Glasgow parking wardens strike as Cycling World Championships begin

GMB union members in the local authority's parking services stood outside Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall and the Emirates Arena after rejecting a 5.5% pay increase from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla). Unison and Unite members were also at the rally which marks the first day of strike action. 

The action by GMB members and other unions risks parked cars blocking the routes of road races while events at the city’s velodrome will also be affected.

READ NEXT: Glasgow Corkerhill Road and Mosspark Drive to be closed 

GMB general secretary Gary Smith: “It is simply not good enough for Glasgow City Council to be talking about sporting festivals and welcoming the world while ordinary people in this city are struggling to pay their bills, keep a roof over their heads and children are going to school hungry.

"All frontline workers who worked so hard during the pandemic deserve an inflation-proof pay rise and we stand with every one of them.”

GMB Scotland claims parking staff had already been pushed to breaking point and describes an enforcement service that is understaffed and overstretched.

Workers also warn that morale is low and the poor condition of the city’s roads is piling pressure on staff.

Both Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council said they were hoping to minimise any impact on the championships. 

A spokesperson for the Glasgow City Council said: "Our roads maintenance programme for 2023/24 is based upon our standard policy of prioritising the most serious road faults for repair.

“Some of the roads that will be used for race routes have therefore been included in this year’s maintenance programme, but the vast majority of road maintenance spend will be on roads elsewhere in the city.

“Any abuse of our parking attendants is completely unacceptable, but road conditions or potholes were not referred to any of the incidents of abuse reported to us by staff.

“We were informed by the union that the strike was about pay, but local government pay negotiations are conducted nationally,  through Cosla, not by individual local authorities.

“However, Glasgow City Council’s political leadership has made it clear - as it did last year - that it supports a strong settlement that works for both our staff and for public services.”

A COSLA spokesperson added: “The reality of the situation is that as employers, council leaders have made a strong offer to the workforce. 

"A strong offer which clearly illustrates the value Councils place on their workforce, and it compares well to other sectors. It recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and critically, it seeks to protect jobs and services.

“While the offer value in a year is 5.5%, the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is 7%.  

"Those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage would get 9.12% and those at higher grades, where councils are experiencing severe recruitment challenges, would see 6.05%.

“It is an offer which recognises both the vital role of the people who deliver our essential services across councils every day and the value that we, as employers, place on them.  

"Crucially, it also raises the Scottish Local Government Living Wage by 99p to £11.84 per hour and sets out a commitment to work with our Trade Unions to develop a road map to £15 per hour in a way that protects our workforce and services we deliver.”