One of Glasgow’s key traffic arteries could grind to a halt after control room workers voted to strike in a bitter pay dispute. The Clyde Tunnel, used by tens of thousands daily, now hangs in the balance.
The threat comes as GMB union members, who manage tunnel safety systems, rejected a 3% wage offer and demanded a better deal. They’re asking for a 6.5% rise — about £1 an hour more — arguing their work is critical, and frankly, underappreciated.
What’s at stake: 65,000 daily vehicles and a city’s commute
Roughly 65,000 vehicles pass through the Clyde Tunnel every weekday. That’s not just commuters—it’s ambulances, delivery trucks, public transport, and emergency crews. This isn’t a sleepy side road we’re talking about. It’s a vital connector, especially during peak hours when Glasgow’s roads are already tight.
Workers in the tunnel’s Whiteinch control room handle everything from CCTV monitoring to emergency ventilation. They’re the ones who respond when a car breaks down or when there’s a fire risk underground. If they walk out? Well, there’s no one else trained to fill their shoes. That’s a massive problem.
For now, there’s no confirmed strike date. But the vote itself is a serious move. One that has Glasgow City Council and transport planners sweating behind closed doors.
Union fury builds as pay fight escalates
The dispute has been brewing for a while. GMB Scotland isn’t pulling punches. Keir Greenaway, the union’s senior organiser, says council workers feel like “the poor relations in our public services.” And honestly, he’s not wrong — at least not from their point of view.
According to GMB:
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NHS workers got a better deal.
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Inflation is biting hard.
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And council staff are fed up watching other sectors move ahead.
Greenaway didn’t mince his words either: “Without their expertise and experience, one of the country’s most important roads could close with untold disruption.”
That’s not hyperbole. If you’ve ever tried to drive across Glasgow when a tunnel or bridge shuts down unexpectedly, you already know the chaos it causes. Add a planned shutdown to that? Gridlock’s guaranteed.
COSLA under pressure — but insists resources are stretched
Pay talks for council staff happen nationally through COSLA, the body representing local authorities across Scotland. They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
A COSLA spokesperson expressed “disappointment” at the strike threat. The official line? Local government just doesn’t have the money to meet the 6.5% ask.
“There remains a gap between what local government can fund from its own resources and union aspirations,” the spokesperson said.
Translation? Councils say they’re skint. Unions don’t buy it.
Glasgow City Council, meanwhile, is trying not to panic — at least publicly. They acknowledged the ballot results but pointed out that they haven’t received a formal notice yet. Maybe they’re hoping there’s still time to find a middle ground.
Scottish Government says it’s not their fight — but it kind of is
Technically, the Scottish Government has no formal seat at the negotiation table. COSLA handles the pay deals. But politically? They’re absolutely involved.
After all, it’s Scottish Government funding that trickles down to local councils. And unions aren’t shy about pointing that out. They want Holyrood to cough up extra cash, especially with inflation, rising bills, and stagnant local budgets all squeezing the public sector.
A government spokesperson tried to keep things neutral: “We urge all parties involved to work together constructively and reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for employers.”
Sure. Easier said than done.
What happens if the tunnel shuts?
Here’s where things get real for Glaswegians. If the tunnel closes, even temporarily, the knock-on effects will be brutal. Think longer commutes, more congestion, angry drivers, missed appointments, delayed deliveries — the works.
And that’s just Day One.
There aren’t many alternatives. Clyde Arc (aka the Squinty Bridge) and Kingston Bridge are already at capacity most mornings and evenings. Redirecting 65,000 vehicles? Not possible without major fallout.
Here’s how the pressure lines up:
| Route | Daily Traffic Volume | Current Congestion Level | Backup Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde Tunnel | 65,000 vehicles | High | None |
| Kingston Bridge | 150,000 vehicles | Very High | Already full |
| Clyde Arc Bridge | 20,000 vehicles | Moderate | Limited |
So yeah, not much wiggle room.
Control room workers aren’t bluffing — and they’re not alone
This isn’t just about Clyde Tunnel. It’s part of a much bigger fight over council pay in Scotland. Control room operators may be first out the gate, but if COSLA doesn’t budge, other groups could follow.
Waste workers, school support staff, cleaners, and road maintenance crews — they’ve all been involved in disputes before. This could snowball.
And the workers aren’t just annoyed. They’re insulted. Many say a 3% offer feels like a slap in the face, especially when they’re being asked to do more with less every year.
One worker told BBC Scotland anonymously, “We keep the tunnel safe. We’re not asking for bonuses or handouts — just fair pay for what we already do, every single day.”
That hits different, doesn’t it?
