By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-25 09:51:07 | Updated at 2026-09-25 10:28:42
49 minutes ago
Over 20,000 council staff members in Glasgow will be sacked and rehired under new contracts after trade union discussions broke down.
Glasgow City Council says all of its non-teaching staff will be dismissed and reintroduced with new contracts, with details to be sent to individuals concerned next week.
It comes after a pay dispute between Unison, Unite, GMB and the council.
According to the council, GMB and Unite are to ballot members but Unison has refused to do so without providing a reason.
However, Unison has said it will "ballot its members on an offer once discussions have concluded" and argued that staff must not be "bounced into a shoddy deal".
A Unison organiser said that the council's decision represented "bosses trying to bully [staff] with arbitrary deadlines".
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra said: "It beggars belief that the SNP council is threatening to railroad through fire and rehire before it is made illegal in this country by the UK Labour Government.
"It may not break the letter or the law but it certainly breaks the spirit of it. It’s a despicable way to treat working people. It’s straight out the Tory playbook. All parties need to get round the table and hammer out a deal, and working people should never be threatened like this again."
Glasgow City Council has been under fire in the past over equal pay
PA
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government supported "fair work principles" but did not comment further on the situation faced by council staff.
It was put to him that Nicola Sturgeon had previously described fire and rehire as an "appalling practice".
Mr Gray said the issue was a matter for local government to negotiate on, adding: "I’ve led enough pay talks in my time to know that people commenting outside do not help those getting round the table.
"So I would encourage all of those involved, all partners, Glasgow City Council and the trade unions involved, to get around the table and to negotiate a solution."
Asked about the former First Minister's comments, he said the Scottish Government supports "fair work principles".
Neil Gray said Holyrood supported 'fair work principles'
PA
Mr Gray said the tenets of fair work are clear but did not elaborate further on the situation faced by Glasgow City Council workers.
Unison Scotland regional organiser Mandy McDowall said earlier: "Glasgow City Council staff are not going to be bounced into a shoddy deal by bosses trying to bully them with arbitrary deadlines.
"Clearly both sides need to keep talking to resolve matters fairly. The council’s decision to dismiss workers helps nobody."
She added: "For the avoidance of doubt, Unison will ballot its members on an offer once discussions have concluded."
Unison said it would ballot its members
Joanne, a learning support worker and one of the staff who could be impacted by fire and rehire, said she has been left "absolutely distraught".
She said: "I came away from my work crying and really, really upset. I couldn’t believe that after 25 years’ service to Glasgow City Council, I am getting let down yet again.
"They’ve let us down before through equal pay and we fought hard for that, and now I’m being let down again. 25 years, and I have never received the correct pay.
"Then to be told last two weeks ago that I am in detriment, this was heartbreaking. I am working with the most vulnerable children in society. I would put it to Glasgow City Council, please come and do my job for one day."
Michael Marra said it was 'straight out of the Tory playbook'
Unite industrial officer Graham McNabb said: "Glasgow City Council must remove direct threats to our membership in its proposed new pay and grading structure whether it is through cuts to terms and conditions, or the scandalous threat of fire and rehire tactics.
"If they go down this reckless path then it will be met with the full force of Unite."
