ABOUT GLASGOW AGAINST CLOSURES

Glasgow Against Closures was formed in 2021 to draw together the network of local groups campaigning to save their libraries, community centres and other venues from closures following the pandemic. We gained a lot of momentum in the summer of 2021, harnessing the strength of trade unions and local campaigns and communities to hold a mass demonstration through Glasgow to the People’s Palace. We followed this up with a demonstration at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, and then further protests in Glasgow at the City Council’s budget day and at the reopening of the Burrell Collection. In March 2022 we held an electoral hustings ahead of the May vote.

OUR DEMANDS

STOP THE CLOSURES!

The Council must do everything in their power to make sure that all publicly owned venues will never permanently close and all of them reopen as soon as possible.

THEY BELONG TO THE PEOPLE!

The Council must commit to keeping all our venues under public ownership, reject community asset transfers and shelve the controversial “People Make Glasgow Communities” scheme. This is the same model as David Cameron’s failed “Big Society” and will only lead to more unemployment where volunteers are given work that people used to be paid for and spiralling costs as these organisations bump up prices to maximise revenue. The people of Glasgow did not select a Tory council.

END GLASGOW LIFE

Some of the venues that are in question have been proudly owned by the people of Glasgow through two world wars and in a few short years Glasgow Life has single handedly run them into the ground. The Council must create a mechanism to bring the staff and assets of Glasgow back into direct Council management as done with the other failed Arm’s Length Organisations.