Unions strike council pay deal

OLDHAM Council has struck an agreement with unions to implement a staff pay deal that will see hundreds of workers take a pay cut.

Members backed the job evaluation and salary and grading review in a ballot to forge what’s been described as a “groundbreaking agreement” between the authority and unions.

The deal is the first of its kind in Greater Manchester and one of only a handful across the country.

It’s based on an improved pay and reward offer that includes doubling the payment protection period from one to two years and a standard working week of 36.66 hours per week.

Out of those who voted, 92 per cent of GMB members, 88 per cent of Unison members and 85 per cent of Unite members were in favour — resulting in a collective agreement with the council.

The Chronicle revealed last year how almost a fifth of council staff faced an average £3,000 pay cut — and some up to £16,000 — as the council harmonised terms and conditions for all manual and office-based staff.

Other staff will see their pay increase, mainly lower-paid staff such as cleaners, caterers, and care workers, while some will stay the same.

Letters had been sent to 4,000 people who do 5,000 jobs, with the losers mainly in white collar departments, grounds maintenance and refuse collection.

Unison trade union chairman, Wendy Bradbury, said: “After union negotiations those losing money will have two years’ protection rather than one. It will still be a heck of a shock to people after two years when they are losing thousands of pounds.

“But we went as far as we could with the negotiations. We recommended acceptance as there was nowhere else to go and members voted for it.”

She warned that people receiving more pay won’t get the money until April.

Council leader Howard Sykes welcomed the ballot result.

He said: “While I wholeheartedly welcome this important agreement, the fact is this should never have been left unresolved for so long.

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that had the process been completed when it should have been i.e. in the middle of the last decade, the consequences for salary loss for council staff and the impact on the budget of Equal Pay Claims would have been far less severe.”

The improved proposals will now be presented to full council on February 2 for final approval.