The prospect of Scotland's largest local authority sacking 23,000 workers has been avoided after a trade union agreed to ballot its members over a controversial new pay deal.
Glasgow City Council bosses and Unison have been at loggerheads after local authority chiefs threatened to adopt Tory-style fire and rehire tactics if a deal could not be reached. The council is seeking to bring in a new pay structure after the previous one was found to discriminate against female workers – but Unison has raised concerns that some staff still do not know what their wage would be under the new system, and some will be worse off.
Pay protection increased to three years
The row over the fire-and-rehire plans, which would see 23,000 staff rehired on new contracts on January 1, prompted the Scottish Government to become involved. On Monday, union leaders said a proposal for pay protection for workers facing losses has been increased to three years.
The council has also agreed to continue discussions with Unison on outstanding issues including lower-paid workers, allowances, unevaluated jobs, equality impacts and the operation of the new pay model. Unison says the latest position creates a route towards a ballot of its membership.
Union leaders respond
“Unison stood firm because Glasgow’s workers deserved better than what was originally put on the table,” branch secretary Chris Sermanni said. “That position has secured significant movement. Staff will have three years’ pay protection and further commitments around workers facing detriment.
“There’s now a path for Unison members to give their verdict without the immediate threat of dismissal and re-engagement hanging over them. Importantly though, this isn’t Unison’s acceptance of the pay and grading package and the fight for improvements isn’t over.”
He said the period ahead will be used to keep fighting to give the whole workforce the information they need to make their decision. Sermanni said it will be Unison members who decide.
Ballot planned for October
According to union leaders, the council has agreed not to issue fire and rehire notices during the ballot process. Unison said important issues remain unresolved and negotiations will continue before members vote. The union is preparing for a ballot later in October, expected to run for approximately four weeks. The precise timetable will be confirmed to members once the remaining conditions and arrangements have been finalised.
David Hume, GMB organiser at the local authority, said the proposals have come after “seven years of hard negotiation”. “Every day workers are being underpaid is a day too long and there is no more time to lose,” Mr Hume said. “Our members at the council will now vote on these proposals as swiftly as possible.”
Hume said the local authority had introduced new financial supports, including £110 million to cover additional back pay, to address concerns raised by unions since the framework was approved by councillors in August. “We are satisfied these additional measures along with the protections already in place mean this framework will deliver fairer pay for workers across the council,” he said. “It is their voice that must be heard now. It is their decision to take.”
Council confirms agreement
Glasgow City Council confirmed it has reached an agreement with union leaders. Council leader Ricky Bell said the agreement removes the need for the council to consider dismissing and re-engaging staff and paves the way for the replacement of the city’s current discriminatory pay arrangements.
“I am delighted that we have been able to reach agreement with Unison,” Mr Bell said. “This deal means we are able to remove the unpalatable prospect of fire and rehire, with proposals put to members in a ballot later this month.
“This is a strong and fair deal. Both GMB and Unite have already agreed to take it to their members and, with all three unions now engaging with their memberships, we are moving closer to the outcome we have always wanted to achieve: ending pay discrimination in Glasgow City Council once and for all.”
