Staff wages could be cut as Glasgow City Council aims to end long-running equal pay dispute

Thousands of workers face having their wages cut if Glasgow City Council presses ahead with a deal to end a long-running pay dispute.

Councillors are set to be asked to back the phased roll-out of new terms and conditions for just under 24,000 non-teaching staff from April next year, when they meet on Thursday.

Around 11% of the staff affected will see a reduction in their earnings if the new pay and benefits scheme is implemented.

The new system is the “final step” in ending a decade-long pay dispute, during which the council has paid around £770 million to former and current staff.

The local authority has acknowledged that the plan would leave some roles “in detriment” and said that it will explore “every possible mitigation” to help those affected.

Where earnings decrease, pay will be protected for six months, while a new system of allowances and standardise the approach to public holidays will also be introduced.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: “I’m very conscious that, while this process is the end of a decades-long fight for equality for many of our staff, a smaller number are going to find it difficult.

“Where workers are facing a reduction in their earnings, that’s going to have a very real and very personal impact – and that’s something we all need to be mindful of.

“I’ve written to the chief executive to ask that we explore every possible mitigation, without compromising the integrity of the scheme.”

Since 2018, the council has made £770m in compensation payments to thousands of former and current staff.

The local authority has said that only a new pay and grading scheme can eradicate historic pay inequalities.

Around 80% of staff have already had their roles evaluated and will be ready to move onto the new pay and grading scheme in April.

Ms Aitken added: “When I became leader in 2017, Glasgow was trying to outrun an equal pay problem that was not only always going to catch up with it, but was getting bigger and bigger every day.

“None of this has been easy, but I think it’s now generally accepted that the consequences of not stepping forward to negotiate in good faith would have been catastrophic.”

Mr Sermanni, UNISON Glasgow city branch secretary, said his union, as well as Unite and the GMB, are planning to demonstrate ahead of the council meeting, demanding councillors vote down the “damaging” proposals.

He added: “Unions have worked with the council for eight years to try and develop an equality-proofed job evaluation scheme that delivers fair pay for everyone,” he said. “Despite our best efforts, the council’s proposals don’t come close to that.

“Thousands are facing significant financial loss, and it fails to fully compensate workers for the years of back pay owed. The phased implementation plans would leave one in five council employees on the old pay structure.

“Any new scheme must be equality-proofed and be properly funded. If the council is serious about delivering equal pay, they must urgently seek significant investment.

“The council risks repeating the mistakes of the past.”