By MASON BOYCOTT-OWEN

CARE workers from Glasgow who say they are being made to beg for unpaid wages have staged a protest on the city's streets.

The women say they are owed thousands of pounds by their employer Living Ambitions. Councillor Matt Kerr is taking their case to the council.

The company has said it will respond to grievances raised by " a number of staff."

Anne-Marie Graham, 56, who was one of those protesting said: “I’ve been at the company for 7 years.

“We’ve come here today to hand our collective grievance in that over 40 of us from the company have signed.

“We’re hoping to receive some dignity and respect for the hard job that we do and also to be paid a fair wage.

“We’re owed pay. I’ve already had three grievances out for the company.

“They’ve ticked the box saying the grievance has been upheld but really nothing has changed.

“They’re making us beg for our money. We work hard. I’ve just worked a 24-hour shift.

“We’re not asking for anything which we haven’t worked for, and we’re hoping today somebody will recognise that we will deserve to be heard.”

Well-wishers on social media lent their support to the protesting workers. One woman on Facebook said: “Well done for taking this company to task. You are stronger together. Good luck”

Another said: “You absolutely deserve the changes and to be paid properly for the job you do.”

Councillor Matt Kerr, said: “Under the procurement contracts that we’ve got, we know procurement legislation isn’t very strong on these things, unfortunately.

“But there are clauses within their contracts which we should be seeking to enforce. Quite frankly the Fair Work policy which covers Scotland, in my view not backed up enough in law, is something everybody has signed up to.

“If they’ve signed it, we expect them to enforce it - and that goes for the contractor and the Council.

“This is not just about providing good terms and conditions, this is about the basics. There’s people here not being paid.

“They’re owed thousands of pounds.

“This is basic employment law and the absolute bare minimum of what you would expect of a contractor.

“We’ll be putting on significant pressure so they live up to their responsibilities.”

A spokesperson for Living Ambitions said: “Living Ambitions pay the Scottish Living Wage to all our staff on contracts with Glasgow City Council.

“All staff are offered permanent contracts.

“We are aware that a number of our staff have made grievances and we will respond to these grievances in detail.

He added: “Senior managers from Living Ambitions are meeting with staff and union representatives.”