Update on Glasgow City Council's Equal Pay Programme: Collective agreement

The Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council, Susanne Millar, has issued a new update on the council's Equal Pay Programme. As you will be aware, Glasgow Life is an associated employer of Glasgow City Council, and so this also relates to our colleagues. You can read the update in full below:

Dear colleagues,

This is a further update on the implementation of our new pay and grading scheme.

You will recall that our current pay arrangements are discriminatory and must be replaced. The council has been trying to reach a collective agreement with your trade unions in order to implement a new pay and grading scheme.

I wrote to you recently explaining that we were at that stage unable to reach a collective agreement and because of that situation, I confirmed we would need to write to everyone giving notice that the current pay arrangements would come to an end, effectively terminating all current contracts. This step was the only way to ensure that we could replace an inequitable pay structure with one which paid equally for equal work.  A pause was placed on those letters to allow for discussions with ACAS and the Scottish Government and avoid a mixed approach being taken across Trade Unions if at all possible.

I am delighted to confirm that we now have agreement of all three trade unions to ballot their members on the council's final proposal. The proposal includes increased backpay, and three years' pay protection from April 2027 to the end of March 2030. This exhausts the funding available for the implementation of PGS.

The proposal also includes commitments to prioritise service reform which will support employees facing a reduction in pay, and also prioritise those in detriment should they submit an appeal. In addition, we have reiterated our commitment to keep discussing specific areas of concern with Trade Unions.

As all three trade unions have agreed to put the proposal to their members in a ballot, the council will not issue dismissal letters. Union members will now have the opportunity to vote on the proposal.

If your role has not yet been fully evaluated, you will be asked to vote on the proposal before your new grade and basic pay are confirmed. We have made proposals to your trade unions, aiming to complete all secondary benchmark roles and the majority of unique role evaluations at the earliest opportunity.

If you have any questions, please contact me at asksusanne@glasgow.gov.uk. Support is also available through PAM Assist, our free and confidential Employee Assistance Provider, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 247 1100.

Thank you, as always, for your patience and professionalism, and for your continued commitment to delivering services for the people of Glasgow.

Susanne Millar

Chief Executive

Glasgow City Council

Managers: Please share this with colleagues who do not have regular email access.