Talks between Glasgow City Council and Unison 'break down again' amid fire and rehire plans

Talks between Glasgow City Council and trade union Unison have once again "broken down" after plans to fire and rehire 23,000 workers were put on hold.

The local authority last week revealed proposals to dismiss and re-engage all of its non-teaching staff after negotiations over a long-running equal pay dispute failed to end in a deal.

The council is aiming to implement a new pay and grading system after the previous one was found to discriminate mostly against female workers.

However, some staff will see their wages cut by almost £11,000.

A council representative told Sky News that GMB and Unite had agreed to ballot members on its offer, but Unison withdrew its support, which subsequently led to the fire and rehire plans.

The announcement sparked a public backlash, with the proposals put on ice after Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth intervened and got all parties back round the table.

In an update on Wednesday evening, the local authority said talks between the council and Unison had "once again broken down".

The council said it was able to secure funding for an additional year of pay protection, but claimed the union was refusing to put the offer to its members in a ballot.

As a result, the council said, the pause in issuing letters to Unison members has now ended, although it is continuing to work with Unite and GMB to ensure that their members are not dismissed and reengaged.

Glasgow City Council leader Ricky Bell said "detailed discussions" with these unions will take place from Thursday morning to "finalise these details".

He added: "I'm deeply disappointed that, despite the council putting a further year of pay protection on the table, Unison has once again chosen not to put this offer to its members.

"Taken together with the improvements made since August, this represents a package well over a hundred million in extra pay for our staff.

"We listened carefully throughout these negotiations and went the extra mile to address concerns and improve the offer.

"However, some of the remaining demands were simply unworkable. In particular, proposals for additional allowances would in fact have had a detrimental impact on some employees.

"I am disappointed that Unison members have been denied the opportunity to have their say on a deal which would have delivered significant improvements for many employees, additional protections for those facing detriment, and a clear route to finally ending pay discrimination in Glasgow.

"This is an understandably difficult and uncertain time for staff, and support will continue to be available through the council for those directly affected by this decision."

Sylvia Haughney, Glasgow education convener at Unison, previously described the fire and rehire plans as "utterly deplorable" as she branded the council's offer a "shoddy deal".

Unison has been contacted for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Talks between Glasgow City Council and Unison 'break down again' amid fire and rehire plans