Marra condemns Glasgow City Council over shelved plans to fire and rehire thousand of workers

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra condemned Glasgow City Council over its threat to fire and rehire thousands of employees at the party’s conference in Liverpool.

The SNP-led local authority had threatened to sack more than 20,000 workers and re-employ them on new contracts after negotiations over equal pay with trade unions collapsed.

But the decision was made to pause those plans on Friday after the Scottish Government intervened.

At the Labour Party Conference on Sunday, Marra said he wanted to send a message that threats to working people were never acceptable.

“This conference will debate an emergency motion condemning the council, backing our trade unions, and calls for the threat of fire and rehire to be taken off the table for good.

“Conference, I ask you, back that motion, send a clearest possible message that the Labour movement will never accept threats to working people.”

The three trade unions and Glasgow City Council are expected hold further talks to find a resolution next week.

The fallout comes as the local authority plans to implement a new pay and grading system after the previous one was found to discriminate mostly against female workers.

The proposals meant pay for most staff would stay the same or rise. However, around 11% would see their wages cut, with some by more than £10,000.

The council had said that in order to end the current pay arrangements, all non-teaching staff would be dismissed and rehired under new contracts, which would take effect from January 1.

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.”

Meanwhile, Mr Marra also addressed Labour’s dismal performance at the Holyrood election in May.

He said: “The joy of July 2024 gave way to the pain of May 2026 – and the results in May hurt.

“They hurt because we know Labour in power changes lives for the better.

“Labour in power brings people together, while our opponents seek to divide us.

“In Scotland, we have some difficult truths to face up to – May was the sixth Holyrood election in a row where we have lost votes and seats.

“Scotland knows what we are against.

“We are against an SNP Government that has been in power too long, a Tory Party that should never be in power again, and a Reform party that would take us and this country to a dark and dangerous place.”