GLASGOW City Council has agreed to pause the process of firing and rehiring more than 20,000 staff following "constructive discussions".
The news comes after talks between Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government, GMB, Unite, and Unison took place on Friday afternoon.
The Glasgow Times reported on Thursday that all non-teaching staff at Glasgow City Council were to be told that they were being "dismissed" and issued with new contracts to impose a controversial new pay and grading scheme after talks broke down.
Workforce convener cllr Allan Casey says there will now be further negotiations with trade unions following the "constructive discussions" on Friday.
He said: "I’m pleased that we’ve reached a position following a meeting with the Scottish Government and the three unions where a pause has been agreed, allowing the ACAS package to be put back on the table and creating the space for further intensive negotiations with the joint trade unions.
"Our goal remains clear: to secure collective agreement on a new pay and grading scheme that is free from discrimination and can be put to the workforce in a ballot.
"Both I and the wider council leadership remain fully committed to working with trade unions and staff to deliver a fairer and more sustainable pay structure for the future."
The decision to fire and rehire staff was announced after talks with Unison broke down on Thursday, and the council said it had "no option" but to take the dramatic move of imposing the deal, which affects between 22,000 and 24,000 employees.
GMB and Unite unions were in favour of putting the deal to their members, which included an additional £110m but Unison decided not to, stating it was unfair.
Letters were expected to be sent to non-teaching staff next week, with new contracts taking effect from January 1.
Teachers are covered by a national pay agreement with Cosla and not included in the pay and grading scheme.
Earlier today, Colin Edgar said Glasgow City Council was in a "hellish situation" as he blamed Unison for the decision to force workers onto new contracts.
The communications and governance director said it was not too late to reverse the decision as he urged unions to get around the table.
He said: "It’s extremely difficult.
"It’s a hellish situation and nobody wants to do this.
"In the past, when Glasgow City Council has dismissed (workers) and re-engaged them, we have not done it lightly, and we haven’t taken this decision lightly.
"We absolutely do not want to do this. Two of our trade unions were together with us on a plan to not do this.
"One of them was not, and it’s really important that we get back around the table and agree what to do."
Chris Sermanni, Unison Glasgow City brand secretary, says the union "welcome" the decision to pause the fire-and-rehire process and recommence talks next week.
He said: "However, these discussions must be productive and must be underpinned by increased funding to address the concerns we have raised with the Scottish government today."
Lillian Macer, Unison Scottish secretary, continued: "We have said all along that we will not be bullied into accepting a shoddy deal for council staff.
"It’s welcome news that workers are no longer facing the immediate threat of fire and rehire, and we hope the talks next week can make meaningful progress.
"Unison will continue to stand with Glasgow’s council workers and press for a fair deal that properly recognises the concerns they have raised."
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth added: “I am pleased that Glasgow City Council has agreed to pause the process of dismissing staff so that all partners can get back around the table for intensive negotiations to focus on bringing a resolution to this dispute.
“Given the significance of this situation and the impact on staff, I wanted to bring all parties together to make clear that I expect negotiations between the council and unions to continue so that a collective agreement can be reached and bring an end to discriminatory pay practices.
“My expectation is that all parties act in line with the principles of fair work and continue to exhaust all avenues for collective agreement.
“The Scottish Government opposes the inappropriate use of fire and rehire and our position is that such a practice does not align with the principles and expected practice of fair work.”
Commenting on the pause to the council's fire and rehire plans, Scottish Labour Leader Michael Marra said: "While a pause is welcome, the SNP now need to take this ludicrous threat off the table entirely.
"The work of trade unions has halted this crazy situation for now.
"It is simply unbelievable that this has gone on at all, but the depths of the SNP in Glasgow’s incompetence is unfathomable.
"Thousands of workers should never have had their jobs on the line.
"This should never have happened and can never be allowed to happen again.
"I am proud that fire and rehire will be illegal from January thanks to our Labour Government standing up for working people."
The council has been in negotiations with unions over its plans to implement a new pay and grading system after the previous one was found to discriminate mostly against female workers.
Pay for most staff will stay the same or rise. However, around 11% will see their wages cut, with some by more than £10,000.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that domestic abuse advocacy workers warned they were facing salary cuts of more than £10,000 under Glasgow City Council's new pay and grading scheme, prompting fears for staff retention and the future of the service.
A Glasgow City Council support for learning worker also said she was left feeling undervalued after discovering she faced a pay cut under the local authority's new pay and grading scheme.
In relation to the equal pay dispute at Glasgow City Council, in a statement on behalf of UNITE, UNISON and GMB trade unions, an STUC Spokesperson said: “We are pleased at the lifting of the threat of fire and rehire and that meaningful negotiations will take place next week.
“We also welcome the Scottish Government's clear statement that the practice of fire and rehire' does not align with the principles and expected practice of Fair Work.”
