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SCOTTISH MPs have demanded action against job losses in Glasgow after it was announced more than 500 roles are set to go at publicly owned leisure venues across the city.
On Thursday evening, Glasgow Life, the organisation which runs libraries and sports centres in the city, confirmed plans to cut hundreds of jobs.
The group, which is publicly funded, claims to have lost £38 million during the pandemic, with 80 venues remaining closed.
Glasgow Life said that its current policy is for no compulsory redundancies to take place, with the 500 job cuts to be carried out “over time” using a mix of early retirement and voluntary redundancies.
But politicians in the city have hit out at the decision, claiming it is not credible to blame these cuts on a loss of revenue due to Covid-19 restrictions following years of funding cuts.
Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney warned that the slashing of city council budgets has resulted in Glasgow Life becoming an easy target, with the workers and the city at large set to suffer as a consequence.
He said: “This announcement from Glasgow Life will come as a body blow to the hundreds of dedicated, long-serving staff who have kept the city’s cultural assets flourishing for decades.
“We must never forget that Glasgow Life is an institution that is rooted in the heart of our communities — from libraries to museums and community centres.
“It’s now time for Glasgow’s politicians, regardless of political party, to stand up and say to the Scottish government that enough is enough — Glasgow must have the funds it both needs and deserves to thrive.
“A refusal to do so is a dereliction of duty and a failure of the people of Glasgow.”
