Late-night hospitality workers' safety campaign backed by Glasgow council

A campaign for hospitality employers in Glasgow to provide free and safe transport home for staff after late night shifts has been backed by councillors.

The motion passed unanimously and will apply to all new licensed venues and those applying for an extension to their operating hours.

Members of union Unite had lobbied for employers to provide transport for staff past 11pm or the last bus, train or tram running time as part of its Get Me Home Safely campaign.

Anthony Carroll, a Green councillor for Dennistoun who put forward the motion, said he had been contacted by bar workers who had felt unsafe waiting for a taxi alone in the city centre after work.

“We need to reshape our culture of harassment and abuse that is endemic within the sector, and also make our transport network cater better for those who cater for us in the night time economy,” said Carroll.

“The duty of care of employers to make sure their employees are getting home safe from work is also key to what this motion is calling for.

"I hope this encourages the licensing board further to emphasise the need for that duty of care for employees after a shift."

The campaign started in 2021 and has been backed by other councils across Scotland, including Edinburgh, North Ayrshire, Falkirk, Dundee and East Dunbartonshire.

Glasgow City Council also agreed to call on public transport providers to put on more regular night services for late shift workers.

It will also support calls to make it a legal requirement for transport workers to be trained in preventing gender-based violence, sexual assault, and harassment.

Bryan Simpson, national organiser at Unite Hospitality, said: “This is a huge step forward for Glasgow’s late night workforce who have had to chose between walking home and spending two hours wages on a taxi home for far too long now.

“Unite will not stop until this impossible choice is made a thing of the past.”

Maggie Chapman, Green MSP for North East Scotland, is working on a bill introduce similar measures across Scotland.

“I hope to see this replicated everywhere so that all workers can feel they can get home safe after work at night,” said Carroll.

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