The games that Glasgow Labour plays


Glasgow Socialist Party Scotland reporters

Trade union members in Glasgow’s sports centres and museums have been in dispute with Glasgow Life, a company run by Glasgow City’s Labour-led council, over payments for working during the Commonwealth Games.

Workers in Glasgow city council, other council-run companies and the city’s transport companies, have been paid enhanced rates and/or specific payments for working more hours during the Games.

However, workers in the city’s sports centres and museums are receiving only their basic pay rate for any additional hours they work. Many workers have also had shift changes forced on them without their agreement.

Glasgow’s sports centre and museum workers are being treated as ‘second class workers’ compared to other public services workers in the city.

On 16 July, Glasgow Life began legal moves to take Unison to court under the UK’s anti-trade union laws to halt official strike action planned for 21 July. Unison defeated a Glasgow city council bid to win a court order to block a Commonwealth Games pay protests – in workers’ own time – at the city chambers.

The judge ruled that the council and Glasgow Life were wrong in their view that Unison members were acting outside the law. The protests went ahead.

Brian Smith, Unison’s City of Glasgow branch secretary, said: “Glasgow Life workers want these games to succeed, just like everyone else. But these workers only earn an average of £16,500 a year. These are the people who are working hard to deliver the Commonwealth Games but can’t afford tickets to go. They deserve fair treatment.”