefficient and will sabotage standards.

John Slaven, GMB organiser at the Glasgow council, has now informed managers of a consultative ballot on industrial action after workers were told they will be based at Dalmarnock, in the east of the city, despite continuing to work in neighbourhood miles away in the north.

In his letter to Jenny O’Hagan, director of neighbourhood service delivery, he warns the move makes no logical sense, will add to travelling time of workers and mean the cleaning of city streets will be less efficient.

Slaven said: “It makes absolutely no sense to move workers to a new base across the city and then expect them to move back to carry out their work.

“There has been far too little consultation with the staff affected and no consideration at all. Workers cannot simply be moved about like pawns on a chessboard.

“There is clear and obvious impact on the daily lives of our members as well as their ability to perform their crucial frontline roles most efficiently. Journeys to and from work will be longer, time will be wasted, and services will suffer.

“Our members are both flexible and efficient but deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.

“In the interests of fairness and efficiency, this decision must be urgently paused for greater consultation, then reviewed and reversed.”

Workers affected met union officials at the St Rollox depot at lunchtime today before a consultative ballot on industrial action opens, paving the way for a formal vote on action including strikes.

ENDS