GHA said the changes will benefit tenants, but some staff disagree

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) workers voted two to one in favour of taking industrial action on Wednesday.

They say the proposed withdrawal of rent collection facilities from 14 offices would result in 28 job losses.

Unison's John Wright said staff felt a strike was the only option, but the GHA said there would be no compulsory redundancies.

Mr Wright said withdrawing cash collection would adversely affect older people and those with disabilities.

We feel we have no other avenue open but to strike John Wright Unison

He added: "The GHA has ignored the protests of their staff, tenants and pensioners' organisations and individual tenants and ridden roughshod over their views to remove another local facility.

"It is all about defending facilities for tenants. We feel we have no other avenue open but to strike."

He said staff would welcome negotiations with management in an effort to avert strike action.

GHA spokesman Jon Theobald said offering the tenants the opportunity to pay for their rent at the place they go for their cash is safer and more convenient.

'No compulsory redundancies'

"By offering alternative payment facilities, many of which are already used by tenants to pay their gas, electricity or telephone bills, we are providing safer, easier and more convenient ways to pay rent for the minority of tenants who pay in cash," he said.

"With regard to the claims made by Unison, GHA has previously stated there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the withdrawal of the cash collection facilities.

"All employees have been offered alternative jobs within GHA or have chosen themselves to take early retirement.

"Since GHA was formed, we have directly created over 250 new jobs within the organisation and many hundreds of jobs and training places with contractors and suppliers across the city."

GHA is a not-for-profit housing association and is the largest registered social landlord in the UK.