DOZENS of staff have lodged pay claims against Glasgow's biggest home care provider.

Around 160 carers working for Cordia have lodged claims with ACAS through their trade union GMB.

GMB officials believe staff have been wrongly graded for non-standard working pattern (NSWP) hours, and say they are being underpaid by around £1400.

Staff have been scored by Cordia, which is an arms-length firm of Glasgow City Council, and have been awarded 19 points for their NSWP payments.

However union officials say they should receive pay equal to 21 points worth for the work they do.

NSWP payments are made for staff who work more than seven hours at the weekend, outside the hours of 6am - 8pm, and who are available for recall if needed.

The trade union say they have been left with no other option than to lodge the claim with ACAS, which helps to resolve workplace disputes, as Cordia management turned down a collective grievance last year.

If the issue is unable to be resolved by ACAS, staff may have to take their fight to an employment tribunal.

GMB Scotland’s Glasgow Branch Secretary Rhea Wolfson said: "Cordia’s failure to resolve this detriment to our members’ pay means we have been left with no choice but to pursue justice through the formal legal channels.

"Our members – the vast majority of whom are women – work on a daily basis to ensure the infirm in our community are properly cared for and able to live at home with dignity for as long as possible.

If this is how much Cordia values its workers then how much do they value their service users?

"If we want professional levels of care then we need to start properly recognising and rewarding care workers as the professionals that they are.

"Our priority is the defence of our members’ interests and we are absolutely determined to do all we can to ensure they receive the proper levels of pay for their vital work and skills.”

A Cordia spokesman said: "These members of staff have been through the workforce pay and benefits review process. They have been assessed as being due 19 points for their non-standard working activities.

"This position will not change."