FURIOUS care workers at council-run homes across Glasgow are staging another 48-hour strike.

Strikers will lobby members of the city council in protest at a management decision to enforce new job roles, longer shift patterns and pay cuts of up to 7%.

Union officials with Unison claim the care workers had no option but to take more industrial action following a 48-hour stoppage earlier this month.

There are around 600 residents in the homes, which are spread across Glasgow.

Strike leader Brian Smith said: "Unison members have been forced to take further strike action as the social work management has made no attempt to resolve the dispute.

"The fact is that care homes would not function without the hard work and dedication of our members and to force them into this ­difficult position is ­completely unfair and unnecessary.

"Our members are only asking for what is fair: no cuts in pay, properly identified roles and responsibilities of staff and agreement on any new shift arrangements."

A council spokesman said: "We are again surprised and disappointed that Unison is going on strike when there is so little support from within their membership for this action.

"During the last strike the overwhelming majority of staff attended their work, which ensured most homes operated entirely as normal.

"The new working ­pattern has also been agreed to by almost all care home staff.

"The new working ­arrangements will provide staff with more time off, greater contact with residents and see 160 staff made up to permanent positions while protecting core pay.

"Following unacceptable behaviour by pickets around the homes of vulnerable older people, a letter of complaint will be sent to Unison."

Agency workers provided cover during the last strike however the council said the majority of shifts were covered by social work staff.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk