Amid media reports that security costs for UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow could cost “several hundred million pounds”, GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: “The prospect of hundreds of millions of pounds of public money spent on policing costs alone will sicken frontline council staff and struggling local communities.
“The world’s political elite will swoop in and out of Glasgow later in the year but the city’s many challenges will remain the day after the circus leave town.
“What exactly are we hoping to showcase by hosting this summit?
“The Glasgow waste crisis is getting worse – you only need to look at the latest footage of the conditions facing cleansing workers on a daily basis.
“Our home carers are working alone on foot at night to provide basic home care help for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“The council needs to find an additional £250 million to settle residual equal pay claims for tens of thousands of council staff past and present.
“It also needs to replace its discriminatory WPBR with a new job evaluation system lifts up the pay and conditions of chronically low-paid staff.
“Our priorities are all wrong. The best thing government could do for Glasgow is to ditch hosting the COP and instead invest the money in dealing with the state of the city.”
Up to 200 world leaders are expected to attend the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 26) from 9 – 19 November. The event is being hosted by the UK Government, but exactly who will foot the massive security bill is still to be agreed.
Rest assured, though, that whether it’s Westminster, Holyrood or both sharing the burden – one way or another, you and I will ultimately pick up the tab!