Strikes at Glasgow University 'could disrupt learning' as janitors threaten action

Janitors, security staff and other support staff at the university have returned a vote of more than 90% in favour of action in a consultative ballot.

GMB Scotland members claim ongoing national pay discussions are being "held up" at a local level within the university.

They cite "unreasonable delaying tactics" by university management - a claim disputed by the university.

READ MORE: Glasgow University janitors hold protest over pay

It is understood the union is now carrying out an internal process to ballot formerly if there is no further movement on pay.

This could see campus events disrupted across the autumn.

An original pay offer was based on grading points, which the union says would benefit higher grades more than lower earners.

A GMB workplace representative, who asked not to be named, said: "Members are at boiling point.

"We worked all the way through this pandemic, keeping the campus open, all the while we never saw a senior manager on site. 

"The only benefit we received was a paltry £250 one-off payment while those at home got twice that.

"The delay on the pay offer is the final insult and is pushing us over the edge."

A Glasgow University spokesperson said the organisation recognises the "very real challenges" facing staff due to the current cost-of-living crisis. 

He added: "To help address this, we have budgeted for a pay increase for all staff which is double the national settlement - an extra 3%.

"If a further uplift is not agreed nationally, we will pay our staff the additional funds we have set aside while remaining within national pay structures.

GMB Scotland reps further claim that the new state-of-the-art £90.6m James McCune Smith Learning Hub is a 'hostile environment' for workers.

The university strongly denies this.

But staff there claim they are being made to sign out in order to have bathroom breaks and are not allowed to talk to one another during their shifts.

They also say there is a high staff turnover of those assigned to work in the building.

READ MORE: Glasgow University staff's fight continues over pay

GMB organiser John Slaven said: "We hear of world-leading facilities at Glasgow University but the treatment of workers in the James McCune Smith building borders on Dickensian. 

"The level of turnover is astonishing and in our opinion is a direct result of a workplace culture of fear."

However, the university spokesperson said these claims are "simply not true".

They did acknowledge other issues have been raised and said these will be dealt with.

They said: "We have agreed with the campus trade unions to work jointly with them to address other related issues they have raised. 

"We look forward to a positive collaboration with our trade union colleagues to address concerns about workload, pay equity and security of contract."