GLASGOW Community Safety staff have walked out in the first day of a five-day strike.

Around 30 security staff who ensure schools, libraries and sports centres are safe, began action yesterday.

The strike, timed to coincide with this week's Old Firm match, will involve 140 staff including advocacy workers, community enforcement workers and CCTV staff.

Unite regional officer William McGonigle said: “The spirit of our members on strike today was strong and solid.

"These are people who work hard to make sure that Glasgow’s public buildings are safe and secure - and they deserve fair pay.

“Even at this late stage, we urge Community Safety Glasgow to stop attacking their hard-working staff, and to work with us to make sure that our members receive fairness and equality in their shift allowances.”

Members of the Unite, GMB and Unison trade unions are contesting moves they say amount to cuts of up to £4000 in their take-home pay.

They claim Community Safety Glasgow (CSG) is proposing to slash shift allowances for their workers - paying less than Glasgow City Council.

Unison has written to all Glasgow councillors about the strike.

Its letter says: "You may be aware that members of the three trade unions in Community Safety Glasgow (CSG) are taking strike action this week.

"We estimate that the cost of resolving the dispute is around 2.5% of the total pay bill of CSG.

"We believe that this money can and should be found.

"We ask that you intervene to help bring a negotiated settlement of this dispute."

Unison claims one of the impacts of the strike will be on offenders completing Community Payback Orders.

The union said Community Safety Glasgow had not informed Social Work that payback workers will be on strike, leaving offenders to turn up at muster points where there are no staff.

But a council spokesman said offenders without payback workers to supervise them will be asked to return at another time to make up the hours specified in their order.

A letter from Glasgow City Council's social work department to staff, seen by the Evening Times, reads: "All CSG Security Services will be suspended for your properties during this period.

"This includes Keyholding, Incident Response, Patrols, and Open/Close Services and will affect properties for Social Work, Financial Services, Education, Land and Environmental Services and Chief Executives Department."

The letter goes on to explain that Community Safety Glasgow staff will still respond to emergency alarm call outs unless they are keyholders, in which cases fire crews or police would be expected to respond.

A lobby for fair shift allowances will be held by all three unions outside Glasgow City Chambers at noon on Friday, September 9.

A spokesman for CSG said: “Contingency plans have been implemented and they have ensured that premises in Glasgow continue to be protected.

“Staff have been informed that their pay and conditions will be protected for the next two years and CSG is receptive to further discussions with the unions.

“The pay review was undertaken at Community Safety Glasgow to ensure balance and fairness across all staff groups.

“The review delivered improved or identical pay for over 80% of staff.”