GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL STEPS BACK FROM THE BRINK
Glasgow City Council has agreed to pause the process of dismissing and re-engaging staff following constructive discussions with the Scottish Government and trade unions yesterday.
Workforce convener Cllr Allan Casey said:”I’m pleased that we’ve reached a position following a meeting with the Scottish Government and the three unions where a pause has been agreed, allowing the ACAS package to be put back on the table and creating the space for further intensive negotiations with the joint trade unions.
“Our goal remains clear: to secure collective agreement on a new pay and grading scheme that is free from discrimination and can be put to the workforce in a ballot.
“Both I and the wider Council leadership remain fully committed to working with trade unions and staff to deliver a fairer and more sustainable pay structure for the future.”
In a statement on behalf of UNITE, UNISON and GMB trade unions, an STUC Spokesperson said: We are pleased at the lifting of the threat of fire and rehire and that meaningful negotiations will take place next week.
“We also welcome the Scottish Government’s clear statement that the practice of fire and rehire’ does not align with the principles and expected practice of Fair Work.”
Equal pay talks between GLasgow Council and trade unions broke down on Thursday.
In a statement then, the council said: “Recent intensive talks between Glasgow City Council and the Joint Trade Unions have broken down without agreement.
There is now no agreed way forward between the council and the joint trade unions. This means that in order to lawfully bring our discriminatory pay and grading structure to an end and replace it with a non-discriminatory scheme we will have to dismiss all of our non teaching staff and issue new contracts. Letters will be sent to staff next week and the new contracts will take effect on January 1st.
“In the last week the Council put forward an offer which would have seen a substantial injection of cash to fund additional back pay and take the possibility of dismissals off the table.
The Council offer was dependant on all three TU’s balloting their members to let them determine whether the offer was acceptable – GMB and UNITE agreed to ballot members and avoid dismissal letters being issued but Unison regrettably withdrew their support on Wed Sept 23. They have made it clear that they are not prepared to ballot their members. They provided no substantive reason for this.
Director of Communications and Corporate Governance Colin Edgar said: “The council has gone as far as it can. The new pay and grading scheme removes unequal pay and sees pay rise or stay the same for 90% of staff – the council’s total pay bill will be substantially higher.
“For those staff who are in detriment our Joint Trade Unions negotiated an increase in pay protection from 6 months to 12 months. Additionally, some Trade Unions are devoting energy to local consultations to mitigate the impact on those colleagues in detriment – focussing on providing specific solutions.
“We acknowledge the joint statement made by GMB and Unite unions earlier today. Officials had hoped to have further talks with UNISON this afternoon to understand why they are not willing to consult their members, but they did not attend a scheduled meeting.
“The offer which has been unilaterally rejected by UNISON would have taken dismissals off the table and seen additional cash for those members of staff, and members of all unions, who are due back pay.
“It beggars belief that they would betray their own members in this way.
“If the Joint Trade Unions ballot their members on these enhanced terms and make a collective agreement we will of course withdraw these notices. If they are unable to do that then staff will be reengaged on the terms set out in the recently agreed City Administration Committee report which do not include the enhancements.
“We understand that issue of dismissal notices, regardless of how much we reassure people that we intend to re-engage, will cause significant concern to our staff which is why we have worked so hard to avoid this necessity. We value our staff and we want their service with us to continue. This is purely precautionary, but it could and should have been avoided.”