Glasgow Council reaches equal pay deal after selling popular landmark buildings

Glasgow City Council have agreed to pay over £700m to council workers with an aim to settle a long-running dispute over equal pay.

The deal has been struck between Glasgow Council and workers represented by Unison, the GMB and Unite and Action 4 Equality.

Campaigners within these institutions said workers in roles such as catering, or cleaning were receiving up to £3 an hour less than those in male-dominated areas, such as refuse collection.

In 2019, the local authority gave £505m to 13,000 council workers in the city in hopes to end a legal challenge over the unfair pay grade system. However, the sum only covered up to 2018.

Payments will now be made to a total of 19,000 current and former employees to cover the gap between the first agreement four years ago and the implementation of the new pay and grading system.

Glasgow Council has had to ‘sell and leaseback’ a range of its buildings, including the city’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the City Chambers to pay for the compensation.

Leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken said: ‘I am delighted we have reached agreement with claimants’ representatives and can deliver the final stage of the pay justice that many Glaswegian women have fought long and hard for.

‘We always knew that the lag between the first agreement four years ago and putting in place a new pay and grading structure meant additional payments would be made.

‘But despite the length, complexity and challenges of this process, not least the impact of the pandemic, the city government has never wavered in our commitment to ensuring these women were considered for the persistent undervaluing of their work over many years.’

Photo by Craig McKay