Construction union UCATT are today demanding answers from Glasgow Housing Association as problems with the maintenance contract puts hundreds of building workers' jobs under threat.

UCATT has information that Connaught Partnerships Ltd, the private sector company awarded part of the GHA's £2m five-year contract for building maintenance across Glasgow, are having difficulties securing admitted body status for the pension entitlement of transferred workers.

Workers are fearful that they will lose their pension entitlement built up over years working with the City Council and LLP.

Some 223 workers are due to transfer from City Building LLP to Connaught Partnerships on 1st April, around 120 are UCATT members. Today they are faced with an uncertain and insecure future.

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Harry Frew, Scottish Regional Secretary of UCATT said: "I spoke to the company on Wednesday evening and was given assurances that the pension issue would be resolved.

"I have since become aware of further discussions between the contractor and the client GHA, this gives concern that the contract conditions have yet to be met. This is a totally unacceptable situation with over two hundred workers due to transfer in a matter of days."

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT said: "It's an absolute disgrace that these building workers are being treated in this way, scandalous that such a major housing contract can be awarded without every part of the contract being in place."

Mr Ritichie said members hear that the private sector contractor has problems with their pension provisioness than one week before they are due to transfer to a new company.

"We said at the time that under the Best Value process the LLP should be awarded the contract and we believe today that the LLP should now be given this work without delay to protect workers jobs and continue necessary building work that is vital to the GHA tenants of Glasgow," Mr Ritchie added.

(GK/JM)