SNP and Lib Dem councillors have united to keep the threat of fire and rehire hanging over workers heads in Aberdeen.

Elected members arrived at they city council’s budget meeting on Wednesday to be greeted by dozens of workers infuriated at the SNP-led administration’s plans to shorten the working week from 37 hours to 35, but freeze workers’ pay for two years in a bid to save £5 million.

The option of meting the real-terms pay cut by sacking council workers en masse and rehiring them on the new terms has met with overwhelming opposition from staff, resulting in Unison and Unite actively considering a strike ballot, and the GMB launching one on Monday.