Union officials said tenants were at risk in multi-storey flats

The GMB has criticised Glasgow Housing Association for perceived cutbacks to the caretaker service in tower blocks.

Officials said GHA had broken promises to have at least two concierges on duty at all times, risking tenant safety.

GHA said it was still fine-tuning the service and health and safety remained a central priority.

Union officials also said that many concierges had to work overtime, leading to about a �500,000 overspend in GHA's budget in the first 13 weeks of its housing services regime.

I shudder to think the effect this may have on the tenants who are dependent on the provision of the service in an emergency Martin Doran, GMB's public services organiser

The first part of Glasgow's housing transformation was the transfer of all council housing to GHA and the wiping out of a �1bn housing debt.

The next phase involved a second-stage transfer of GHA to local community organisations.

Martin Doran, GMB's public services organiser, said: "We were told that there would be a minimum staffing level of two operatives per site.

"But lone working seems to be the norm. I shudder to think the effect this may have on the tenants who are dependant on the provision of the service in an emergency.

"There are shortfalls every night within the provision of this service resulting in a massive overspend in terms of overtime being worked.

"The present cost for a four month period of overtime working is somewhere in the region of �500,000, with money being redirected from other sources to disguise the amount of money being spent on overtime."

Positive feedback

The housing association said that a directive had been issued to all housing managers stating that planned lone working was not acceptable under any circumstances.

Taroub Zahran, GHA's director of organisation development, said: "The health and safety of staff and tenants is always uppermost in GHA's priorities.

"We have had very positive feedback from the vast majority of tenants who are now receiving an improved and extended concierge service.

"An internal management group is currently exploring how we might fine-tune the service to ensure it provides the best standard possible for tenants and staff."