Used needles, nappies and human excrement lying on the ground are just some of the challenging obstacles Glasgow City Council’s cleansing department staff face every-day.
That’s why Glasgow’s GMB trade union has launched a campaign for back-court workers to be re-instated in the Govanhill area to make tenement blocks more durable for staff and residents.
They are urging Glasgow City Council to work in partnership with them to tackle the worst affected areas on Allison Street and WestMoreland Street.
Workers say they are worried for their health and safety and want the ability to challenge landlords if communal areas are not kept tidy once the back-court teams have rectified them.
Chris Mitchel, convener of GMB, said: “We have started a campaign to employ eight individuals for a back-court service to assist the refuge collectors in the Govanhill are of Glasgow.
“We are also challenging rogue landlords in Glasgow to do more for the people who stay here. These are human beings living in these places.
“It is shocking and shameful that people are living like this. Our workers are having to endure this, but the landlords do need to take responsibility because this is deplorable.
“It is absolutely heart breaking to see this in this day and age.
“There is human excrement on the floor. The conditions that people are living in is shocking. There is debris everywhere and hypodermic wrappers on the ground.
“In the back-court you can see bin bags hanging on poles and wires. We are trying to get more investment in this area. If we employ the back-court team they will be able to help with the upkeep of the grass area, to clean it up and make it more durable for everybody to stay here and to pick up litter.
“It’s the year 2020, human beings should not have to live like this. We urge Glasgow City Council to work with the trade union on this issue.
“We want to improve these areas from a health and safety perspective.”
GMB argue private properties in Govanhill are kept in better condition and say landlords who rent their apartments should aspire to keep their assets in a similar condition.
Mr Mitchel continued: “You can see the difference in the back courts and closes in private blocks. They are more durable and more sufficient – it is the way people should be living.
“The upkeep in these rented buildings is not very good. You can see stuff lying on the ground as it has not been cleaned up properly.
“Rubbish is just dumped on the ground. That’s why we need these back-court teams and the ability to challenge landlords and housing associations. We need to make it safe for our staff as this really is a health and safety issue.”
Glasgow City Council has been asked for comment.
