Key facts
- Glasgow city council and Unison reached a pay and grading agreement.
- The deal averts a 'fire-and-rehire' plan affecting 23,000 non-teaching staff.
- Staff at risk of dismissal will have their pay protected for three years.
- Unison will ballot its members on the agreement this month.
- GMB and Unite have agreed to take the deal to their members.
Glasgow city council has reached an agreement with the trade union Unison over pay and grading, averting a plan that would have put 23,000 non-teaching staff at risk of dismissal and rehiring on potentially less favorable terms. The council had previously informed staff of the risk of dismissal and reappointment after talks with unions, including Unison, broke down over a new pay and grading system designed to resolve historical equal pay issues.
The original proposal that led Unison to walk out of negotiations would have resulted in wage cuts for 11% of staff. Under the new agreement, the council has agreed to protect their pay for three years. Unison stated that many issues remain unresolved and that negotiations will continue, particularly on the equality impacts of the new pay structure. The union will now ballot its members on the agreement, a process expected to last four weeks.
Ricky Bell, the leader of Glasgow city council, called the deal "strong and fair" and expressed delight at removing the "unpalatable prospect of fire-and-rehire." He noted that GMB and Unite have also agreed to take the deal to their members. Bell emphasized that no further funds were available as part of the package and thanked the Scottish government for its support in reaching the agreement.
Chris Sermanni, Unison’s Glasgow city branch secretary, said the union stood firm to secure significant movement, allowing members to give their verdict without the immediate threat of dismissal. He added that the workforce would be provided with the necessary information to make their decision.