Anger over role swaps as uni jobs axe looms

GROUNDSKEEPERS are being asked to cover receptionists’ roles at Glasgow University’s multi-million pound sports complexes after bosses announced a round of job cuts, it has been claimed.

Staff, who say they will will also lose vital shift allowances for working anti-social hours, warn they expect to ‘do more with less’ as a threemonth consultation on the future of their jobs gets under way.

Workers at the Stevenson sports facility and the Garscube sports complex are all affected by the shake-up.

The move comes despite the University announcing a billion pound investment in the development of the main Gillmourhill campus after taking over the former Western Infirmary site

Unions say they are negotiating with the university to minimise any job losses, while staff say they have been left in shock over the plans.

One worker, who asked to speak anonymously, said there was anxiety among staff over the future of their jobs.

He said: “This has been coming for a while and over the years they have cut the number of staff and part-time staff down to the bone.

“There’s talk of them asking staff to cover various roles at the same time, such as working in the gym, and the grounds and also doing reception. But some of these guys have never done anything like that before.”

Alison MacLean, regional organiser at the Unite union, said: “We encourage Glasgow University to listen to our members’ views and to mitigate the impact of process, as well as avoiding redundancies.”

A spokeswoman for the university said: “University of Glasgow Sport is keen to retain staff and will be creating a number of new enhanced roles providing development opportunities.

“Where a suitable match cannot be found we will of course do all we can to identify possible redeployment options for members of staff who are affected by the proposals.”