Story perspectives

Glasgow Council’s pay plan risks 23,000 fire-rehires

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Glasgow City Council announced a pay and grading scheme that could fire and rehire up to 23,000 non-teaching staff.
Unison refused to ballot members on an offer that would cut pay for 11 % of council employees.
Council leader Ricky Bell said Unison members could still be dismissed while talks with GMB and Unite continued.
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said fire-and-rehire does not align with fair-work principles.

History

Historical Context

The 2022-23 wave of postal-worker strikes, triggered by a 9% pay offer from Royal Mail amid a cost-of-living crisis, demonstrated how large-scale restructuring provokes union backlash. That dispute saw Unite, GMB and Unison mobilise, a pattern echoed today as Glasgow City Council proposes similar terms for up to 23,000 non-teaching staff.

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Story summary

Glasgow City Council announced a pay and grading scheme that could fire and rehire up to 23,000 non-teaching staff.
Unison refused to ballot members on an offer that would cut pay for 11 % of council employees.
Council leader Ricky Bell said Unison members could still be dismissed while talks with GMB and Unite continued.
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said fire-and-rehire does not align with fair-work principles.

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