Stop the Glasgow pay and grading robbery

By Socialist Party Scotland members in Glasgow City UNISON

On Thursday 20th August, Glasgow City councillors will vote on whether to betray the demands of Glasgow’s equal pay fighters. The new proposed pay and grading scheme, as it stands, is a disgrace. As the trade unions have said they are “completely inadequate” and “unacceptable” and must be rejected.

Equality proofing of the new pay scheme is gone under these plans. The structure of the new pay and grading model is unacceptable, as are the plans for a phased implementation of the new deal.

Put bluntly, Glasgow City Council is looking to rob thousands of largely working-class women of the money they deserve for past crimes against them and short-change them in the future as well.

They are in danger of repeating the same mistakes of the previous pay scheme in 2006. The one that led to years of legal action and culminated in the two-day mass equal pay strike in 2018.

As in 2018, determined action by the trade unions can force the council back. And the demands of the trade unions are clearly justified.

Arrears payments

The equal pay victory in 2019 ensured £800 million in compensation for workers who had suffered years of gender-based unfair and unequal pay. The council agreed to pay further compensation from October 2023 to the start of the new pay and grading scheme due in April 2027.

The council’s proposed payment calculation for this completely unacceptable. Based as it is on short-changing thousands of workers by basing compensation on their entry-level wage to the council.

Pay protection

The council’s proposal is to allow pay protection for only six months for those who are facing a reduced salary. The trade unions have described this as having a “devastating” impact on workers and their families. With currently 11% of the around 24,000 employees facing a loss in wages, it means thousands of workers facing a cliff edge by the end of next year.

Phased implementation

Around one-in-five current Glasgow council workers will not be covered by the new structure. They will be moved at a later stage onto a yet unknown pay and grading level. What trade union worthy of the name would agree to allowing 20% of the workforce to be left in such a position?

The trade unions have been clear from the start: the new pay and grading scheme must be FULLY FUNDED, EQUALITY-PROOFED and FAIR.

As Chris Sermanni, Glasgow UNISON branch secretary, said: “Thousands are facing significant financial loss, and it fails to fully compensate workers for the years of back pay owed. The phased implementation plans would leave one in five council employees on the old pay structure”

“If the council are serious about delivering equal pay, they must urgently seek significant investment. The council risks repeating the mistakes of the past”

It’s clear that the council’s proposals must be rejected. And that the trade unions need to prepare to return to strike action unless the council agrees to the demands of the workforce and their unions.

Against the backdrop of further cuts to council budgets, it’s vital that a fighting political alternative is built in the city. One that fights for full funding of council services and an end to making the working class in Glasgow pay for the economic crisis.

Socialist Party Scotland is helping to prepare a 100% anti-cuts election challenge for the council election next year. We are also campaigning for the trade unions to build a new mass party for the working class to fight for socialism.

• Join the trade union demonstration 9.30am, 45 John Street, Thursday 20 August