GLASGOW Housing Association plans to axe 18 concierge jobs next month.

The association says the job losses are a result of its multi-storey demolition and clearance programme, which has left it needing fewer staff.

The cuts form part of a shake-up of terms for the GHA's 327 workers on fixed-term contracts, 294 of which are due to end on March 31.

Thirty staff are to be offered new permanent contracts, while 279 fixed-term contracts are to be extended.

The GHA denied the cuts would lead to a drop in levels of service to tenants.

Peter Denheen, GHA executive director of organisational development, said: "We would like to thank those concierge staff on fixed-term contracts for the service they have given to us and our tenants.

"We have worked in partnership with our trade unions through this process and we are pleased to secure permanent contracts or extensions for 309 of the 327 people involved.

"We are reviewing the structure of our organisation to meet the needs of tenants.

"The best way forward for everyone is to move away from fixed-term contracts towards a structure which offers more stability and certainty for staff and tenants."

In 2003 GHA took over 238 multi-storey blocks - containing 22,467 flats.

Fifteen multi-storey blocks have been razed since the demolition programme began, leaving 223 blocks with 20,181 flats.

Last year GHA demolished seven multi-storeys, containing 1320 flats.

That represented a 6% reduction in the number of multi-storey flats from the year before.

A GHA spokeswoman said: "GHA has 670 concierges in its multi-storey blocks.

"The decision to reduce staff numbers by not renewing 18 fixed-term contracts - a reduction of 3% - is as a consequence of demolition and the reduced number of multi-storey blocks.

"There's much fewer multi- storey blocks, so the ratio of concierge to multi-storey blocks will be higher.

"Tenants will actually see an improvement to the service."