Centres For The Disabled Shut As Staff Go On Strike

Day centres for disabled people were closed yesterday as hundreds of social care staff began an indefinite strike over pay and job cuts.

An estimated 250 out of 269 staff took part in the first day of industrial action in Glasgow, closing 12 centres which care for people with learning disabilities.

Staff were joined by carers at a demonstration outside Glasgow City Chambers.

Unison members are taking action over the city council’s pay and benefits review which, it claims, includes plans to cut staffing to a level it fears will threaten services. The union is also concerned at changes in pay structure which staff say will cost them between £3000 and £6000 a year.

Disabled people had to be looked after either in their residential homes or by families as their regular day centre visits were disrupted.

Patrick O’Brien, 80, from Yoker, had to look after his son Raymond, 40, who normally goes to a centre in Jordanhill.

He said: “The centre is a necessity. It gives Raymond a routine and the activities give him something to work towards. It is damnable for people’s wages to be cut to pay for what looks to me like other people’s mistakes.

“Raymond goes every day to the centre. I will look after him while it is closed, but there are some people who cannot manage.”

Alison Kelly, Unison day-care branch secretary, said: “There is a lot of anger among staff. They feel undervalued. We are carers and we are concerned about the clients but we have to take action. We will continue with the strike for as long as it takes.”

Sam McCartney, Unison day care convener, addressed the strikers outside the city chambers. He said: “We are waiting for them to call us, not the other way round.”

Glasgow City Council has set up a response centre where carers can find out what is happening. A spokesman said: “We were obviously aware this was coming and were able to take steps. There is absolutely no need for this strike. We have made a public commitment to protecting these members of staff in the long term.”

Picket lines were expected outside centres again today.