FURIOUS trade unionists were thrown out of an Aberdeen City Council meeting today after the SNP-led local authority insisted on holding a debate on its fire-and-rehire policy behind closed doors.

The council is threatening to use the widely condemned tactic to impose a new contract on more than 3,000 workers, cutting the full-time working week from 37 to 35 hours and freezing pay for two years.

As a result, the GMB union is threatening strike action and Unite is balloting on a call for walkouts.

In its third attempt to force the SNP-Liberal Democrat administration to ditch the threat of fire and rehire, the city’s Labour group called a special council meeting to consider a motion highlighting that the authority stands to lose millions of pounds in grant funding if it violates the Scottish government’s Fair Work guidelines by resorting to the anti-worker policy, and that such action could even breach the Equality Act 2010.

After rallying outside, trade unionists packed the public gallery to hear the debate, but the council insisted that the debate be held behind closed doors, citing a need for confidentiality during negotiations between officers and unions.

The gallery was cleared to cries of “shame” as the online transmission was cut. 

Condemning the decision to exclude the public from the debate,  Aberdeen TUC’s Tommy Campbell told the Morning Star: “Shame on those councillors who chose to keep some council officers in the meeting and not others.

“We see clearly there is an ‘us and them’ culture at Aberdeen City Council.

“Those at the top not covered by these proposals, who have already seen hefty pay rises, were allowed to stay, while workers affected were told to leave. It’s disgraceful.”

The council was contacted for comment.