GLASGOW'S fight against waste could be going in reverse if more than 130 job contracts are not extended, according to a trade union.

Around 132 Glasgow City Council street cleaning contracts are due to expire in March 2018, prompting concerns from GMB Scotland about the impact the cuts will have on the city.

The trade union argues that workers in Land and Environmental Services (LES) are exposed to "Dickensian conditions" across some of Glasgow's green spaces and communities - including having to deal with drug dens, human waste and rodent problems.

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They also argue the local authority should be investing in the department to continue the improvements made in the city's fight against waste and fly tipping.

At the full council meeting at the City Chambers last week, the SNP Councillor Feargal Dalton, who is the workforce spokesman, was unable to guarantee the jobs would be retained when questioned by opposition councillor Martin McElroy.

Councillor Dalton was also quizzed on rumours of a possible 50 additional job loses in the Land and Environmental services department, which he responded to by saying that "nobody was being made redundant".

Now, GMB has called on the council to continue the employment of the 132 cleansing staff, which are said to have "greatly improved the level of cleanliness" across the city.

GMB Scotland Organiser Benny Rankin said: “The possibility of over 180 cuts to LES doesn’t bear thinking about – it’s clear to everyone who lives and works in Glasgow that we have huge challenges maintaining waste collections and green spaces.

"For our members, who often bear the brunt of the public’s anger, it’s meant a health and safety nightmare where contending with Dickensian conditions like drug dens, human waste, vermin and illegal dumping has become a daily occurrence.

"That’s the price our ‘dear green place’ has paid for a decade of cuts on the city’s finances and we have a collective responsibility to ensure that we build on the investment from the previous budget to avoid making the problem worse.

"It’s time to end Glasgow’s austerity shame but we can’t do this by taking one step forward and then two steps back and we are urging the council to defend jobs and services from damaging cuts.”

A spokeswoman from Glasgow City Council said:" It was clear from day one that these were temporary posts. This year’s council budget, which received cross party support, was an indication of how seriously the council takes its responsibility for providing a clean, safe environment.

"We are fully aware of the challenges when it comes to managing the city’s waste and we are about to embark on an ambitious bin replacement programme which will bring health and safety improvements for staff and social improvements for residents.

"We are working on a number of options to help these staff continue their employment when their contract ends.”