Cleaning employees have blamed the introduction of three-weekly bin collections for Glasgow’s rat downside.
GMB cleaning convenor Chris Mitchell has urged metropolis council bosses to sit down down with the union to debate how greatest to deal with rat infestations within the “metropolis as soon as and for all”, after shocked employees filmed a rat “the scale of a cat” in Possilpark whereas they have been working to empty the bins final weekend.
Three movies present rats scurrying out and in of the bins earlier than working off in addition to a big rodent waddling previous the employee’s toes, which seemed to be too fats to run away from them.
Mr Mitchell claimed that the introduction of three weekly bin collections has solely worsened the issue.
GMB cleaning employees Movies present rats scurrying out and in of the bins. GMB cleaning employees
A spokeswoman for Glasgow Council insisted there had been no “particular request” to senior officers a few “notion of a rise in rats” nevertheless – and insisted that reported incidents have been “minimal” and that no “vital well being and security considerations” had been raised.
Mr Mitchell, who has labored with the cleaning service for 30 years, mentioned the rat downside was getting worse and members had had sufficient.
He mentioned: “The introduction of three weekly bin collections to encourage individuals to recycle has solely exacerbated the state of affairs we discover ourselves in and I don’t know what number of instances I want to focus on the problem in movies or on social media.
“The council wants to sit down down with us and take into consideration how they will deal with this downside as soon as and for all. We have to work collectively for the individuals of Glasgow and our members who’re dealing with these circumstances.
“In some unspecified time in the future somebody goes to return into hazard due to the impression the vermin have on public well being. This isn’t a scare tactic, it’s a truth.
“They are saying each metropolis has rats however as I’ve mentioned earlier than – to not the identical extent as Glasgow. They’re in every single place, in all totally different corners of town. The state of affairs will not be getting any higher and this can not proceed.
“Our members are getting sick of it. I’ve been in cleaning for 30 years, I got here throughout rats again then too however to not the extent we’re seeing now.”
A neighborhood councillor mentioned the GMB is true to boost the problem on behalf of its employees.
Labour’s Fiona Higgins says she and her ward colleagues had been receiving related emails about the issue from involved residents.
Councillor Higgins mentioned: “I’ve had fixed emails concerning the cleaning points all through my ward since my election final 12 months. My colleagues in different wards throughout town have been receiving related emails from involved Glasgow residents.
“The situation in areas throughout town has actually declined due to 12 months on 12 months funds cuts to cleaning together with litter choosing, highway cleansing and bin assortment. This example is unacceptable and has led town in a disgraceful situation.
“The GMB are proper to boost this as their employees are frontline and having to cope with the decline of their work surroundings together with pest management issues. Possilpark is seeing an increase in rodent issues attributable to a mixture of cleaning funds cuts and quite a lot of disused properties that are encouraging flytipping.
“I’d encourage all Possilpark residents experiencing points with cleaning domestically to contact me and I’ll elevate this as a precedence for addressing with the council.”
A spokeswoman for Glasgow Metropolis Council mentioned: “There has not been any particular request to senior officers from the commerce unions a few notion of a rise in rats in sure areas of town.
“There are a number of boards out there to commerce union colleagues to boost considerations or they will request extra conferences.
“Our cleaning employees are actively inspired to report rat infestations via the traditional course of to guard their well being and security.
“Reported incidents, that are minimal, will not be exhibiting any vital well being and security considerations being raised or requiring any additional motion, however we’ll proceed to observe these.
“We’re additionally not conscious of some other public physique within the metropolis with points in relation to an elevated rat inhabitants.”
