Glasgow City Council Approves Pay Overhaul to End Dispute

The Glasgow City Council City Administration Committee approved a new pay and grading system on August 20, 2026, to resolve an equal pay dispute that has cost the city approximately £770 million. The overhaul affects nearly 24,000 non-teaching workers, with 63 percent receiving pay increases and 11 percent facing reductions, some as high as £11,500 annually. Pay increases will be backdated to October 2023 and funded through at least £100 million in borrowing.

Susan Aitken, the council leader, defended the 13-9 vote as the only method to end systemic pay discrimination. She rejected requests for the Scottish Government to fund the implementation, stating the issue was a local problem created by previous local decisions. The proposal passed with support from SNP and Green councillors, while Labour councillors opposed the measure.

Labour and trade unions, including Unison, GMB, and Unite, criticized the plan as incomplete. Opponents raised concerns over a fire and rehire mechanism and the fact that 20 percent of roles remain unevaluated. Union representatives argued that pay protection arrangements are inadequate and that the council failed to put workers first during the decision-making process.