Council staff face changes in terms and conditions as budget saving measures

Council Offices - Number One Riverside

Councillors will consider changes to staff terms and conditions, as part of the latest phase of savings at Rochdale Council, at a full council meeting on Thursday (27 November).

Over the last two months staff have been consulted on the changes as the authority looks to save £56 million over the next two financial years.

The updated proposals to be considered by the council tomorrow (Thursday) evening include:

• Unpaid Leave 2015/16 and 2016/17 - Graduated scheme based on grade or equivalent salary (5 days - Grade 10 and above. 4 days - Grade 7, 8 and 9. 3 days - Grade 3, 4, 5 and 6. 2 days - Grade 1 and 2) to be taken over Christmas and New Year if possible, subject to operational requirements. Review after two years.
• Withhold incremental progression for the years 2015 and 2016.
• Remove the Essential User Car Allowance lump sum with effect from 1 April 2015 with no pay protection arrangements. Retain mileage rate of 30p per mile. Following the removal of the essential user car allowance lump sum, there will no longer be a contractual requirement to have a car for work.
• Agree to the application of a pay protection scheme for three months, this aspect of the package would not come into effect until 1 July 2015.
• Premium Payments - increase the Bank Holiday Premium Payment from 25% to 100%. Remove the entitlement to a day off in lieu. Cease the premium payment of 25% for weekends/nights/overtime. Cease the shift payment of 10%.
• Apply a phased approach for implementing the premium payment and shift payment with gradual reduction between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017, full implementation from 1 April 2017.
• Increase Bank Holiday payment from 25% to 100% from 1 April 2015, remove the day off in lieu.

Council Leader Richard Farnell said that taking decisions that affect staff conditions and pay are always a challenge: “We appreciate this is a difficult time and I would like to thank our staff and trade unions for recognising the serious financial situation we face and for engaging in a meaningful way to help us reduce costs.

"We have listened to the feedback and had very productive discussions, resulting in amendments being made to reflect their views.

"Our priority is not only to balance the books, but to maintain services and ensure a fair deal for our workforce.

"We’re doing all we can to protect the frontline services residents depend on but clearly with such significant savings to make we have had to make tough decisions following huge cuts in our funding.”