Glasgow union urges pay deal to be awarded in time for Christmas

Chris Mitchell GMB cleansing convenor
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Glasgow’s GMB cleansing convenor is urging the city council to distribute the latest pay offer amongst workers in time for Christmas.

Chris Mitchell from the trade union praised his members last month for being willing to take industrial action in order to get a pay rise.

Members from both the GMB and Unite accepted the deal from COSLA at the end of August which offered up to 5.6% for frontline workers.

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The local authority confirmed that changes to payroll take a lot of administrative work which has to be done over and above the existing workload for staff.

This means they typically need about a month to get things lined up and they will pay the new rates (backdated) from November.

Chris Mitchell is now hoping the money will land in the workers bank accounts ahead of Christmas to help staff afford the festive season.

He said: “We would like the council to make the arrangements to pay us as quickly as possible but I don’t think it is possible for October as we get paid in two weeks so it would need to be November.

“I think the workers are glad the campaign aspect has finished to be honest with you. This has been going on for months and it would be good if we got our backdated money in November to help people afford Christmas.

“Negotiations will start around November for next year, we just seem to be going around in circles. It takes nearly a year to get a pay rise - it is brutal as every day you are getting asked the same questions from members on when the money will be made available.

“They need to make arrangements as fast as they can to try and get it paid as soon as possible so we are going to be pushing for the money to be made available for the November pay day.

“I think a two year deal might be a better option so we are not going through this rigmarole every year and focus on other aspects of the job.”

A council spokesman added: “Changes will be implemented from November, backdated to the start of the financial year.”

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