fire-and-rehire

Fire-and-rehire is a controversial employment practice where an employer dismisses staff and then offers to re-employ them on new, often less favourable, terms and conditions. This tactic has recently gained significant attention due to a large-scale "fire-and-rehire" plan by Glasgow City Council, affecting approximately 23,000 non-teaching staff. The plan was initiated after negotiations with trade unions (Unison, GMB, and Unite) over pay and grading broke down. The council aimed to implement a new system to resolve historical equal pay issues, but unions resisted balloting members on the proposed changes. This situation became particularly newsworthy as it represented one of the UK's largest potential "fire-and-rehire" exercises. However, recent developments indicate a potential resolution, as Glasgow City Council has reached an agreement with the Unison union over pay and grading, averting the planned dismissals and rehires. This ongoing situation highlights the contentious nature of "fire-and-rehire" tactics and the significant impact they can have on workers' rights and industrial relations.