Why Can’t First Minister Smell What’s Right Under Her Nose?

Why can’t the First Minister smell what’s right under her nose? GMB Scotland calls for urgent action over ‘health and safety nightmare’ for Glasgow bin workers

As the SNP annual conference gets underway today (Thursday 13 October), refuse collectors are calling on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to sort a ‘health and safety nightmare’ in her own constituency of Glasgow Southside.

GMB Scotland members in Glasgow City Council’s refuse collection say waste management in areas like Govanhill is now uncontrollable with workers routinely trying to do their jobs in squalid conditions.

Shocking footage taken earlier this week shows tenement blocks festering in waste, leaking sewage and animal excreta less than two miles from the polished paving of the SECC where the SNP party faithful will gather over the next few days.

GMB Scotland Organiser Benny Rankin said: “We have reached a point in areas like Govanhill where the situation is now beyond the control of the service, posing a health and safety nightmare for both the workers and the general public.

Our footage is only a snapshot of a crisis that’s growing day by day across our city and our members in the bins and recycling department are doing what they can with the resources they have but years of cuts are coming home to roost now.

There is a collective responsibility on the Scottish government, the council and the service management to listen to our members and work with them to tackle working and living conditions that can only be described as shocking.

Earlier this week the Scottish Government issued a press release hailing the quality of life in Scotland but they would do well to visit areas like Glasgow Southside where it would seem the First Minister can’t smell what’s right under her nose.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Organiser Benny Rankin on 07912 560808 or Peter Welsh, GMB Scotland Communications, on 07976 447077.