WORKERS at Aberdeen City Council are to be balloted for industrial action over fire-and-rehire plans that could leave their pay frozen for two years. 

The local authority aims to slash its wage bill by £40 million over the next five years as part of a £183m cuts strategy.

Statutory consultation has already begun with staff as the council plans to tear up their contracts to reduce full-time working hours from 37 to 35 hours but hold their pay static for two years —proposals delivered by chief officers at the authority who enjoyed £19,000 pay rises last year alone.

On Monday, GMB Scotland became the first union to give formal notification of a strike ballot after an internal poll showed 89 per cent of respondents would be prepared to take industrial action to block the plans.

GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “It beggars belief that councils, or any public-sector organisation, would think this is an acceptable way to treat staff.

“Councils should be looking to the best employers for inspiration, not the worst and most unscrupulous.”

Union organiser Sean Robertson added: “The survey of our members revealed overwhelming opposition to these measures and dismay at the threat to drive them through.

“The threat of ‘fire and rehire’ is beyond the pale.”

A Labour Party motion at the council a fortnight ago echoed trade union calls for the plans to be axed but, voting it down, SNP councillor Christian Allard told the chamber he “did not want to interfere with the negotiations between our officers and the unions.”

Pressure is now mounting on the SNP-led council to ditch the plans, with local SNP MSP Kevin Stewart writing to Cllr Allard to demand that he “instruct officials to remove ‘fire and rehire’ from negotiations” and the Unite and Unison unions poised to launch their own ballots should the scheme be ratified at today’s budget meeting.

Ahead of a trade union and community protest outside that meeting, Aberdeen TUC president Tommy Campbell asked: “Do they really want to join the rogues’ gallery of employers who have adopted such a policy, like the infamous P&O Ferries? Councillors need to start listening.”

An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “We have now entered a period of formal consultation.

“We encourage trade unions and employees to participate fully in this process to help shape the development of proposals.”