Council workers set to protest over pay proposal

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 19/11/2008

Members of the Rochdale branch of Unison, the public service union, are set to protest outside a Council Cabinet meeting tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 20 November).

The Cabinet is meeting to decide the Council's Pay and Grading review, which determines the level of pay of all council employees outside senior management.

Rochdale Unison secretary Helen Harrison has sent out a newsletter to all members urging them to join the protest outside the Town Hall at 4pm, ahead of the cabinet meeting at 4.30.

The newsletter states: "This decision will affect all of you. It is not just about pay, many terms and conditions will be annihilated too."

The letter indicates that one in four employees will lose pay, and for some pay cuts will be in the thousands. It says that 'everybody will work a 37 hour week'. Overtime payments will be abolished while weekend and night work will be paid at a plain rate with no unsociable hours payment, as well as the removal of Attendance Allowance.

The cry for protestors continues: "In fact almost every plusage payment will go. There will be no lift allowance, interview leave or payment for attendance at evening meetings.

"The Trade Unions have not negotiated any of these measures. We have not been allowed any input. These measures are being imposed on the workforce with total disregard for your livelihoods."

Council officials say that the information in the union leaflet is misleading and in parts incorrect.

An executive said: "The trade union information does not tell you that there will be a significantly higher number of people going up in pay than there will be coming down or that the unions themselves have decided to walk away from the negotiations with us. We are very much open to continuing negotiations with them as we feel it is in everyone's best interests."

Another spokesperson commented: "I can’t share any details of the proposals until after a democratic decision has been made to consult the workforce. This is to ensure the integrity of the democratic process and so that our staff find out about the proposals from us first, as is right and proper."

Council Executive Directors and the Head of People Management Service will report on the pay and grading review proposed package at tomorrow's meeting. The media and members of the public will be excluded.

If the proposals are accepted the Council hopes to be able to inform individual members of staff about their new proposed pay level in early December.