HOME carers are to balloted for industrial action next week over claims of coronavirus safety "negligence".

But Glasgow Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has strongly refuted the claims - saying union bosses have no raised any issues with them.

GMB Scotland said it would launch a ballot next week, saying staff have "no confidence" in workplace testing for Covid-19 or in the roll out of a vaccination programme.

GMB Scotland Organiser David Hume said: “There is no confidence whatsoever among our members in their employer or the government to sufficiently protect their health and safety at work.

"And why should there be?

“They were failed on PPE at the outset of this pandemic, they have been left waiting ten months for workplace testing, and some are already encountering problems getting their first vaccine."

HSPC, however, said Mr Hume attended a meeting with them on Tuesday this week and no concerns were raised.

A spokeswoman said: “We are concerned and disappointed by the GMB statement, especially as they were provided with a detailed progress report yesterday.

“We take the safety of our dedicated staff very seriously and have done so throughout the pandemic.

"We completely understand people’s concerns and continue to work closely with staff, trade unions and the vulnerable people we care for, to ensure their safety during this challenging time.

“Home Carers are a priority group to receive the vaccination and all our Home Carers have been contacted directly by email and text over the last 10 days in order to book vaccination appointments."

HSPC said 1000 vaccination appointments are booked for this week and are available to vaccinate the remaining 1800 home carers by the end of the month.

Some 14,000 PCR tests will be delivered to HSPC on Friday for use beginning next Monday.

The spokeswoman added: “A progress report on this was given to the unions, including the GMB, at a meeting at noon on Tuesday.

"Mr Hume attended the meeting and raised no issues at all at that time."

GMB Scotland said 1700 members will take part in a three-week ballot, running from Tuesday, January 19 to Monday, February 8, meaning service delivery in the HSCP could be affected by action as early as the week beginning Monday, February 22.

It follows a 93% support for action among GMB members in a consultative ballot last month.

Mr Hume said: “The HSCP should have been fighting tooth and nail for every resource to protect the safety of their employees and their service users.

"Instead they have been sitting on Zoom calls for nearly a year waiting on guidance from the Scottish Government, only for Ministers to leave councils carrying the can for testing delivery.

“The interests of these key workers have been consistently forgotten and they are being treated negligently by their employer, and this government.”