John Alexander, Scottish Labour’s leader of the opposition, criticized the SNP-led Glasgow City Council for attempting to fire and rehire 23,000 non-teaching staff due to an equal pay dispute. He called on the council to “hang their heads in shame” over the controversial "fire and rehire" tactic, which was paused following intervention by Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth. Alexander also used his speech to urge the Scottish Government to support two new technical defense colleges, emphasizing collaboration for Scotland's future development.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
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.
The SNP-led authority announced on Thursday plans to sack 23,000 non-teaching staff, hiring them back on new contracts following a breakdown in talks with unions over a long-running equal pay dispute.
asserted
authority → lead → dispute
But it took less than 24 hours for the plan to be paused, after an intervention from Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth.
asserted
plan → take → Gilruth
“Just last Thursday, the SNP-led Glasgow City Council attempted to fire and rehire more than 20,000 of their employees,” he said.
asserted
he → lead → employees
“This is happening not in 1926, conference, but 2026.
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This → happen → 1926
“The SNP should hang their heads in shame.
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SNP → hang → shame
“Let us be very clear from Liverpool – fire and rehire is a pernicious policy that is a scandalous way to treat any worker.
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that → let → worker
“So I give you this pledge today: In just a matter of months, it will have been outlawed by this Labour Government.”
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it → give → Government
New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra urged delegates in Liverpool to back an emergency motion condemning the decision in Glasgow to “send the clearest possible message that the labour movement will never accept threats to working people”.
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movement → urge → people
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Ms Gilruth said the position from the council was “quite challenging”.
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position → speak → council
“None of us wanted to arrive at the position that we were in on Friday,” she said.
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she → want → Friday
“I’m very pleased that we were able to secure a pause in the process, that was my ask as Deputy First Minister that we pause the process to allow that intensive engagement to continue.
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engagement → ’m → process
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“So that’s exactly what we’ll be restarting from the beginning of next week to ensure we can get an outcome that will improve the pay of workers across Glasgow.
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that → read → Glasgow
“This relates to historic challenges that Glasgow City Council inherited in terms of equal pay, so they’re moving forward on those measures and we’ll work with the trade union partners to help support a resolution for the workforce.”
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we → relate → workforce
Glasgow City Council has been contacted for comment.
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Council → contact → comment
Mr Alexander also used his speech to call again for the Scottish Government to back two new technical defence colleges.
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Government → use → colleges
“My challenge from this stage to our First Minister John Swinney is to work with us, because it’s not John Swinney’s Scotland, it’s not my Scotland, it’s our Scotland, and we must work together for our nation to fulfil its true potential,” he said.
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he → work → potential
“John Swinney can choose to stand up for Scottish shipbuilding, or he can simply once again sit this one out.
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he → choose → one
Mr Marra, meanwhile, addressed Labour’s disastrous Holyrood election result in May, which saw just 17 MSPs elected.
uncertain
MSPs → address → May
“The joy of July 2024 gave way to the pain of May 2026 – and the results in May hurt,” he said in his first conference speech since taking over in the job earlier this month.
uncertain
he → give → job
“They hurt because we know Labour in power changes lives for the better.
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Labour → hurt → better
“Labour in power brings people together, while our opponents seek to divide us.
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opponents → bring → 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.
uncertain
we → have → votes
“Scotland knows what we are against.
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we → know → what
“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.”
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that → take → place
He added it is “my job” to tell Scots what Labour is in favour of, including “social justice, good work, good housing, good public services”.
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Labour → add → justice
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