Workers at major centre for homeless people threaten strike action

Workers at one of Scotland’s largest centres for homeless
people have threatened all out strike over a row on pay and
conditions with managers at Glasgow council, writes Reg
McKay.

Staff at the Hamish Allan Centre (HAC) in Glasgow have agreed
unanimously to hold a ballot for strike action if the council
approves a proposed new staffing structure next month. According to
the trade union Unison, the changes would mean a loss of allowances
and longer shifts saving the council £1 million per year, but
costing each of the 54 staff some £5,000 in wages.

The HAC, which opened in the Tradeston area of Glasgow in 1989,
handles about 9,000 of Glasgow’s 13,000 homeless applicants
each year, which is about a quarter of Scotland’s total. The
hostel carries out assessments of homeless applicants, runs an
emergency service and provides its own accommodation for families
and young people.

Gavin Corbett, policy officer with Shelter Scotland, said: “We
would be really worried if there was a problem which led to the
service not being available. It would have national
reverberations.”

David Comley, director of housing for Glasgow council, said: “We
are currently discussing proposals for implementing new duties the
council has under the Housing Scotland Act for homelessness, and
looking at how we need to change the housing service after our
stock transfer to the Glasgow Housing Association.”

Glasgow council will formally consider the proposed changes on
22 May.