Unions back single status proposals

Local government unions have given their approval to proposals by Sunderland City Council to protect the pay of employees who were set to lose out financially in a single status review.

The review, carried out in order to eradicate discrepancies in pay between different groups of workers caused by multiple pay scales (see Workplace Report, July 2005), is thought to have put almost 3,000 employees onto lower pay grades.

But two rounds of talks have resulted in a pay and conditions package that will give four years' protection to downgraded staff.

Jacqui Gallagher, branch secretary of public services union UNISON, described the proposal as a "major improvement" which would also introduce "fair pay for thousands of previously underpaid and under-valued employees".

In other local authorities where unions are trying to negotiate pay protection following single status reviews, a key problem is that a long protection period could leave the union and the council open to accusations of perpetuating the pay inequalities that single status is meant to remove.

Unions have also approved a pay offer that will commence implementation of single status at Gateshead Council. The council is planning to focus on "upskilling" workers who are downgraded under the new pay structure.