EMBATTLED community safety workers in Glasgow will take strike action every weekend until further notice in an escalation of their dispute over shift payments.

Around 100 Unison and GMB members are involved in a dispute with Community Safety Glasgow (CSG), which is trying to cut pay for working anti-social hours such as night shifts and weekends.

Unions have accused CSG, an arms-length body of Glasgow City Council, of imposing a new pay scheme that will lead to its workforce receiving less for shift working than other employees of the council.

GMB Scotland officer Benny Rankin said: “Our members will be continuing their two-day weekly stoppages, which will include disruption to services at the weekends and the upcoming Celtic v Rangers match at Hampden and the Guy Fawkes weekend.

“There are also calls from our members to increase the dispute to withdraw services for the full two weeks at the Christmas and New Year period.”

Mr Rankin said the workers’ grievance was “just and not unreasonable” and called on the “Glasgow Labour administration get involved and resolve this dispute.”

Unison Glasgow secretary Brian Smith warned that “the payment levels are far too low compared to those in other parts of the Glasgow City Council family.”

He said the proposed payments did not “adequately compensate workers who undertake shifts and our members have been left with no option other than to take strike action.”

Workers involved in the dispute do a range of jobs, including advocacy, running the community payback scheme, community enforcement, community enhancement, security and CCTV operation.

The strikes will coincide with the Scottish League Cup semi-finals next weekend at Hampden and Bonfire Night.