TRADE unionists gathered in Glasgow today to protest against proposed fire-and-rehire plans set out for staff at the University of Glasgow. 

Unite Scotland organised a demonstration prompted by a campus-wide review that will result in some workers losing thousands of pounds per year in take-home pay and removal of protection for the terms and conditions of in-house catering staff.  

While catering outlets have been closed on campus and the staff made redundant, the new James McCune Smith Building’s catering operations will be staffed by a new wholly owned subsidiary company that is solely profit-driven. 

In a consultative ballot on the proposals, 88 per cent of responses rejected the detrimental changes, with the same amount claiming they are prepared to take industrial action. 

Unite industrial officer Alison Maclean said the protest shows the “palpable anger” felt among members. 

She said: “The University of Glasgow appears to be rolling out the appalling fire-and-rehire practices that have scourged the economy since the onset of the pandemic. 

“It’s a flagrant breach of the Scottish government’s ‘fair work first’ principles.”

Unite says its members should have been transferred to the new firm and their terms and conditions protected; now members are facing redundancy or being expected to sign up to inferior terms and conditions, with no automatic recognition of trade unions.

Ms Maclean said: “The workers are not going to go away quietly, and we will challenge these unscrupulous practices every step of the way. 

“Many of these staff are the lowest paid and have continued to work on campus tirelessly throughout the pandemic. The thanks they get is a slap in the face from an employer who heavily relies on the public purse.”

The University of Glasgow was approached for comment.