BIN collections in Glasgow were suspended after refuse workers staged a sit-in because they had no access to hand sanitiser or hot water in a South Side depot.

The council confirmed that “less than half of staff” at the Polmadie depot refused to work on Thursday and parts of the south east of the city were not serviced.

One worker said they were told by the local authority that if they didn’t go to work they wouldn’t get paid. Union officials confirmed that workers had no access to hot water or hand sanitiser at the depot.

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The council said vehicles had stocks and the depot currently had a hot water supply.

Workers have now also been given extra time during breaks for handwashing.

A council spokeswoman said: “Less than half the staff (at Polmadie depot) went home yesterday (Thursday) and parts of the south east of the city didn’t get serviced."

Meanwhile, the council has suspended a decision to close the Baltic Street depot, in the East End, for six months due to the virus.

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The Glasgow Times told how around 60 staff were set to be moved miles away to Queenslie later this month, a building they say isn’t fit for purpose and will lead to higher travel costs.

A council spokesman said: “In the circumstances we believe it is sensible to postpone the move of services to the Easter Queenslie depot until October this year.”

Rhea Wolfson, GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “We welcome the council’s decision to step back from the closure of the Baltic Street cleansing unit, which has just been confirmed today.

“The initial decision is a moratorium for a period of six months but moving forward we will continue to campaign for the safeguard of its status in the fight against Glasgow’s waste crisis.”