Story perspectives

Glasgow Council Pauses Fire-and-Rehire Plan for 23,000 Staff

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 11:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Glasgow City Council paused its fire-and-rehire plan for over 23,000 non-teaching staff.
The pause followed talks chaired by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth and a union commitment to negotiate a pay deal.
The scheme would raise or maintain pay for 63% of staff while cutting wages for 11%, up to £11,500 annually.
Unite, GMB and Unison warned they would immediately start an industrial dispute if the plan resumed.

History

Historical Context

In July 1978 Chancellor Denis Healey set a 5 percent pay limit that Prime Minister James Callaghan kept through the winter of 1978-79, sparking the Winter of Discontent’s mass strikes. The episode showed how wage restraint can trigger industrial unrest, a pattern echoed today as UK councils confront fire-and-rehire disputes and renewed union pressure.

1 of 2

Story summary

Glasgow City Council paused its fire-and-rehire plan for over 23,000 non-teaching staff.
The pause followed talks chaired by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth and a union commitment to negotiate a pay deal.
The scheme would raise or maintain pay for 63% of staff while cutting wages for 11%, up to £11,500 annually.
Unite, GMB and Unison warned they would immediately start an industrial dispute if the plan resumed.

1 / 2