Strike Means Offenders Have No Supervision

SUPERVISORS who run community service programmes for offenders in Glasgow today went on strike in a bitter row over pay.

And strike leader Brian Smith warned they won’t return to work until a new wage structure has been thrashed out with council chiefs.

But the dispute was expected to have little immediate impact on the sentencing policy of the city’s sheriffs.
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Around 1000 community service orders are made each year and are managed by Glasgow City Council. Up to 200 offenders are usually handled each week by a team of 21 council supervisors.

They are experienced social workers who have decided to take indefinite strike action in protest at a new pay structure.

They claim almost half of them will end up losing up to £1500 a year.

They are the latest in a series of worker groups to take industrial action in protest at a controversial pay and grading scheme being introduced by council chiefs to eradicate wage inequality especially among low-paid female staff.

As supervisors today picketed a social work office at Centenary House in Morrison Street, Tradeston – one of four “muster points” for offenders – strike leader Mr Smith of Unison warned that any attempt to use either council or non-council staff to carry out supervisory duties would inflame the situation.

He added: “Members are determined to stay out until there’s a settlement.”

The Crown Office wouldn’t comment on the strike but a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Justice Secretary has made it clear that community penalties are an important part of offender management.”

The council is responsible for reporting any breaches of community service orders to Glasgow Sheriff Court but it’s understood that any delays in completing orders as a result of the strike will not been seen as a deliberate breach.