Emirates Arena faces Christmas strikes
● ‘Bullying and blacklegging’ claims ● Basketball game faces disruption
A flagship Commonwealth Games venue will be hit by strike action over Christmas amid claims over “blacklegging and bullying” by union chiefs.
The Emirates Arena in Glasgow is embroiled in an acrimonious dispute which could mean disruption for the next Glasgow Rocks basketball game at the end of the month after four days of strike action were announced by the Unite union today.
But bosses at Glasgow Life, which runs the venue, insist it will remain open and all events will go ahead as planned.
The dispute centres on payments for setting up and “derigging” works at the venue.
Unite members at the Emirates have voted unanimously for an overtime ban and strike action,claimingthatthesepay allowances have been withdrawn.
The strikes are now scheduled for December 23, 27, 28 and 29. The final date coincides with Glasgow Rocks’ schedule tie against London Lions.
Unite started an overtime ban on 25 November. Since then Glasgow Life managers have employed outside contractors to complete outstanding work.
Glasgow Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of Glasgow City Council and unions are angry over the use of outside labour to “undermine industrial action” instead of getting negotiations organised to end the dispute.
Willie Mcgonigle, Unite’s local government officer, said: “When the SNP took over the council in May there were all sorts of promises about talking to the unions, solving disputes and a fresh start. This isn’t the sort of fresh start we had in mind – blacklegging and bullying. Therefore, the strike action goes ahead at the end of this week.”
Unite has also lodged further grievances concerning members being asked by Glasgow Life managers if they are a member of Unite. This is a breach of industrial relations laws, the union says.
A spokesman for Glasgow Life, said: “It is deeply disappointing that Unite have called for strike action, potentially disrupting operations during the festive period. We will work to minimise any inconvenience caused by Unite’s actions and remain open throughout.”
Glasgow Life disputes claims that the duties being undertaken should attract additional payments. The arms-length body insists that the dispute, which is not related to core pay, is about claims for additional payments for “manual demands of the work”.
No additional payments have been withdrawn, the body insists, adding that all aspects of duties and awarded payments are based on recognised criteria.
The Emirates Arena in Glasgow’s east has become one of Scotland’s flagship indoor sporting venues since it was built for the Commonwealth games when it hosted the cycling. As well as basketball, it also regularly plays hosts to indoor athletics. It is currently staging the Scottish open snooker championships with Ronnie O’sullivan and John Higgins among the participants.