03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow subway set to close during Bellahouston Park gigs
Unite the union has confirmed that its members at the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)—including over 100 subway workers—have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, with 97.5% backing strikes over working conditions.
Subway services are now scheduled to be completely shut down on June 21, 25, 27, and 28.
READ MORE: Glasgow subway workers could strike over working conditions
These dates coincide with several major events, including the Punk All Dayer festival featuring the Sex Pistols, and concerts by Sting, Simple Minds, and Stereophonics at Bellahouston Park as part of the city's Summer Sessions.
The Glasgow Times reported last year that a number of punk legends would be performing at the park as part of the Punk All Dayer festival on June 21.
A continuous overtime ban will also begin on 13 June, further impacting operations in the run-up to the strikes.
READ MORE: Glasgow Summer Sessions announced event full of punk legends
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Unite's Glasgow subway members feel totally devalued and ignored.
"We will not tolerate our members being exhausted and underpaid. The subway system is running on empty.
'SPT has had every opportunity to resolve the chronic issues that have resulted in this dispute, but has chosen not to act.'
The dispute centres on what Unite describes as chronic understaffing, with workers allegedly routinely exceeding their contracted hours by up to 10 hours a week.
The union claims there has been no progress on improving shift patterns, overtime pay, or weekend allowances, and that staff are often called in at short notice to cover shortages.
Unite industrial officer Andrew Brown added: 'The strike action will cause major disruption across the subway system, but this is entirely the fault of SPT's management, which has continuously ignored the workers' concerns about being overstretched and understaffed.'
The strike threatens to severely impact city transport during key summer cultural events and may lead to wider disruptions if the dispute continues. Unite has warned that industrial action could escalate further into the summer unless SPT takes steps to address staff grievances.
Commuters and event-goers are being advised to plan ahead and seek alternative travel arrangements during the affected dates.
