UNION bosses have issued a call to have Glasgow's art and culture organisation brought back under the umbrella of Glasgow City Council.

Unite laid out its demands following the announcement that Glasgow Life Chief Executive Bridget McConnell is to retire.

Glasgow Life, an arm's-length council organisation, runs major city venues such as Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the Mitchell Library and the Emirates Arena.

The current set up means it receives tax breaks because the ALEO is listed as a charity.

Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, said: “The current review of the service alongside the retirement of the current Chief Executive provides the ideal opportunity to redesign Glasgow Life in the interests of the workforce and the public. 

"We believe that both would be best served by bringing Glasgow Life back in-house with Glasgow City Council.   

"However, we are equally clear that the Scottish Government must also step in and provide the necessary revenue to support local councils in order to keep these venues open and thriving as the pandemic restrictions are lifted.”

Unite and other unions lodged a formal collective grievance against Glasgow Life plans to cut 500 posts, a move it said was necessary due to the financial impact of the pandemic.

The trade union has also repeatedly called for Glasgow’s cultural assets and venues to receive a fair share of national funding from Holyrood and Westminster. 

In October 2021, Unite lodged a petition at the Scottish Parliament with the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee.

The petition was considered on January 19, 2022 by the Committee, and its members agreed that it be kept open for wider views from stakeholders.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “As well as the operational benefits of Glasgow Life being a charity; there is a financial benefit to the council of around £20 million per year. 

"This directly supports the delivery of services and would be lost.”