Glasgow City Council and Unison reach agreement in pay and grading row, tell me about this news today

Glasgow City Council and trade union Unison have reached a breakthrough agreement following intensive negotiations and Scottish Government intervention, bringing an end to the immediate threat of “fire and rehire” tactics that had stalled talks over the council’s new pay and grading structure.

Key Developments

• Removal of ‘Fire and Rehire’: Negotiations had previously broken down after the council warned it would issue dismissal and re-engagement notices to enforce contractual changes. As part of the breakthrough, the council agreed not to issue these notices while union members consider the proposals.

  The Independent

• Extended Pay Protection: Unison secured significant concessions, including an increase to three years of pay protection for staff who face detriment or salary reductions under the re-evaluated job grades.

  The Independent

• Next Steps & Member Ballot: Unison clarified that the current agreement does not mean outright union acceptance of the entire package; rather, it establishes an agreed framework to put forward to union members. A formal ballot is scheduled to take place across October, running for approximately four weeks, allowing council staff to vote on whether to accept the deal.

  The Independent+ 1

Background

The long-running dispute centers on Glasgow City Council’s implementation of a new equal pay and grading system designed to rectify historic pay discrimination across thousands of council and care roles. The council has been working under pressure from oversight bodies to finalize the scheme ahead of planned rollout deadlines, while unions have pressed for adequate funding and protections so existing staff are not left financially disadvantaged.

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