GMB calls for new funding to secure fair pay for council workers

Council workers rallied outside Glasgow City Chambers today before a crunch meeting on pay and grading reform.

GMB Scotland members joined colleagues from other staff unions to call for additional funding for a new pay framework before councillors met to discuss the plan.

The union has urged the Scottish Government to unlock investment to ease the financial impact on 2600 workers facing salary reductions under the proposed pay and grading framework.

The union, one of the biggest at Glasgow City Council, called on the local authority to seek the immediate support of ministers as its City Administration Committee met to discuss the plans today.

Scores of GMB members from across the council - including strong delegations from cleansing and home care who fought for equal pay together in 2018 - rallied at the City Chambers in John Street along with colleagues from Unite and Unison.

Before the rally, Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in the public sector, said the prooposed framework covering 24,000 non-teaching staff will help secure fairer pay but must do more to safeguard workers at risk of losing money.

He said: “These proposals leave too many questions unanswered and too many risks unassessed.

“The salary of most of our members will be maintained or increased but more must be done to reduce the numbers at risk of losing salary and ease the financial impact.

“These are workers delivering the essential services the city is built on and this plan demands further funding to secure every possible support is in place.

“Our union has worked constructively with the council to end pay discrimination in Glasgow but, at this crucial stage, more could, should and must be done.”

GMB Scotland has also questioned  plans for a phased implementation needed because one fifth of the workforce has yet to be evaluated.

Those workers will be put on a temporary pay grade until being properly assessed, potentially putting them at risk of two pay cuts with the union warning: “Phased implementation is a recipe for disaster and future litigation.”

“Our union has worked constructively with the council to deliver equal pay not to pile unfairness on unfairness.”

ENDS