Green Councillors Support Efforts to Resolve Strike Action

Cllr Martha Wardrop (Hillhead)

Green Councillors are supporting efforts to help resolve the ongoing dispute between Glasgow City Council and the Community Service Workers. This is needed to be able to process community service orders so that offenders understand that the courts' sentences will be speedily applied.

To assist in addressing the strikers' concerns, their job evaluation process should be reviewed to check that the roles and
responsibilities of staff involved in squad placements are adequately assessed. There is evidence that Community Service Workers who oversee the squad placements have to provide advice, guidance, and training to the clients completing a Community Service Order.

As Councillor Martha Wardrop said:

The assessment must take account of the key skills and expertise required by Community Service Workers to ensure clients can undertake gardening, joinery work and decorating in an effective, safe and competent manner. It would appear that this involves some element of training beyond 'guidance' on health and safety.

Cllr Wardrop added:

Another concern is the need to recognise there are high risk clients on squad placements and to recognise that Community Service Workers have skills in working with and responding to the needs of people who are repeat offenders, experiencing drug, alcohol and mental health issues. Every possible effort should be made to bring about a settlement of the dispute through open dialogue needed between the strikers and Council Officials.

Contact Councillor Wardrop on Tel: 07854 817 665