Council cleansing workers struggling with rat 'infestations'

The warning comes reports of rat sightings throughout Glasgow continue.

A union rep has issued further warnings around “health and safety” due to ongoing rat infestations.

The warning comes as reports of rat infestations throughout Glasgow continue.

Chris Mitchell, GMB convenor for Glasgow’s cleansing workers, shared a video taken by workers of rats in a bin on Ferry Road.

Mr Mitchell said the situation was “exactly” the same as an infestation he highlighted earlier this year on Earl Street.

Rats in bin on Ferry roadChris Mitchell, GMB

Glasgow City Council denied reports of a rat infestation on Ferry Road had been made.

But Mr Mitchell refuted the claims insisting that workers had followed the correct procedure to report the issue “four times” to supervisors.

The problem came to a head last month when workers refused to collect bins from Earl Street due to the infestations.

This prompted the council to move the usual waste collection point to the front of the street.

“The council have said that every city has rats, and that might be true, but its not to this extent,” he told STV News.

The union rep went on to say that the vermin problem has become a “health and safety issue for the entire city”.

“Rat urine can kill,” he added.

Mr Mitchell stated that there had been some promising steps taken to tackle the problem, but reiterated it “should’ve happened a long time ago”.

“I’m hoping we can battle it together with the council for the safety of the workers and the public,” he said.

A spokesman for the local authority said the safety of staff was “paramount,” adding pest control teams had been dispatched to administer treatment.

“We have well-established health and safety procedures in relation to rats and these are well known to staff and trade unions,” they added.

“We received no reports from staff in relation to rats at an address in Ferry Road prior to GMB contacting the media.

“Our pest control team has now visited this address, found evidence of rat activity and has implemented a pest control treatment.

“The issue of rats has not been raised by GMB at any of recent, routine meetings we have with the trade unions.”

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