Council staff to vote on equal pay deal

AROUND 5,000 Oldham Council workers are to be balloted on a groundbreaking pay agreement which could see some get more and others less in their pay packet.

Oldham is the first local authority in Greater Manchester to agree the basis of a new collective agreement with staff on pay and grading, and the terms and conditions of their employment.

The move is part of a drive to ensure equal pay, and affects local authorities nationwide.

The council worked closely with the GMB, Unison and Unite trade unions to create the new pay and grading structure.

It says most salaries will remain unaffected.

Those expecting a pay rise are mainly lower-paid workers, such as cleaners, caterers and care workers, while those facing a pay cut will be white-collar office staff.

Three months of consultation with staff have seen the proposals amended so anyone set to lose pay won’t see any change in their pay packets for two years.

It will take effect from January, 2013, and the working week for all council employees will be 36.66 hours.

The next step will see trade union members balloted on whether to accept the amended package.

The ballot starts this week and will end in early January, with a final decision on the new pay and grading structure made by councillors at the February 2 council meeting.

Councillor Howard Sykes, Oldham Council’s leader, said the proposals, if approved, will see an end to outdated ways of working and introduce more flexible practices better suited to meet residents’ demands.

He said: “We are delighted to have reached the basis of this collective agreement which is an important milestone for the council, its staff and council-tax payers alike.

“It was right to progress the implementation of a new pay and grading scheme to meet our legal duty for equal pay.

“Many councils, including ourselves, have previously paid compensation to staff to settle equal pay claims, and we’ve worked hard to resolve this situation in Oldham as quickly as possible.”