Full Breakdown
Glasgow City Council Plans Mass Dismissals and Re-hire of All Non-Teaching Staff
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Plan and Immediate Timeline
Glasgow City Council will issue dismissal notices to its entire non-teaching workforce and offer new contracts effective January 1. Letters are to be mailed next week; the notices will be withdrawn if the three unions—GMB, Unite and Unison—agree to ballot members on the enhanced pay offer. Legal advisers warn that after December 31 the only lawful route to replace the current pay and grading structure is dismissal and re-engagement on new terms.
Background & Context
The council’s 2006 pay and grading framework was found to discriminate against predominantly female workers, leading to equal-pay settlements costing the city roughly £770 million. After eight years of negotiations, the City Administration Committee approved a new, non-discriminatory scheme on August 20 by a vote of 13-9. The council says the overhaul is required to comply with equal-pay law and to modernise remuneration.
Data & Statistics
- Staff affected: between 23,000 and 25,000 non-teaching employees, including the chief executive, nursery staff and refuse collectors.
- Pay outcomes: 63 % will receive a rise or see pay unchanged; 11 % will face a reduction. The steepest loss is projected at £11,500 per year, mainly affecting higher-graded roles; 54 % of upper-band staff face cuts versus 9 % of lower-band staff.
- Financial package: the offer includes an additional £110 million for back pay and a 12-month protection period for those whose wages are reduced.
Official Statements & Responses
Chief executive Susanne Millar expressed empathy for staff, noting she had sought a meeting with Unison that “unfortunately… did not attend.”
Criticism & Opposition
Unison regional organiser Mandy McDowall accused the council of “bullying” staff with “arbitrary deadlines” and warned the dismissal strategy could label the authority a “pariah employer.” Unite industrial officer Graham McNabb called the fire-and-rehire threat “scandalous” and pledged to meet it with “the full force of Unite.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of employees subject to the plan, citing both 23,000 and up to 25,000 staff. The proportion of workers facing wage cuts is presented as 11 % overall, but a breakdown shows 54 % of upper-band staff versus 9 % of lower-band staff. No public timetable has been provided for the promised ballot on the £110 million offer, leaving a gap in the process for union members.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This letter is being sent to all of our non-teaching staff, including all of our senior team.” — Ms Millar, chief executive
- “Pay and Grading must be delivered, but it must be delivered fairly and with the workforce, not imposed on them,” — Cllr Hussain
- “It beggars belief that they would betray their own members in this way.” — Unison representative