Labour’s new leader in Glasgow council has called for fat cat council bosses to have their pay frozen.
George Redmond urged senior employees on more than £90,000 to show “empathy” by agreeing to no rises for five years.
Council workers in refuse, schools and social care could take strike action in the summer over a 2% pay offer.
Unions believe the increase is not nearly enough and way below the sky-high rate of inflation.
In Glasgow, a number of senior employees in the council and related arms-length firms earn six figure salaries.
Redmond, who became Labour’s group leader in May after toppling Malcolm Cunning, is demanding pay restraint in the upper echelons.
“We’ve got people on the breadline who are working for all hours of the day. The jobs they are doing are vital and they are only being offered a 2% rise. This will not even nearly cut it,” he said.
“The senior officers with the broadest shoulders need to show a bit of empathy. Those on over £90,000 a year or more should have their pay frozen for five years.”
According to the council’s latest annual accounts, seven senior council employees are listed as falling into the Redmond category.
Chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell received £186,860 in “salary, fees and allowance” in 2020/21, with Finance Director Martin Booth earning £141,716.
Carole Forrest, who was Solicitor to the Council before leaving her post last year, earned £121,516 in the same period, while the now-retired education chief Maureen McKenna was on £146,548.
George Gillespie, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, enjoyed a salary of £146,548, former strategic adviser Anne Connolly earned £97,689, while the figure for head of communications Colin Edgar stood at £97,689.
Peter Duthie at the Scottish Event Campus Ltd, which is majority owned by the council, earned £184,861, while colleague William McFadyen’s salary came in at £136,357.
Executives at spin off firms City Building and City Parking also earned over £100,000 in the same year.
A council spokesman said: “This isn’t within the council’s control. Pay awards are agreed with unions by Cosla, not individual councils.”
On the SEC Ltd, where the council said they do not have a majority on the board, the council spokesman added:
“This isn’t within the council’s control. Pay awards for staff are agreed with unions by Cosla, not individual councils. And in some of the cases identified, the individuals are neither employed by the council or paid from public funds.”
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