Safe and free transport is to be provided for all Glasgow hospitality workers
Picture source: Unsplash.
The Get Me Home Safely (GMHS) motion is being led by Caitlin Lee and Unite the union and came about after union member Caitlin, 26, was sexually assaulted as she walked home from work.
The hotel where she worked had refused to pay for her to get a taxi home safely after she finished her shift at midnight to find her last bus home was cancelled.
Glasgow City Council has now passed the motion after it was debated at the full meeting of the council on December 8th. It will see that all workplaces that hold an extended alcohol license provide access to safe and free transportation home after 11 pm.
City Councillors Holly Bruce, Anthony Carroll and Eunis Jassemi have worked alongside the union to pass the GHMS motion in Glasgow. The campaign highlighted that hospitality workers are typically on low pay. So, the cost of a taxi fare after a late shift could often be several hours' wage.
Since the campaign began in 2021, other councils have introduced similar schemes. Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Dundee, and North Ayrshire have these practices in place.
Alisa McDonald, 22, currently works in a city centre pub in Glasgow and often finishes her shift early hours of the morning. She said: "I often finish work at midnight or sometimes later, and I always dread getting home. I have definitely turned down shifts before because I didn't want to risk missing the last train home.
"A few times, I have missed the last train, or it's been cancelled due to the weather. I've had to pay for a taxi out of pocket, which can often be most of my wage that night. I have friends who work in other bars and pubs in the city, and some walk home which always makes me worried for them.
Alongside passing the motion, Glasgow City Council has also agreed to call on public transport to provide more regular night services for workers with late shifts.
Ailsa added: "This is a step in the right direction for all hospitality workers and makes you feel seen and heard. Getting home safe after work shouldn't be something we have to campaign for, but I am glad we are finally being listened to."
The council also support calls to make it a legal requirement that all transport workers are trained in preventing gender-based violence, harassment, and sexual assault.