Unite, Britain's biggest union, is calling for an end to what they call the "market madness" in local government housing that has led to workers maintaining the housing stock for Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) not knowing who their employer will be from today.

Unite has said that Connaught, the company which won part of the contract to maintain GHA housing stock, may not have the finances to secure the workers' pension scheme.

Unite national officer, John Allot, said: "Our members are extremely worried about their futures. It now transpires that one company which won part of the contract to maintain some of Glasgow's housing stock may not even have the finances to secure the workers' pension scheme.

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"This is despite the fact they tendered for the work on the basis that they could meet the financial requirements of the contract.

"This is a prime example of the market madness which has been allowed to take hold of the public sector. The GHA Quango should do the right thing. These workers should remain with Glasgow City Building which is wholly owned by Glasgow City Council."

The Connaught contract is worth £73m however Glasgow City Building was prepared to do the work for considerably less.

The union has questioned why GHA awarded this work to a more expensive contractor.

Mr Allot said: "We believe Glasgow City Building is the right place for our members and the tenants. The GHA must end this uncertainty for our members and their families, many of them have given the tenants of GHA years of loyal service."

(GK/JM)