That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Glasgow City Council is planning to dismiss and rehire non-teaching staff from January 1 without a union ballot on new contracts in response to Unison's refusal. The Justice Secretary, Michael Russell, called for both sides to negotiate directly, distancing the Scottish Government from direct involvement despite previous statements against "fire and rehire" practices. Union representatives have criticized the council’s approach, emphasizing the need for fair negotiations rather than coercive tactics.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In October 2023, the Glasgow City Council planned to fire and rehire 23,000 non-teaching staff under new contracts to address a long-standing equal pay dispute. The unions protested this move, calling it "utterly immoral" and "shockingly deplorable." Following backlash and an intervention from Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth, the council announced on Friday that it had paused the controversial plan, allowing further negotiations with unions Unite, Unison, and GMB to take place. Workforce convener Councillor Allan Casey expressed relief at reaching a position where Acas could re-engage in discussions to secure a fair pay structure for the future. Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra urged delegates to condemn the decision, stating that fire and rehire is an "abhorrent" way to treat workers.
Written for “Glasgow Fire And Rehire Dispute” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
It 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.
asserted
which → say → January
The council said this move was in response to Unison refusing to ballot its members on a new offer.
However, Unison has said it will “ballot its members on an offer once discussions have concluded” and argued that staff must not be “bounced into a shoddy deal”.
asserted
staff → say → deal”
The Justice Secretary was asked about the dispute when he appeared on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme on Friday.
asserted
he → ask → Friday
It was put to him that Nicola Sturgeon had previously described fire and rehire as an “appalling practice”.
asserted
Sturgeon → put → practice
Mr Gray said the issue was a matter for local government to negotiate on, adding: “I’ve led enough pay talks in my time to know that people commenting outside do not help those getting round the table.
asserted
people → say → table
Asked about Ms Sturgeon’s comments, he said the Scottish Government supports “fair work principles”.
asserted
Government → ask → principles
He said the tenets of fair work are clear but did not elaborate further on the situation faced by Glasgow City Council workers.
Read More
asserted
tenets → say → More
On Thursday, director of corporate governance Colin Edgar said the council had gone “as far as it can” to resolve the equal pay dispute.
asserted
it → say → dispute
He said: “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.
“
asserted
who → say → pay
It beggars belief that they would betray their own members in this way.”
asserted
they → beggar → way
Unison Scotland regional organiser Mandy McDowall said earlier: “Glasgow City Council staff are not going to be bounced into a shoddy deal by bosses trying to bully them with arbitrary deadlines.
asserted
staff → say → deadlines
“Clearly both sides need to keep talking to resolve matters fairly.
asserted
sides → need → matters
The council’s decision to dismiss workers helps nobody.”
asserted
decision → dismiss → nobody
She added: “For the avoidance of doubt, Unison will ballot its members on an offer once discussions have concluded.”
asserted
discussions → add → offer
Unite industrial officer Graham McNabb said: “Glasgow City Council must remove direct threats to our membership in its proposed new pay and grading structure whether it is through cuts to terms and conditions, or the scandalous threat of fire and rehire tactics.
asserted
it → say → tactics
“If they go down this reckless path then it will be met with the full force of Unite.”
asserted
it → go → Unite
Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra said earlier: “It beggars belief that the SNP council is threatening to railroad through fire and rehire before it is made illegal in this country by the UK Labour Government.
asserted
it → say → Government
“It may not break the letter or the law but it certainly breaks the spirit of it.
uncertain
it → break → it
It’s a despicable way to treat working people.
asserted
It → ’ → people
It’s straight out the Tory playbook.
asserted
It → ’ → playbook
“All parties need to get round the table and hammer out a deal, and working people should never be threatened like this again.”
asserted
people → need → this
The Aporia
