Council staff 'walk out' after being told of pay cuts

Workers in services across the council, including roads, parks, cleansing and schools have been informed they are affected by the new pay and grading system, and are among those who will be “in detriment”.

One-to-one meetings have taken place this week to tell those staff who will see a cut to their pay under the new scheme.

Letters will go out to all staff next week to tell them how they will be affected.

More than 2000 staff are expected to face a drop in wages under the new system which was approved by councillors last week.

Around 14,000 are due to get a pay rise under the deal.

Sources said a high number of staff have “walked  out” and  “gone off sick” after they had their meetings with managers when they were told their role was facing a cut.

The biggest cut is understood to be more than £11,500 a year but many in mid range grades are said to be looking at losing between £5000 and £6000 a year, while others already on a lower pay grade 1-4 face substantial losses including allowances being axed.

The Glasgow Times has been told of fears over the affordability of mortgages, and car finance, while others are worried about the impact on pensions.

One worker said they left in tears after their meeting.

They said: " I have more than 20 years service and they tell me I'm getting a pay cut.

"I'm angry, I'm frustrated. They also said those getting a pay cut won't get back pay we were expecting under a previous agreement.

"Everything is going up, mortgages, council tax, bills and the council is telling people their wages are going down. It's not fair."

The council’s City Administration Committee approved the new scheme last week, with SNP and Green councillors supporting and Labour voting against.

The deal included a 12 month pay protection for staff who will lose out.

Union members from GMB, Unison and Unite protested outside the City Chambers as councillors met to discuss the proposal last week.

Implementing the new pay and grading scheme follows eight years of talks with trade unions to end the equal pay saga that has cost the council around £770m in compensation to thousands of staff, mainly women and mostly in lower paid work.

Around 63% of staff will have pay higher than current levels, 26% will remain within their current pay grade and 11% will see pay fall below their current level.

Those who will see their pay rise will get three and a half years' worth of pay arrears back to October 2023.

It was also revealed 9% of staff in lower grades, 1-5, will lose out, around 1500 workers out of 16,000.

In the higher grades, 8 and above, it is 54%, with more than 300 out of 600 staff affected.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Individual information is currently being shared with staff in primary benchmark roles who may face a reduction in earnings. All workers in primary roles will receive personalised information next week.

 “Clearly, it would not be appropriate for the council to talk about specific roles before staff have received information.

 “It has always been recognised that service reform will be required to support the implementation of the new arrangements – including, for example, resolving any hierarchical disruptions.”