Glasgow parking wardens and Emirates Arena staff are set to strike in a row over pay.

Around 70 Unite members employed by Glasgow Life at the Emirates Arena and City Parking are planning to walk out on Thursday, August 3, coinciding with the first day of the UCI Cycling World Championships.

Industrial action will be held from 7.30am for 48 hours and pickets will be stationed outside the arena and Cadogan Square car park. 

A rally involving both groups of workers is also being held at 12pm at the Donald Dewar statue on Buchanan Street. 

When being balloted, 100 per cent of Unite members working for City Parking supported taking strike action, while 92 per cent at Glasgow Life voted in favour.

Unite members rejected the COSLA's five per cent pay offer for 2023 by 84 per cent in a consultative ballot held in May.

Unite's General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “City Parking and Glasgow Life workers have no option but to take strike action.

"They deserve a fair pay award rather than a significant real terms pay cut.

“Any disruption caused is due to the chronic failure by Glasgow City Council, COSLA and the Scottish Government to improve on the five per cent offer which has been overwhelmingly rejected.

"Unite fully supports its members who are leading the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions across local government.

"We will be with them every step of the way to ensure they get what they deserve.” 

Unite Scotland’s Industrial Officer, Graham McNab, said: “The 48-hour strike action by our members at Glasgow Life and City Parking is a clear warning to COSLA and the Scottish Government.

"The disruption beginning in Glasgow could spread over large parts of the country involving thousands of key council workers. 

“We repeat our calls for the Scottish Government to directly intervene because we are at an impasse, and the only way this dispute will be resolved is if an improved offer is put on the table for workers who deserve better from their elected representatives.”

Unite says it plans to announce the results of ballots with schools and early years workers in the coming days.

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: “Following confirmation of strike action we are looking at how this may impact our delivery of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and where we can put contingency plans in place to mitigate against such action.”