Rochdale Council signs up to Good Employment Charter

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham presents Good Employment Charter plaques to Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Council; Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council; and Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council

Rochdale Council has become a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, meaning all 10 local authorities have now made a formal commitment to providing good working practices.

Launched in 2019, the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary membership and assessment scheme which aims to raise employment standards across the city-region.

Organisations and companies of all sizes and sectors can sign up to the charter, which now has over 100 members.

Rochdale, Oldham and Bolton were the latest local authorities to sign up, joining Bury, Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan councils, as well as Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), as Members of the Good Employment Charter.

The councils’ membership was announced at the full meeting of GMCA held in Bolton on 24 November, where Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham presented Good Employment Charter plaques to the three council leaders.

Mr Burnham said: “I’m proud to see Greater Manchester’s councils leading by example when it comes to good employment.

“Local authorities are important anchor institutions, employing thousands of people, and their participation in the Good Employment Charter can help us grow the movement.

“The Good Employment Charter is doing outstanding work, ensuring people are paid fairly, treated appropriately, and making opportunities to progress available to all.”

Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Neil Emmott, said: “Our membership of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter symbolises our investment in existing and future staff, and this includes employing as many local people from our borough as we are able to.

“We have an excellent range of good employment initiatives, and we are pleased that we are able to demonstrate this by becoming a member of the Good Employment Charter.”

Director of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, Ian MacArthur, said: “It is a significant moment in the development of the charter to have all 10 boroughs as full members.

“This doesn't only mean that council staff now know they are working for a good employer, but it also sets a clear example and leadership across the city for other employers to follow.”