Scotland's deputy first minister has called on Glasgow City Council to pause its plans to fire and rehire workers. Jenny Gilruth said the Scottish government did not support fire and rehire schemes and urged the council and trade unions to get back around the negotiating table. The council threatened to sack more than 23,000 members of staff and then rehire them on new contracts after negotiations with unions over equal pay proposals broke down.
The talks were about the council's plans to replace a pay system found to discriminate against mostly women workers. The changes would see the majority of staff unaffected or better off, but they would cut pay for 11% of staff. Gilruth, who is also the finance secretary, confirmed that she had been in talks with the council and the trade unions that will reconvene later, adding that some progress had been made.
She said: "We are asking for a pause from Glasgow City Council, we are asking for a rethink and asking for the trade unions to come back to the table. "We have made a bit of progress and I will continue to engage with them throughout the day and probably into next week to try and find a resolution for the workers." One Glasgow City Council worker described the situation as "heartbreaking". Joanne, a support for learning worker from Glasgow, said the local authority "had a cheek to say they care about their employees" after she read the council's message saying it was dismissing all staff.
She was told two weeks ago that she would be one of the workers facing a pay cut under the new system, leaving her "distraught". She will lose about £300 per year. She said: "I came away from my work crying - really, really upset.
I couldn't believe that after 25 years' service to Glasgow City Council, I am getting let down yet again." She continued: "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 - one day only. "It is so wrong, and I can't afford to lose money." Glasgow City Council to fire and rehire over 23,000 employees Hundreds of council workers face wages cut in end to equal pay row At a meeting last month, the council agreed to an overhaul of its pay and grading structure after eight years of negotiations.
The council has previously paid over £770m to 19,000 claimants after it emerged that female workers in roles such as catering or cleaning were paid less than those in male-dominated areas such as refuse collection. The new system would see 63% of those affected gain financially, while 11% would have their wages reduced. It was calculated after a job evaluation programme looked at each role within the local authority.
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