By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-25 21:15:48 | Updated at 2026-09-25 22:05:31
1 hour ago
Glasgow City Council has paused plans to fire and rehire more than 20,000 employees on revised contracts after a wave of backlash and accusations of "bullying".
The proposed changes had been due to come into effect on New Year's Day, and followed the collapse of negotiations aimed at resolving a long-running equal pay dispute involving GMB, Unite and Unison.
Glasgow City Council said it had "agreed to pause the process of dismissing and re-engaging staff following constructive discussions with the Scottish government and trade unions".
Councillor Allan Casey said: "I'm pleased that we've reached a position following a meeting with the Scottish government and the three unions where a pause has been agreed."
He said the council's objective had not changed, adding: "Our goal remains clear: to secure collective agreement on a new pay and grading scheme that is free from discrimination and can be put to the workforce in a ballot."
According to Mr Casey, the decision to pause the proposed dismissals would provide an opportunity for negotiations to resume.
He said it would allow "the ACAS package to be put back on the table" and "create the space" for further talks.
The dispute had intensified after the council said GMB and Unite had agreed to put an offer to their members in a ballot.
The authority said the proposal "would have seen a substantial injection of cash to fund additional back pay and take the possibility of dismissals off the table".
The council subsequently said Unison had withdrawn its backing for the proposal.
That account was disputed by Sylvia Haughney, Glasgow education convener at Unison, who rejected suggestions that her union was responsible for the impasse. She described the local authority's claims as "misleading" and "false".
Ms Haughney also criticised the proposed use of fire and rehire, describing the policy as "utterly immoral" and "shockingly deplorable", with the majority of employees facing reductions in pay being women.
The council's position had also come under scrutiny before Friday's announcement.
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra had criticised the council's approach, saying: "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."
Meanwhile, 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."
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government supported "fair work principles" but did not comment further on the situation faced by council staff.
