Some 70 staff in Glasgow who work with the homeless walked out on indefinite strike today to win proper recognition of their work and have it reflected in their pay grade.
The workers assess the needs of homeless people and families across Glasgow, organise crucial support and help people to access and maintain emergency, temporary and permanent accommodation.
The strikers – three quarters of whom are women – are paid between £21,000 and £24,500 a year, after the application of the council’s job evaluation scheme. But others doing similar jobs are on the next pay grade up, earning between £25,500 and £30,000 a year.
They have been taking industrial action short of a strike since late January.
“These workers have been unfairly treated for years,” says UNISON Glasgow’s social work convenor Ian Leech. “Their jobs should have been graded the same as other frontline staff in addiction services or older people’s teams.
“They have been very patient and hoped that the matter would be addressed by the council. Indeed, over the years some managers have informally said that they agree with the trade union position.
“Our members care about the people who rely on the service which they provide,” he added. “However, they have been left with no other option.
“All they are looking for is to be treated the same as the other 400 social care staff who do a similar job.”
More than 90% of the workers in the council’s homeless service are UNISON members and 84% voted for strike action in a ballot which saw a 64% turnout.
