Trade unionists are to join a protest outside the Scottish Parliament calling for the government to give cash for Glasgow Life venues to be re-opened.

Unison is to join community campaigners at Holyrood on Thursday in protest at the continued closure of dozens of sports, community and library venues in Glasgow.  

The union members will also be  highlighting opposition to plans to reduce staffing at Glasgow Life as a result of loss of income through the pandemic lockdown.

William McMahon, Unison Branch Officer, said: "We are calling on the Scottish Government to provide additional funding for Glasgow.

“The current funding arrangements fail to recognise the metropolitan status of Glasgow and the cost of running what are national venues like the Kelvingrove Museum or the Emirates Sports Arena. 

“Glasgow is already disadvantaged in terms of funding from the Scottish Government due to several long-standing factors including the high levels of poverty in the city.”

 Unison said it would cost an additional £17m this year to open all the venues currently closed and said they should be supported to re-open now.

On the losses McMahon added: "The loss of 500 jobs would be a huge blow. These jobs currently provide the services many communities rely on. If the need still exists, why should the services and jobs go?