ANGRY staff will picket the gala launch of Glasgow’s new supercollege.

As part of an ongoing dispute, support staff will try to grab the attention of Deputy First Minister John Swinney as he attends tonight’s launch.

Unison members will ask Mr Swinney, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, to intervene to pressure college employers to pay support staff the same cost of living rise as lecturers.

READ MORE: City of Glasgow College signage contains spelling error days before students start their courses

The union also asks awards paid to Principals are cut.

Scott Donohoe, Unison Glasgow Assistant Branch secretary, said:“We are calling for workers and students wherever they work to join us to protest against the insensitivity of having a wasteful lavish launch event while services for students are being cut back and workers are being denied the same cost of living increase which their lecturing colleagues received months ago.

“A sector which says it can’t afford to pay low paid workers the Living Wage shouldn’t be using the money they do have to party as if they do.

“We will be very interested in the costs of this event.”

READ MORE: City of Glasgow College signage contains spelling error days before students start their courses

Unison support staff have taken two days strike action in September, suspended fire cover and first aid at colleges and say they have more actions lined up for which they believe is an avoidable dispute.

A City of Glasgow College spokeswoman said: “The decision by Unison to encourage protesters on the very night the world’s spotlight is on the success of our college is disappointing.”

Meanwhile, striking janitors are hoping a Halloween-themed protest will scare the council into backing down over a pay dispute.

Cordia workers, dressed as mummies, will gather outside the City Chambers today ahead of a meeting of the full council as part of a five-day wave of industrial action.

READ MORE: City of Glasgow College signage contains spelling error days before students start their courses

Staff working for the council’s biggest ALEO say they should be entitled to Working Context and Demands (WCD) payments, which are awarded for duties that are dirty, unpleasant, involve working outside on a regular basis or heavy lifting.

The janitors began industrial action on January 19 this year by boycotting certain tasks including weeding, litter picking, snow clearing, salt spreading, leaf clearing, heavy lifting, spillage clearing and animal clearing.

Since March 2016, staff have taken 24 days of strike action in an escalation of the dispute.

A Unison branch spokesman said: “Unison’s #Justice4Jannies campaign will be guising the full Glasgow City Council meeting with a Halloween Protest.

“Make no mistake the janitors dispute is Alive and Kicking, it’s time the Council Raised the Dead and got back round the negotiating table.”