STAFF from the Art School, Glasgow’s most iconic student venue, are planning a public campaign to protest against unfair treatment after their hours were slashed to save the organisation going into liquidation.

The Glasgow School of Art Students Association (GSASA) operated venue has been running at a loss for several years, but it is claimed that it has been hit hard by the second Glasgow Art School (GSA) fire last June.

Subsidised by an annual grant by GSA, it is regarded as a key part of campus life. But in early August staff were shocked to receive an email telling them the iconic venue would go into liquidation in two weeks time, meaning “none of us will have jobs” unless staff shifts were reduced for the rest of the month.

Many, of the 20 plus staff, working an average of 20-hours a week on zero-hours contracts – most for several years – lost all their shifts without notice.

Union officials claimed the decision to slash hours without warning was “morally unacceptable”. In response Unite submitted a collective grievance, signed by 80% of the staff more than a week ago, calling for a meeting with senior representatives from both the GSASA and GSA.

But representatives told the Sunday National that they are horrified by the “disgraceful” response they received, with directors from both GSA and GSASA refusing to meet with staff and instead instructing them to deal with the temporary venue manager, brought in as staff’s shifts were cut.

Now they have pledged to launch a public petition and open letter next week, and are calling on support from both famous art school alumni – including some of Scotland best known artists, writers and musicians – and politicians.

They also plan to take peaceful direct action at next week’s Fresher’s Fair, to raise awareness of their unfair treatment.

Sam Bellacosa, a former GSA student who started working the venue about four years ago, said he found it difficult to believe that the financial difficulties had come as a shock to those in-charge.

As well as having shifts cut and facing ongoing uncertainty about future work, he has not been able to access five weeks of accrued holiday pay. He said he was taken aback by the GSA’s refusal to get involved in the dispute or support workers.

“The GSA needs to acknowledge the intimate relationship between the two organisations,” he said. “To me there should be a symbiotic relationship between the two organisations and at the moment it feels like the GSA is acting as if the Art School (venue) is just a parasite.

“It needs to understand the importance of the union. To be honest the reputation of the union was one of the deciding factors for me in coming to study in the city and to see it in this compromised state is such a damn shame.”

Staff, he said, wanted a stake in the future of the business, and to be given minimum hour contracts and paid a living wage. “

“As a group most of us have been working together for years,” he added. “We’re not going to let this go without a fight.’’

Bethan Manton-Roseblade hasn’t had any work with the venue since the initial email. “Some people have had the odd shift but there is no guarantee of work, even when students return,” she said.

“There is no transparency whatsoever. It’s had a big impact on me both emotionally and financially.”

She agreed that Glasgow School of Art should not simply wash its hand of poor treatment of the union’s staff. “There is a complicated relationship there, but GSA gives the student association a grant to run the union so it clearly has power over the situation,” she added. “The good thing is we are a solid team and are working together to fight for better treatment and working conditions,” she added.

Staff are also angered by an email telling them that those who do get shifts will have conditions changed with unpaid breaks now only available for those working more than six-hour shifts. Staff meals are no longer free and after-hours staff drinks will be prohibited.

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Bryan Simpson, industrial organiser for Unite, said: “Our members at The Art School have been treated abysmally by what is supposed to be a charitable arm of one of the country’s leading educational institutions.

“The response to the grievance thus far has been disgraceful. Instead of engaging positively with our members, the leaders of the GSA and it’s student’s association have refused to hear the grievance, instead appointing a middle manager with absolutely no authority.

“We would urge the leaders of the GSA and student’s association to meet with us.’’

A spokesman for GSASA confirmed that it was involved in “ an official internal grievance process” and said it would not be appropriate to comment further.

A spokeswoman for the GSA stressed that the GSASA was a separate organisation, adding only that all decisions taken by its directors could only be directed to them, not the GSA.