Commonsense Has Prevailed But Lessons Must Be Learned From Glasgow Housing Transfer Farrago

Construction union UCATT have welcomed the decision that 250 local housing workers who have been trapped in limbo, due to a contract wrangle will now return to their original employer.

The workers were employed by City Building a company controlled by Glasgow City Council and undertake repairs in the south of the city for Glasgow Housing Association.

The workers were due to transfer to a private company Connaught on Monday (30th March) however the transfer did not take place because Connaught refused to cover the pension liabilities of the workers’. The affected workers were left not knowing where they worked or even who their employer was.

Late yesterday (Tuesday 31^st March) it was announced that Connaught had withdrawn from the contract.

Harry Frew, Regional Secretary of UCATT Scotland, said: “I am glad that common sense has finally prevailed. The workers have returned to City Building and housing tenants in the south of Glasgow will be reassured that a normal repairs service will resume.”

Mr Frew, added: “It was bad enough that the workers faced being outsourced in the first place but both sides must take the blame that key parts of the transfer were not resolved one way or the other long before the date the contract was due to start. These mistakes must never happen again.

“The workers have been treated appalling during the last few days but they will now be reassured that their terms, conditions and their pensions are all now safe.”

The majority of the affected workers are members of UCATT, UNITE and Unison also represented some of those affected.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235