The latest Single Status, Job Evaluation and Equal Pay news from <a href="http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk" target="_blank" >Labour Union Digest</a> http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/index.php?page_id=13 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:04:23 +0100 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:04:13 +0100 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.1.0) http://www.feedforall.com http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/LUD%20home%20page2.jpg http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/index.php?page_id=13 Labour Union Digest 100 30 A Scottish council is slashing the amount of backdated pay for workers, leaving thousands of staff out of pocket, after councillors took the unusual step of overturning a previous agreement. West Dunbartonshire will save £7m by reducing the amount of cash paid to staff whose pay has increased under Equal Pay legislation. Union leaders and opposition councillors are angry that the council is imposing a deal which they claim will affect more than 2000 staff who were expecting pay backdated to April 2006. http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2431972.0.Thousands_of_staff_set_to_lose_out_after_council_Uturn_on_backpay.php http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2431972.0.Thousands_of_staff_set_to_lose_out_after_council_Uturn_on_backpay.php Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:14:52 +0100 Former Metro workers are set to bring legal action against the council. London-based solicitors Leigh Day and Company say they have been contacted by a number of ex-council staff over equal pay claims. Offers of compensation were made to women council workers in catering, caretaking, cleaning, home care assistants, school crossing patrol workers and support workers. But former staff may have missed out on the cash and now they are being offered a chance to claim it back under a collective Breach of Contract agreement. http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Council-faces-equal-pay-bid.4408852.jp http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Council-faces-equal-pay-bid.4408852.jp Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:11:00 +0100 The courts have lambasted trade unions for misleading their low-paid women members and settling their equal pay claims for too little in recent landmark judgments. As many as 150,000 women, according to estimates from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), are entitled to compensation from local authorities and the NHS for being paid less than male colleagues, in litigation that now threatens to bring tribunals to 'a grinding halt'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/24/gmb.courtcase http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/24/gmb.courtcase Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:40:37 +0100 Chorley Council has earmarked £50,000 for settling cases of staff who claim to have been discriminated against because of their sex. Sixteen council employees have launched compensation claims against the authority saying they have been paid less because of their gender - and local union leaders say there should have been more. http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/chorley/50000-unequal-pay-claims.4408835.jp http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/chorley/50000-unequal-pay-claims.4408835.jp Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:39:22 +0100 An Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling has made it more difficult for NHS employees to claim equal pay. In the case of Hovell vs Ashford & St Peter's Hospital NHS Trust, the claimant lost an appeal asking her employer not to request an independent expert to look at In the case of Hovell vs Ashford & St Peter’s Hospital NHS Trust, the claimant lost an appeal asking her employer not to request an independent expert to look at the job roles being compared, in order to make a decision about equal pay. http://live.hrmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/839640/NHS-staff-face-new-hurdle-equal-pay/ http://live.hrmagazine.co.uk/news/rss/839640/NHS-staff-face-new-hurdle-equal-pay/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:21:24 +0100 Employers who take on staff through TUPE could be liable for up to six years of unequal pay claims, according to legal experts. An Employment Appeals Tribunal has ruled that where there is a case of unequal pay while an employee is employed by the transferor organisation, the right of equal pay will transfer under TUPE to the organisation taking on the member of staff. http://www.humanresourcesmagazine.com/news/838637/Staff-transferred-TUPE-equal-pay-claims/ http://www.humanresourcesmagazine.com/news/838637/Staff-transferred-TUPE-equal-pay-claims/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:56:18 +0100 A strike by residential care workers in Glasgow due to take place on Wednesday of this week was called off after workers in the Unison union voted to accept an improved offer from the council. There was an attempt to tie a new pay grade to so-called modernisation plans being proposed by the council. There are some concerns over the council’s future intentions over modernisation. There are fears that job cuts, loss of premium payments and outsourcing (privatisation) are still on the agenda. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15731 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15731 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:33:44 +0100 UP to 1,200 council workers were left stunned and angry after being told their wages will be cut in some cases by as much as 7,500k. One staff member reportedly collapsed after suffering a panic attack and scores of others were left distressed and in tears when letters informing them of their proposed salary reductions were delivered to their homes at the weekend. And on Tuesday, a senior council official was dispatched to the council tax and benefits office in Whittaker Street, Radcliffe, to try to placate angry employees hit by the move to decrease their pay http://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/burynews/3576565.Council_workers_facing_massive_wage_cuts/ http://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/burynews/3576565.Council_workers_facing_massive_wage_cuts/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:11:25 +0100 More than 1,000 council workers are facing pay cuts of up to 25 per cent as a result of Single Status job evaluations. Four thousand workers at Bury Council will be affected by the wage review. Bury is the first council in Greater Manchester to undertake regradings as part of the national Single Status agreement. Union Unison said the pay cuts for some were very serious. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7548533.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7548533.stm Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:42:51 +0100 A plan to dismiss 1,100 council workers and re-employ them only if they accept new contracts, including wage cuts, has been called horrific"by their union the GMB. Leeds City Council is determined to impose a new single status pay scheme on the workforce despite 1,100 staff losing 3,000 pounds per year as a result of the job evaluation exercise. Bill Chard, a local official with the GMB union said the plan to dismiss the workers was horrific. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7539447.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7539447.stm Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:41:03 +0100 Less than 60 per cent of English and Welsh councils have completed equal pay job reviews, despite previous assurances from employers that 75% would be complete by April, Community Care has learned. The latest figures from Local Government Employers followed a landmark Court of Appeal ruling restricting employers' ability to set up transitional arrangements to protect the pay of council employees - typically men - who lose out in equal pay settlements. http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/06/109056/many-councils-still-failing-to-sign-up-to-gender-pay-equality.html http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/08/06/109056/many-councils-still-failing-to-sign-up-to-gender-pay-equality.html Thu, 7 Aug 2008 17:02:17 +0100 Leeds City Council is to sack 1,100 workers and tell them they can have their jobs back only if they accept pay cuts. Wages will be protected from the cuts for three years but the workers have been told they must accept them or stay sacked. Letters were delivered on Wednesday warning of dismissal from October 31 and re-engagement on November 1 under new contracts. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/1100-Leeds-council-workers-face.4351603.jp http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/1100-Leeds-council-workers-face.4351603.jp Sun, 3 Aug 2008 12:00:06 +0100 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council said it will spend an extra 2.7million because of a national equal pay deal. The agreement means pay rises for women who were traditionally underpaid compared to their male counterparts. Around 4,000 workers are affected, of whom 42 per cent of workers will get an increase, 28 per cent will be paid the same and 30 per cent will see their pay fall. http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/FREE/208993187/1017/rss01&rssfeed=rss01 http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/FREE/208993187/1017/rss01&rssfeed=rss01 Sun, 3 Aug 2008 11:57:55 +0100 Paul Kenny GMB General Secretary said, This is an incredibly complex judgment running to 150 pages which will be very carefully studied by GMB. It is another case of different courts overturning one another on this issue. As Lord Justice Mummery said the cases involved the most complicated employment issues ever to be heard by this court. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=97293 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=97293 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:52:50 +0100 Local authorities and NHS trusts could be forced to pay millions of pounds to female public sector workers after a crucial appeal court ruling today. The decision by Lord Justice Mummery effectively outlaws gender discrimination in so-called pay protection schemes, which have been widely used to compensate staff in male-dominated jobs for the loss of bonuses abolished under equal pay legislation. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/29/gender?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/29/gender?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:51:12 +0100 Claims for equal pay for local authority and national health staff have continued to surge, leaving public authorities facing a potential bill for billions of pounds. Employment tribunals, and possible claims from them, rose in number by almost a quarter in the 12 months to the end of March, according to figures from Acas, the conciliation and mediation service. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e809cd36-5c3d-11dd-9e99-000077b07658,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e809cd36-5c3d-11dd-9e99-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1&_i_referer=http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/&nclick_check=1 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e809cd36-5c3d-11dd-9e99-000077b07658,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e809cd36-5c3d-11dd-9e99-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1&_i_referer=http://www.labouruniondigest.org.uk/&nclick_check=1 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:50:01 +0100 I have been emailed this report of Single Status negotiations in the London Borough of Greenwich by David Marzella Unison Library Steward. The report contains information on what is regarded as highly successful campaign against Single Status pay cuts in the Borough. Reports allege that this was in the teeth of opposition from Unison HQ to boot. You can contact the Branch for info at greenwichunison@btconnect.com http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=491 http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=491 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:06:41 +0100 In a decision that could potentially cost unions over £100 million, the Court of Appeal last week ruled that the GMB union discriminated against its women members by failing to negotiate a tough enough pay deal with their employer Middlesborough Council. The landmark case will have ramifications for thousands of local authority workers involved in disputes over single status pay deals, which were supposed to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, but instead have delivered unequal pay and wage cuts of thousands while failing to adequately compensate those who had been underpaid. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15567 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15567 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:49:55 +0100 The leader of Aberdeen City Council has said a new single status equal pay deal may have to be imposed on staff if unions reject the latest pay offer on the table. All three unions representing staff at the council start balloting employees on Tuesday on the improved pay offer. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7505944.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7505944.stm Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:08:50 +0100 Fears of strike action by Edinburgh council staff during this years Festival have been lifted while negotiations over Single Status job evaluations continue. Negotiations started in May and Council managers were hoping Unions would be able to put proposals to a ballot of members in 6 to 8 weeks. However negotiations are proving to be protracted with Unions warning that Council managers underestimated how long the process would take. http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Festival-strike--threat-lifted.4305710.jp http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Festival-strike--threat-lifted.4305710.jp Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:17:25 +0100 GMB is studying a Court of Appeal judgment regarding an equal pay agreement in April 2005 covering staff employed by Middlesbrough Borough Council. This agreement has already been the subject of decisions at the Employment Tribunal in June 2006 and the Employment Appeal Tribunal in July 2007 and is now the subject of todays Court of Appeal judgment. Direct discrimination claims and victimisation findings against the GMB by the 26 claimants had been rejected at earlier stages in this long running case and were not challenged at the Court of Appeal. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=97244 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=97244 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:54:09 +0100 One of the countrys largest trade unions discriminated against female members while negotiating a pay deal with their employer, the Court of Appeal said today in a ruling that could cost it and other unions millions of pounds. The landmark case will also have ramifications for thousands of local authority workers. The court ruled that the GMB union discriminated against female workers at Middlesbrough Council while negotiating a new pay deal. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4344656.ece http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article4344656.ece Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:31:10 +0100 Thousands of London bus drivers are demanding the introduction of an equal pay rate across the network. The Unite union said 28,000 of its members voted overwhelmingly in support of the action which would bring all of London's operators in line. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7501260.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7501260.stm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:23:08 +0100 ASSEMBLY Members have been urged to support a motion condemning new pay levels implemented by UK Government departments that will give a poorer deal to thousands of civil servants working in Wales. The statement of opinion has been tabled by Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood. Her opposition to the move comes as a Welsh Labour MP yesterday attacked the new pay rates. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/14/plaid-am-calls-for-equal-pay-support-91466-21334341/ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/07/14/plaid-am-calls-for-equal-pay-support-91466-21334341/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:21:35 +0100 The leader of Aberdeen City Council has said a new equal pay deal may have to be imposed on staff if unions reject the latest pay offer on the table. All three unions representing staff at the council start balloting employees on Tuesday on the improved pay offer. The single status deal is aimed at cutting inequalities between male and female jobs. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7505944.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7505944.stm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:20:16 +0100 THE full scale of Liverpool Council’s liability to equal pay claims from thousands of underpaid women workers stands at 60m, it emerged last night. Last month, the Daily Post revealed how the council had asked to borrow £35m from the Government to settle the claims with 7,000 staff, mainly women dinner ladies, cleaners, and care staff. http://tinyurl.com/5rfapx http://tinyurl.com/5rfapx Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:18:34 +0100 Up and down Britain council workers are being saddled with Gordon Browns public sector pay freeze and at the same time face councils using single status to attack them. Single status deals are supposed to deliver a common pay scale and harmonisation of conditions for all jobs. But the government has refused to give local authorities the extra funds to pay for the wage rises of those who are supposed to gain from the deal. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15472 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=15472 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:17:16 +0100 Dozens of binmen called a wildcat strike in Peterborough and are refusing to work until a pay dispute has been resolved. About 70 workers have downed tools amid claims their city council paymasters have reneged on an agreement to pay them thousands of pounds in back pay. They say they are owed compensation as a result of a salary restructure undergone by the authority and are refusing to go back to work until the outstanding wages are paid. http://libcom.org/news/peterborough-bin-workers-take-wildcat-action-30062008 http://libcom.org/news/peterborough-bin-workers-take-wildcat-action-30062008 Sat, 5 Jul 2008 18:50:41 +0100 The bill for settling an equal pay claim brought by 3,000 female cooks, cleaners and care workers could cost Cumbria County Council 100mill. Councillors meeting in Kendal yesterday heard that the action could cost twice as much as the 50m estimated previously. Accounts for 2008/9 show that the council has set aside 31.1m so far to meet the claim. Councillor Ray Cole, the newly-appointed cabinet member responsible for equal pay, promised to move it forward. But his words cut little ice with 25 Unison members, all care workers, who were listening in the public gallery. http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/1.131551 http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/1.131551 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:01:50 +0100 Nurses in Derby have called off strike plans after reaching an agreement over pay, union leaders said. The five-month dispute began after hospital managers announced some staff faced pay cuts through restructuring. Derby Hospitals Foundation Trust said an agreement with staff had been reached. It has said the restructuring is necessary to save £55m. Under the deal, the wages of the nurses affected will be protected for up to three years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7475622.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7475622.stm Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:00:50 +0100 Nearly 15,000 Birmingham City Council workers who had new employment contracts, which left large sections of the workforce facing pay cuts of up to 10,000 pounds per year in some cases , imposed upon them could be set for legal action. The GMB union said the cost of the council’s breach of agreements could run into millions as a result of the way in which the controversial single status pay and grading review was implemented http://www.birminghampost.net/news/2008/06/19/15-000-staff-could-sue-council-over-new-job-contracts-65233-21109619/ http://www.birminghampost.net/news/2008/06/19/15-000-staff-could-sue-council-over-new-job-contracts-65233-21109619/ Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:04:30 +0100 A proposed salary scheme for Nottingham City Council workers means more than 1,400 staff will face a pay cut. Unison, the trade union that represents many of the workers, said it would not accept the wage cuts. About 8,000 council employees will be affected as the local authority undertakes job evaluations as part of the national single status agreement. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7460732.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7460732.stm Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:03:24 +0100 Liverpool City Council has asked to borrow £35m from the Government to settle equal pay claims with thousands of underpaid women workers, it has emerged. Around 7,000 staff, mainly women dinner ladies, cleaners, and care staff stand to get an average of £5,000. Council officials have written to Government to request access to a special fund set up to help councils cope with claims, and will be told in the autumn how much the city can borrow. http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=equal-pay-will-cost-liverpool-city-council-163-35m&method=full&objectid=21104480&siteid=50061-name_page.html http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=equal-pay-will-cost-liverpool-city-council-163-35m&method=full&objectid=21104480&siteid=50061-name_page.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:01:58 +0100 Rubbish bins left unemptied in Derby because of a wage dispute are having to be cleared by agency staff. Bin men angered by new contracts, which removed bonus payments, have worked to an exact 37-hour week and left about 2,500 bins a day behind. The city council has used agency staff each day but extra shifts were needed to try to clear the backlog. Talks between the council and union Unite have reached an outline agreement which will be put to workers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7454539.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7454539.stm Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:01:18 +0100 Derby bin men have taken strike action over the loss of bonus payments. They are angry that bonus payments have been scrapped and are being urged by their Union, Unite, to only work a seven hour day. Refuse collectors normally have a set number of streets in which to collect bins and finish once they have been collected. It is known as task and finish, but binmen said they wanted the rule scrapped. http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/City-binmen-industrial-action-battle-bonuses/article-184254-detail/article.html http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/City-binmen-industrial-action-battle-bonuses/article-184254-detail/article.html Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:21 +0100 Coventy Council's failure to settle the Single Status dispute with Unions in Coventry in a fair and equitable manner has come back to haunt them. They will have to borrow £54 million in the form of a capitalisation loan to fund the cost of equal pay claims by female council workers. The Labour group on the Council claimed the situation could have been avoided if the Council hadn't adopted such an intransigent stance towards the Unions and staff of the workforce. http://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news45749.html http://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news45749.html Fri, 30 May 2008 08:51:25 +0100 Over Ten years after the introduction of the national Single Status agreement refuse workers who work for Copeland Borough Council are still being denied the right to a 37 hour working week. Members of the Unite union who work for Copeland Borough Council began the industrial action on Tuesday in the row over working hours. Union officials are in talks with the council over how to reduce working hours from up to 45 hours to 37 a week. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/1.113511 http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/1.113511 Wed, 28 May 2008 07:49:57 +0100 The GMB union has suspended its bin strike action in a dispute over huge pay cuts of £6,000 which a number of workers were due to receive as part of the single status agreement. The deal was rejected by the GMB, which says about 1,000 of its members will lose money. the action was suspended following an improvement in the proposed pay structure which will mean a small number of workers who stood to lose £6,000 a year in wages will now lose about £2,500. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Payrejig-bin-strike-suspended.4113290.jp http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Payrejig-bin-strike-suspended.4113290.jp Sat, 24 May 2008 10:52:48 +0100 Nearly 3000 employees are facing pay cuts as part of a controversial single status pay and gradings restructuring of Edinburgh city council salaries, according to a confidential report. The proposals, disclosed to senior council managers and leaked to the Evening News, reveal that 363 of these employees face an effective pay cut of more than £5000 per year. http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/3000-workers-worse-off-in.4104121.jp http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/3000-workers-worse-off-in.4104121.jp Sat, 24 May 2008 10:51:35 +0100 REFUSE collectors in Copeland will go on strike next Tuesday in a dispute over working hours. The walk out is planned to hit Copeland Council hard, coming the day after the bank holiday, when most households will be expecting their fortnightly rubbish collection. The action was announced after talks broke down over arrangements for working a 37-hour week. http://www.newsandstar.co.uk:80/news/1.108633 http://www.newsandstar.co.uk:80/news/1.108633 Thu, 22 May 2008 15:07:08 +0100 Coventry City Council is to seek permission to borrow £54m in the event that it loses a row over equal pay for women workers. Coventry City Council believes the money may be needed to pay compensation after a union won the first stage of an employment tribunal. About 650 woman have lodged claims with the council, claiming they have earned less than their male colleagues. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7413042.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7413042.stm Thu, 22 May 2008 15:01:53 +0100 Council workers in Lancashire have gone on strike again in an ongoing dispute over single status pay cuts which will cost some staff up to £3,000 a year in lost wages. About 200 members of the Unite union, including refuse collectors, street cleaners and gardeners, are involved in the strike. The last strike, on 7 May, affected rubbish collections with residents whose bin collections are carried out on a Wednesday or Thursday failing to have their bins emptied. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7404120.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7404120.stm Thu, 22 May 2008 15:00:45 +0100 Council Workers in East Dunbartonshire Council have taken to the picket lines in protest against 'single status' pay cuts which will see some staff lose up to 25% of their salary. The decision to down tools was taken after members of general union GMB and public services union Unison were balloted. A massive 95 per cent of GMB members voted in favour of strike, while 96 per cent backed industrial action up to but excluding strike. http://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/Council-workers-hit-the-streets.4070014.jp http://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/Council-workers-hit-the-streets.4070014.jp Wed, 14 May 2008 19:21:00 +0100 City unions are drawing up legal claims on behalf of those members who have lost money as a result of the imposition of new contracts under the Single Status pay deal introduced last month. Up to five thousand of the council's 40,000 staff have suffered pay cuts of £thousands under the new contracts. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/05/12/tribunals-fear-over-pay-claim-97319-20895648/ http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/05/12/tribunals-fear-over-pay-claim-97319-20895648/ Wed, 14 May 2008 19:19:54 +0100 COUNCIL staff may still strike in a dispute over pay as hundreds of staff have rejected a pay deal. A meeting of council bosses and union representatives will take place today. Members of union GMB have voted against a deal and representatives say they will ballot in June to strike. The GMB union has 760 members among the 3,644 Inverclyde Council staff who were made the offer. Members of GMB voted overwhelmingly against accepting the single status pay deal on offer, while 170 staff who are members of Unite have also voted against accepting the deal. http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/24013 http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/24013 Wed, 14 May 2008 19:17:56 +0100 Council workers in Blackburn are set to strike again next week in a dispute over single status pay cuts. About 200 members of the Unite union, including refuse collectors, street cleaners and gardeners, demonstrated outside the town hall last Wednesday. The dispute followed a job evaluation process at the council which has left hundreds of staff facing huge and life altering pay cuts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7393777.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7393777.stm Sun, 11 May 2008 17:06:54 +0100 26 female council workers who say they were "sold down the river" by their own trade union during tough equal pay negotiations were yesterday at the centre of a landmark test case. They are accusing the GMB Union of sex discrimination, claiming they came out "losers" when the union did a deal with Middlesbrough Council. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2258460.0.law_suit_threatens_future_of_unions.php http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2258460.0.law_suit_threatens_future_of_unions.php Sun, 11 May 2008 17:05:45 +0100 POLLUTION COULD go undetected, contamination unchecked and toxic waste unscrutinised in the most serious crisis to be faced by Scotland's official environment watchdog. Tomorrow, staff at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) are due to begin an unprecedented campaign of industrial action which could see the environment suffer as incidents occurring outside office hours are not covered. Concerned about the risks, Sepa's management has made a last-minute plea for exemptions to the industrial action. This is due to be discussed at a meeting with the trade union, Unison, tomorrow morning. http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2262685.0.sepa_staff_to_take_industrial_action_over_changes_to_pay.php http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2262685.0.sepa_staff_to_take_industrial_action_over_changes_to_pay.php Sun, 11 May 2008 12:26:59 +0100 Binmen in Leeds are poised for a third day of strike action as the council tries to clear a backlog of uncollected rubbish from previous walkouts. Refuse workers will walk out again today, Thursday, the third week they have missed collections in the dispute over huge pay cuts. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96994 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96994 Thu, 8 May 2008 07:02:02 +0100 Edinburgh City Council yesterday started a bid to make its pay scales fairer between men and women, at an extra payroll cost of £10m per year. The legal requirement to ensure the council's women workers get equal pay for equal work is costing the council more than £60m to handle the failure to address the issue over the past nine years. The money is coming out of asset sales and from other spending budgets. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/display.var.2251196.0.Council_to_face_10m_extra_bill_for_equal_pay_deal.php http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/other/display.var.2251196.0.Council_to_face_10m_extra_bill_for_equal_pay_deal.php Wed, 7 May 2008 22:21:07 +0100 Edinburgh council staff will be able to work public holidays and save up the days to use later under plans to overhaul their working conditions. The move at Edinburgh City council would see council offices open as usual on public holidays. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7388448.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7388448.stm Wed, 7 May 2008 22:18:53 +0100 Council workers have gone on strike in Blackburn in protest at a pay review they say has left some of them up to £50 a week worse off. About 200 members of the Unite union, including refuse collectors, street cleaners and gardeners, demonstrated outside the town hall. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7388426.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7388426.stm Wed, 7 May 2008 22:16:47 +0100 Binmen in Leeds are poised for a third day of strike action as the council tries to clear a backlog of uncollected rubbish from previous walkouts. Refuse workers will walk out again on Thursday, the third week they have missed collections in a row over pay. GMB regional organiser Bill Chard said: "This action will not only continue, in fact it will multiply." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7387895.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7387895.stm Wed, 7 May 2008 22:14:51 +0100 Hi Jim again please keep my name anonymous but an update is TGW and GMB have balloted for strike action and are now in the process of serving the chief executive with a seven day notice of a possible all out indefinite strike until something is resolved, Unison again are not supportive with the rest and are actually advising there members to ignore picket lines and to come into work apparently approximately 2000 Unison members have made enquiries now to jack in with Unison and to go with the two unions who are fighting for there members. http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=469 http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=469 Tue, 6 May 2008 19:58:28 +0100 According to my investigation it seems that bin wagon drivers stand to loose about £1000 per year (60 staff) and loaders £3500 per year (120+ staff). 5 cleansing staff will gain between £1000 and £2000. Council are offering 3 years protected then the drop. Most staff affected have over 12+ years with the Council and pension contributions. The Council have also run a early retirement scheme questionnaire. Perhaps there is a link....or maybe I am a cynic? GMB claims of&nbsp;&nbsp;tonne's of rubbish piling up are not yet happening but some bins have not been emptied for 2 weeks so it is only a matter of time. Despite the Council's best efforts Agency workers don't know the routes and can't get every bin. Nor will all do the bags, just bins. They don't do the wheel outs unless the householder stops them... http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=456&p=1408#p1408 http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=456&p=1408#p1408 Tue, 6 May 2008 19:54:18 +0100 THE city council is bracing itself for what could be crippling strike action as it prepares to announce a major review of workers' pay. Council officials and union leaders have cleared their diaries this week to start tough negotiations, which will see around 17,000 employees undergo job evaluations. City leader Jenny Dawe today warned the process would not be easy and some would "lose out". http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Strike-threat-as-council-opens.4050560.jp http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Strike-threat-as-council-opens.4050560.jp Tue, 6 May 2008 15:21:19 +0100 BBC Wales' Eye On Wales programme has looked at single status negotiations in one local authority, Denbighshire. The council signed the "single status agreement" 11 years ago, in a bid to end unequal pay for women workers.Denbighshire Council's chief executive said changes to wages may have to be imposed if a deal cannot be agreed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7382790.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7382790.stm Mon, 5 May 2008 18:49:02 +0100 If the pay structure proposal put forward by management is accepted by councillors at a special meeting in two weeks, then thousands of workers are threatening a walkout. As a result of the timing of union ballot results, the special meeting will give councillors enough time to decide if they will approve the deal or not. Denise McLafferty, Unison branch secretary spoke to the Post after the release of its ballot results, where 82 per cent of members voted in favour of rejecting the proposals. http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/articles/1/23370/ http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/articles/1/23370/ Mon, 5 May 2008 14:52:46 +0100 COUNCIL chiefs have apologised to hundreds of employees, after they were accidentally given false information about their new salary. Thousands of council workers have had their wages changed by City of York Council as part of a massive job evaluation and pay review. Many face severe cuts, some by thousands of pounds. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.2238855.0.council_apologises_in_staff_salary_mixup.php http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.2238855.0.council_apologises_in_staff_salary_mixup.php Mon, 5 May 2008 14:51:30 +0100 Allerdale council workers are in uproar after they were told this week that some workers will have their pay cut, and the worst hit could lose up to £7,000. About 400 council staff were told during at a meeting on Wednesday that some would receive pay cuts and others pay rises as part of single status job evaluations and regradings. http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.99324 http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.99324 Mon, 5 May 2008 14:50:17 +0100 Council workers went ahead with the second day of a 48-hour strike after talks aimed at resolving a pay row ended without agreement. The GMB union said the walkout by refuse collectors at Leeds City Council was causing "chaos", and would be followed by a work-to-rule. Union official Phil Chard said 2,500 council staff faced pay cuts of up to £6,000 because of a pay and grading review being carried out in response to national requirements over equal pay. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/council%2Bworkers%2Bcontinue%2Bpay%2Bstrike/2115657 http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/council%2Bworkers%2Bcontinue%2Bpay%2Bstrike/2115657 Thu, 1 May 2008 15:51:43 +0100 HUNDREDS of staff at Burton Town Hall are to vote on whether they should go on strike over a controversial pay review. East Staffordshire Borough Council has been accused of showing staff 'no respect and disdain' amid growing disquiet among workers. It comes as part of an ongoing row after the authority told 550 staff that more than 150 of them would face cuts of up to £9,000 in their annual salaries from April 1. http://www.burtonmail.co.uk:80/burtonmail-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=311526 http://www.burtonmail.co.uk:80/burtonmail-news/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=311526 Thu, 1 May 2008 15:49:45 +0100 Birmingham was shut down on Thursday of last week as 25,000 workers went on strike. Over 170 schools were shut and thousands of parents took the day off work. For council workers it was their second day of action. On Wednesday thousands had struck against the imposition of a rotten single status pay deal which includes privatisation, "performance related pay" and swingeing pay cuts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14769 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14769 Thu, 1 May 2008 15:41:37 +0100 The second day of strike action by Leeds City Council bin service will take place tomorrow Thursday 1st May 2008. Bill Chard, GMB Organiser said “GMB is extremely disappointed that Leeds City Council is being so hard nosed. Their refusal to see reason means that 2,500 their hard working employees still face pay cuts of up to £6,000 per year each. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96986 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96986 Thu, 1 May 2008 15:40:45 +0100 Hundreds of workers at Blackburn with Darwen council are set to go on indefinite strike from Wednesday of next week over the implementation of a single status pay deal. About 600 refuse collectors, gardeners, street cleaners and school caretakers in the GMB and Unite unions are to take part in the action. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14767 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14767 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:01:11 +0100 Around 450 workers at the Shelter housing charity struck for 48 hours last week, and were were set to strike again on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The workers, members of the Unite union, are fighting against the imposition of longer hours and low pay. The strike was solid at offices around the country. Many of the workers reported that they are particularly concerned at how the changes will affect the services they offer and the way they are delivered. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14766 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14766 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:59:49 +0100 The GMB has announced that there are to be last ditch talks on Wednesday 30th April with the Chief Executive of Blackburn & Darwen Council to avert strike action over pay cuts for council staff. These talks take place as GMB and Unite unions are about to give notice that indefinite strike action, involving 600 workers, will commence on Wednesday 7th May. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96981 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96981 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:16:26 +0100 There is far less traffic on the roads of Birmingham today as the city has essentially shut down. That’s no surprise in a city with 25,000 people on strike. One out of every 15 workers in the city is taking action. Over 170 schools are shut and thousands of parents are taking the day off work. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14731 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14731 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:38:20 +0100 Up to 1,300 workers are facing pay cuts as part of Blackburn with Darwen Council's botched attempt at imposing it's rotten single status proposals on the workforce. Lower-paid council staff are being hit particularly hard. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows 309 people earning less than £15,000 a year face cuts, and 698 of the losers' - more than half of the total - earn less than £20,000 a year. http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2227231.mostviewed.blackburn_with_darwen_council_workers_to_strike.php http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2227231.mostviewed.blackburn_with_darwen_council_workers_to_strike.php Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:42:51 +0100 The two-day action by Birmingham City Council workers coincides with strikes by teachers, which will close more than 60 schools on Thursday. Other schools in the city are experiencing partial closures on both days. The one-day strike by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) is in protest against a pay offer and will be the first national teachers' strike for two decades. A rock solid 24-hour strike was http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7362226.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7362226.stm Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:10:07 +0100 A RADICAL overhaul in the way more than 5,600 council workers are paid was unveiled yesterday amid warnings some employees could lose up to a quarter of their current salaries. York Council is undertaking the biggest shake-up in recent years of its pay structure in the hope of ironing out stark inequalities in wage levels, especially between men and women, within the authority. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Council-staff-face-wages-shakeup.4021003.jp http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Council-staff-face-wages-shakeup.4021003.jp Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:14:47 +0100 Leeds council refuse workers and cleaning staff are set to stage two 24-hour strikes over the next week, including on the day of the local elections, over single status pay cuts. Workers are set to walk out on Wednesday of this week and again on 1 May, the day of the local council elections. The union is in dispute over pay rates for men and women workers at the council and announced plans to pursue thousands of equal pay claims through the courts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14715 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14715 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:22:51 +0100 Some 20,000 Birmingham council workers in the Unison, Unite, Ucatt and GMB unions are set to strike for two days on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in an ongoing dispute over single status pay cuts. They are fighting the imposition of a rotten single status deal which would see many workers facing devastating pay cuts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14714 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14714 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:21:53 +0100 BATTLE lines were today being drawn up for a two-day walk out by council staff, which begins tomorrow. Schools, libraries and leisure centres face closure and black bags will be left by the roadside as many council services grind to a halt. http://www.birminghammail.net/2008/04/22/battle-lines-drawn-for-council-strike-97319-20799070/ http://www.birminghammail.net/2008/04/22/battle-lines-drawn-for-council-strike-97319-20799070/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:32:10 +0100 ABOUT 60,000 households in Leeds could be hit by a 24-hour walkout to be staged by council refuse workers and cleaning staff tomorrow in a dispute over pay. Yesterday council officials said preparations had been made to try to minimise disruption caused by the first of two planned 24-hour strikes. The authority says about 60,000 households normally have bins emptied on Wednesdays and it has written to residents who will be affected giving advice about their collections. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Bin-strikes-to-hit-households.4006405.jp http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Bin-strikes-to-hit-households.4006405.jp Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:29:28 +0100 Thousands of council workers in Dumfries and Galloway could be in line for a seven-month back-pay package, if they vote to accept a wage deal. Staff are likely to be balloted in the summer on the "single status" plans to tackle wage inequalities. If they accept the new wage structure it could come into force on 31 October and be backdated to 1 April. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7358797.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7358797.stm Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:28:14 +0100 About 32 schools will close and some public services will be hit as a result of a two-day strike by Birmingham City Council workers on Wednesday. Union members are to strike over a new pay and grading structure from midnight, unless a deal is agreed. Unions claim some staff earnings could be cut by half . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7360465.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7360465.stm Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:26:50 +0100 Sixty-thousand households in Leeds have been warned some of them could face a week-long wait for refuse collection because of strike action. The council estimates the majority of its 580-strong refuse workforce will be at work despite Wednesday's action. However, 106 members of the GMB union are expected to walk out in the dispute over pay. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7358656.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7358656.stm Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:45:00 +0100 Hundreds of female workers have had their test claims for equal pay against Sheffield City Council rejected by a tribunal. A number of current and former female staff, including supervisory assistants, senior supervisory assistants, day services assistants, and home support workers, claimed they had been underpaid in the past despite fulfilling the same role as their male counterparts. http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/04/10/45350/council-workers-equal-pay-claim-thrown-out-by-sheffield.html http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/04/10/45350/council-workers-equal-pay-claim-thrown-out-by-sheffield.html Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:58:14 +0100 COUNCIL refuse workers and cleaning staff are to stage two 24-hour strikes over the next few weeks, including on the day of the local elections, in a row over pay, it has been announced. The GMB union said its members at Leeds City Council will walk out on April 23 and again on May 1 after voting heavily in favour of industrial action. The union is in dispute over pay rates for men and women workers at the council and announced plans to pursue thousands of equal pay claims through the courts. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Binmen-and-council-cleaners-to.3992302.jp http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/Binmen-and-council-cleaners-to.3992302.jp Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:56:38 +0100 Birmingham council have imposed a new pay and grading system onto their 40,000-strong workforce, under the guise of the 'single status' scheme. Under this, some workers will lose half their pay. 20,000 angry workers came out on strike on 5 February and this is likely to be repeated and exceeded on 23 and 24 April. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/4003 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/4003 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:03:30 +0100 College lecturers yesterday became the latest group to announce a walkout for next Thursday 24th April- joining teachers, civil servants and city council workers who will be on strike that day. The action is on a scale not seen since the winter of discontent 30 years ago with hundreds of schools and libraries across the city expected to close http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2008/04/15/public-sector-strikes-threaten-to-shut-down-birmingham-65233-20764495/ http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2008/04/15/public-sector-strikes-threaten-to-shut-down-birmingham-65233-20764495/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:01:58 +0100 Members of GMB employed in refuse and street cleansing in Leeds City Council, have voted by a majority in favour of industrial action in response to Leeds City Council’s proposals for a new pay and grading system. GMB members voted by 75% to 25% to take strike action and by 95.5% to 4.5% to take action short of a strike. GMB Senior Organiser, Neil Derrick said: GMB members are angry at Leeds City Council’s failure to provide a pay and grading structure which delivers fairness and equality. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96936 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96936 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:20 +0100 Birmingham City Council, the Lib/Dem-Tory controlled largest local authority in Europe, is seeking to use it's Single Status proposals to drive a coach and horses through the hard won terms and conditions of it's beleaguered workforce. It’s clear that Birmingham council and its corporate backers want to use the settlement to make fundamental attacks on the council workforce http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14637 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14637 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:58:51 +0100 Thousands of Glasgow council staff today received letters saying their jobs could be at risk. Council chiefs have written to around 10,500 employees warning them of a financial crisis as a result of the Council's single status/equal pay deal. Around 8000 are employed by direct and care services, providing home care, cleaning and janitorial services. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2185894.0.city_council_jobs_crisis.php http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2185894.0.city_council_jobs_crisis.php Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:59:46 +0100 Birmingham City Council workers are to go on strike again over a new Single Status pay and grading structure. Unions claim some staff's earnings could be cut by half but the council said 48% would receive pay rises. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7338785.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7338785.stm Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:58:44 +0100 Some 20,000 council workers in Birmingham in the Unison, Unite, Ucatt and GMB unions are set to strike for two days on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 April in an ongoing dispute over single status pay cuts. They are fighting the imposition of a rotten single status deal which would see many workers facing devastating pay cuts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14603 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14603 Tue, 8 Apr 2008 22:32:02 +0100 BIRMINGHAM is again facing the prospect of school closures and uncollected rubbish with council unions gearing up for walkouts in the run-up to the May 1 local elections. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/03/26/fresh-council-strike-fears-in-birmingham-97319-20676390/ http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/03/26/fresh-council-strike-fears-in-birmingham-97319-20676390/ Tue, 8 Apr 2008 22:30:54 +0100 The West Midlands Region has been part of the continued pressure which has resulted in the Government's recent moves to provide more cash to help councils finance equal pay through Capitalisation. Capitalisation direction gives permission for LG authorities to meet revenue costs out of Capital resources, either through borrowing or capital receipts. Directions have been issued to 46 local authorities for 2007/8 totalled £500m compared to £200m for 2006/7. http://www.unison.org.uk/westmidlands/pages_view.asp?did=5375 http://www.unison.org.uk/westmidlands/pages_view.asp?did=5375 Tue, 8 Apr 2008 22:27:06 +0100 Nearly 800 UNISON members working for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are to be balloted on industrial action after the agency tried to dismiss staff and re-employ them on worse terms. The dismissal notices follow a failed attempt to pressure staff into signing many of their conditions away. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4145 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4145 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:28:10 +0100 The GMB Trade Union has accused Councillor Rudge of Birmingham City Council of drawing a veil of confusion and obfuscation over the single status pay and contracts dispute. Mr Rudge is asserting that further strikes could be illegal, a claim strongly disputed by Unison and the GMB. Birmingham City Council is seeking to impose huge pay cuts and new "performance related pay" contracts on the beleaguered workforce without their agreement. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=96862 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=96862 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:26:45 +0100 TRADE unions may be acting unlawfully if they call further strikes over Birmingham City Council's controversial salary shake-up without putting an improved offer to a formal ballot, a senior politician warned today. http://tinyurl.com/3hl28d http://tinyurl.com/3hl28d Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:25:25 +0100 The ballot process to bring an end to the long running dispute over single status pay cuts for council staff in Dumfries and Galloway could begin next month. A deal was agreed in principle last year but it led to complaints from sections of staff who are facing swingeing wage cuts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7329138.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7329138.stm Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:23:59 +0100 More strike dates have been proposed in a row involving Birmingham City Council staff over the imposition by the Council of huge pay cuts and "performance related pay" but unions say they hope to avoid more action. Workers at the UK's largest local authority took part in solid strike action in February. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7323663.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7323663.stm Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:24:17 +0100 Council workers in Birmingham are gearing up for resumed strike action over pay cuts being imposed in the council’s single status pay deal. Three separate strike dates are being considered as the unions step up their action to cause maximum political impact ahead of the council elections Wednesday, 16 April, Thursday 24 April, to coincide with the national teachers’ strike, and Wednesday 30 April, the eve of polling day. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14555 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14555 Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:21:43 +0100 The spin of the government's "Agenda for Change" scheme is that it provides equal pay for doing the same job across the NHS. The reality was that management in many hospitals saw it as an opportunity to downgrade the role of administration staff, a similar situation to the one created by the much vaunted Single Status agreement for Local Government workers. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3945 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3945 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:28:07 +0100 GMB is to ballot members employed by Blackburn and Darwen Council for strike action over imposed pay cuts for 1,300 workers and a botched attempt to implement equal pay for women employed by the council. http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96851 http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/PressItems.asp?NodeID=96851 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:26:58 +0100 GMB, public services union, is to ballot 250 members employed by Leeds Council in the Refuse and Street Cleaning service in a dispute over pay. The official ballot process starts on the 2nd of April and will conclude on the 16th of April. The action will start a week later immediately prior to the local elections on May the 1st. Householders in Leeds are likely to experience rubbish overflowing from their bins if as expected the refuse and street cleansing workers vote in this ballot for strike action. http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=456 http://labouruniondigest.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=456 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:14:50 +0000 Tension and anger is building amongst Barnsley council staff as they hear of pay cuts, as a result of job evaluations, which were revealed this week. Staff are threatening a work to rule if jobs are downgraded and pay cuts introduced as part of the Single Status agreement. All but the most senior members of staff have been subjected to job evaluations. http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/news/2,0000,1844.html http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/news/2,0000,1844.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:01:36 +0000 WORKERS at Coventry City Council who were hoping for big payouts after winning a tribunal case on equal pay now face a fresh hurdle after the council announced plans to appeal against the ruling. Around 240 low-paid female workers had been hoping for payouts of up to £42,000 - or six years' worth of back pay - after an industrial tribunal case in Birmingham brought by the Unite and UNISON unions. http://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news38633.html http://www.coventryobserver.co.uk/news38633.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:19:55 +0000 Thousands of England's schools face bills of tens of thousands of pounds because of fall-out from a national equal pay settlement, a union says. Schools are being asked to finance a 1997 deal placing council workers on a unified pay scheme, says the National Association of Head Teachers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7303257.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7303257.stm Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:13:21 +0000 NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out an agreement on implementing single status for workers – which could see an extra £4m added to the council's annual pay bill – are progressing well, councillors were told today (Wednesday). Recent media reports suggesting that no agreement will be reached until next year were dismissed as being wide of the mark at a meeting of the full council in the Town Hall this morning. http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/shetlandtimes/content_details.asp?ContentID=25620 http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/shetlandtimes/content_details.asp?ContentID=25620 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:11:13 +0000 COPELAND MP Jamie Reed has called on Cumbria County Council to drop its legal fight against implementing the equal pay deal for the authority’s female workforce secured by the Unison trade union. To date, it is estimated that the county council has spent approximately £1 million fighting against implementing an equal pay deal through the courts. Mr Reed said: “I have asked the Secretary of State for Local Government if there is scope for the government to intervene in this matter. http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=804648 http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=804648 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:05:59 +0000 HUNDREDS of low-paid women pursuing equal pay claims worth millions of pounds against Coventry City Council face a fresh hurdle. The women - including care workers and cook supervisors - stand to win up to £42,000 each in compensation if they ultimately win their cases. http://tinyurl.com/3amjwp http://tinyurl.com/3amjwp Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:01:07 +0000 Union chiefs are seeking legal advice over massive pay cuts affecting thousands of Preston Council workers. Unison is urging members to reject a controversial pay and grading review which has led to some pay cuts of more than £5,000. One employee, who has worked for the council for more than 20 years, said: "I'm not on much of a salary and I'm down £3,000 a year. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Council-pay-cuts-spark-legal.3884539.jp http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Council-pay-cuts-spark-legal.3884539.jp Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:30:08 +0000 Birmingham Council workers attending a series of mass meetings have so far voted overwhelmingly to reject a new pay deal. The feedback from meetings held at Villa Park and Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centre, in Kings Heath, was that workers are still far from happy with the pay and grading system http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/tm_method=full&objectid=20622817&siteid=97319-name_page.html http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/tm_method=full&objectid=20622817&siteid=97319-name_page.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:29:04 +0000 Progress has been made over the last two weeks in pay talks with Birmingham City Council, however, it seems as though there is still some way to go to a satisfactory resolution to the dispute. UNISON will be consulting with members on the latest position over the next few days. Caroline Johnson, UNISON Branch Secretary, has been quoted as saying "It is a very mixed package. There is more money on the table and those members who will see their pay improved will welcome that. http://www.unison.org.uk/westmidlands/pages_view.asp?did=6425 http://www.unison.org.uk/westmidlands/pages_view.asp?did=6425 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:04:28 +0000 Hundreds of school staff are appealing to Gordon Brown to stop Potteries schools being landed with big compensation bills for back pay. Almost 400 people - including some support staff who will benefit from the payouts - have signed a petition on 10 Downing Street's petitions website. They are angry at Stoke-on-Trent City Council passing on more than £8 million of charges to schools to cover the costs of equal pay settlements. http://tinyurl.com/2sphmh http://tinyurl.com/2sphmh Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:01:56 +0000 UNISON has won a landmark equal-pay victory for more than 5,000 Northern Irish school cleaners, which will see many of them women gain thousands of pounds in back wages. After six years of protest, negotiations and threatened strike action, the cleaners have won an equal-pay increase and six years back pay. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4094 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4094 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:36:00 +0000 SCORES of workers will miss out on a cash windfall from an equal pay deal because of an apparent loophole. Nearly 3,000 low-paid Cardiff council workers, including school dinner ladies, are to be offered up to £9,700 in pay-outs to settle a long-running equal pay dispute. But the deal excludes workers from voluntary-aided schools, which are all Church in Wales and Roman Catholic schools, because their staff are employed by each school’s governing body instead of the council. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/03/12/equal-pay-but-not-for-all-91466-20610758/ http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/03/12/equal-pay-but-not-for-all-91466-20610758/ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:28:43 +0000 Birmingham City Council says it has made an improved offer to unions following a dispute over its new pay and grading structure. Workers at the UK's largest local authority went on strike in February over proposals which unions said would have cut some staff's earnings by half. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7292620.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7292620.stm Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:27:15 +0000 Negotiations between unions and Birmingham council bosses over the imposition of a single status pay deal were continuing as Socialist Worker went to press. Single status deals were supposed to bring equal pay for low paid women. Instead thousands of council workers, including many women, face pay cuts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14389 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14389 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:25:51 +0000 Workers at national housing charity Shelter are to strike again over management plans to scrap their pay and grading structure and force them to sign new employment contracts. Members of Unite the union began a campaign of strike action last week following months of fruitless negotiation over the issue. http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=94178&int1stParentNodeID=42438&int2ndParentNodeID=42438&Action=Display http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=94178&int1stParentNodeID=42438&int2ndParentNodeID=42438&Action=Display Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:49:57 +0000 The phenomenon of public sector employers threatening to sack their employees unless they accept inferior contracts is a new - and dangerous - one Council workers in East Lothian in Scotland are currently balloting on whether to strike over the local authority's plan to dismiss them and re-engage them on worse terms and conditions. http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/gregor_gall/2008/03/no_choice_but_to_strike.html http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/gregor_gall/2008/03/no_choice_but_to_strike.html Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:40:56 +0000 A letter to nearly half of SEPA staff who have refused to sign away their agreed conditions, is to be challenged by the staff union, UNISON at a series of meetings starting this week. The workplace meetings that UNISON are organising across Scotland, will discuss action by the staff to challenge the dismissals and a number of other breaches of agreements detailed by the union in a dispute notice handed to SEPA last Friday http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2008/marapr/0303b.htm http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2008/marapr/0303b.htm Sat, 8 Mar 2008 15:41:02 +0000 Unison said almost 300 women at Kirklees Council working in traditional female jobs such as home carers, kitchen assistants and cleaners, were excluded from bonuses awarded to men in comparable posts such as gardening and refuse collection. The claims were originally submitted in 2006 and settled after preliminary employment tribunal hearings. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jH747iF8w3UHKehIF7ajSGqIDvzg http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jH747iF8w3UHKehIF7ajSGqIDvzg Sat, 8 Mar 2008 09:49:50 +0000 UNISON lodged its 40,000th equal pay claim this week, as 300 women members found out the union has won payouts for them of up to £35,000 each. The compensation follows UNISON's successful equal pay case on their behalf. It is on average 50% higher than the settlements achieved by no win, no fee lawyers. "I am delighted that UNISON has been successful in achieving pay justice for this group of low paid women workers," said general secretary Dave Prentis. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4085 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4085 Sat, 8 Mar 2008 09:48:25 +0000 Thousands of female council workers are in line for an average £7,428 pay bonanza after being unfairly paid for years. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has set aside up to £26 million to cover the claims of about 3,500 workers. They are being offered the cash to drop costly claims against the council for equal pay compensation. http://tinyurl.com/2msv4x http://tinyurl.com/2msv4x Fri, 7 Mar 2008 18:26:53 +0000 Union leaders at Aberdeen City Council say they have not ruled out the possibility of strike action over controversial equal pay settlements. Members of both the T&G Unite and GMB unions have voted to reject the latest offer. Council officials have since been meeting union leaders in a bid to agree improved terms. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7279678.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7279678.stm Thu, 6 Mar 2008 19:31:52 +0000 Greenwich Unison members have voted to accept the council's latest 'single status' proposals. This follows a successful campaign by the trade unions, led by Greenwich Unison, demanding equal pay without pay cuts. The proposals include a reduction in the working week, No loss of pay, Pay increases for manual workers, An improved job evaluation system, Equal pay compensation, Improved overtime rates. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3847 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3847 Wed, 5 Mar 2008 21:47:01 +0000 Several workers at Preston city council walked out unofficially on Thursday of last week after being told that the single status review will leave a third of the workforce facing pay cuts. Some Unison union officials have argued that the deal will help low paid women. In fact the lowest paid women will only get 8 to 10 pence more an hour. Meanwhile more than 400 workers mostly women will face pay cuts. Some stand to lose up to £7,000 a year. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14324 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14324 Tue, 4 Mar 2008 19:46:06 +0000 Over 200 people from different unions and campaigns came together to lobby Waltham Forest council on Thursday of last week. Members of the Unison, Unite and GMB unions joined anti-cuts campaigners in a march to protest against wage cuts caused by the councils’s single status deal and the threat of job losses. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14322 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14322 Tue, 4 Mar 2008 19:42:49 +0000 An emergency surgery is being held in Plymouth for council employees who are having their salaries cut. Plymouth City Council sent letters to its 10,000 staff on Friday, giving details of the government's national pay and grading review. About 2,000 workers face salary cuts from September 2010. Some workers said they stand to lose 20% - up to £8,000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7274416.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7274416.stm Tue, 4 Mar 2008 15:15:21 +0000 Hundreds of staff at Scotland's environmental watchdog are set to strike within weeks, as workers prepare to receive official confirmation today that they will be sacked for refusing to accept a controversial pay deal. Unison is holding a series of meetings at Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) offices across the country where angry workers will discuss taking industrial action in protest over the threat. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2090229.0.Environment_agency_staff_set_to_strike.php http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2090229.0.Environment_agency_staff_set_to_strike.php Tue, 4 Mar 2008 15:13:53 +0000 PROTESTORS marched on the Town Hall last night (Thursday) in an attempt to convince councillors to oppose the cabinet-approved budget. The mixture of union members and cultural campaigners met in Walthamstow Town Square and marched along Hoe Street and Forest Road to the Town Hall. Protestors are concerned about £14m worth of cuts to council jobs and services over the next three years. And the council's single status plans, which aims to equalise pay for similar jobs, means that while some people will get paid more, others could lose up to £8,000 a year. http://www.wansteadandwoodfordguardian.co.uk/news/walthamforest/walthamforestnews/display.var.2084365.0.waltham_forest_protesters_threaten_general_strike_over_council_cuts.php http://www.wansteadandwoodfordguardian.co.uk/news/walthamforest/walthamforestnews/display.var.2084365.0.waltham_forest_protesters_threaten_general_strike_over_council_cuts.php Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:51:48 +0000 Hundreds of Preston City Council workers are to see their salaries slashed, prompting some to stage a walk-out. More than 400 people - a third of the entire workforce - in departments including accounts and IT have seen their salaries axed by up to thousands as part of the national single status pay review. Council leader Ken Hudson said the "winners" and "losers" could expect to win or lose to the tune of around £7,000. http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Council-workers-walk-out-over.3829972.jp http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Council-workers-walk-out-over.3829972.jp Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:49:23 +0000 Union officials at one of Swansea's biggest employers say most staff are supporting a one-day strike over pay. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) mounted a picket outside the centre which employs around 5,000. It claims there is a widening pay gap between the mainly female staff there and predominantly male workers at related transport agencies http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7270736.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7270736.stm Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:46:36 +0000 Porsche-driving Stefan Cross has done very well for himself out of damsels in distress. The personalised plate on the sports car and nice house in Newcastle's leafy Gosforth suburb are proof there's good money to be made out of discrimination. The lawyer is one of a breed promising to mount a white charger and fight the good equal pay fight on behalf of undervalued women. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/27/how-unfair-pay-pays-89520-20332737/ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/02/27/how-unfair-pay-pays-89520-20332737/ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:18:07 +0000 Union members at the housing charity Shelter have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over sweeping cuts to pay and conditions. These are the most serious attacks by senior management in the history of the organisation and this is why 72% of those balloted, voted "yes" to industrial action. This was on an impressive 65% turnout. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3829 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3829 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:15:55 +0000 Council workers in Waltham Forest, north London, were set to march to protest over cutbacks on Thursday of this week. The council cabinet approved a budget last week that included cuts of £14 million. Only £4.5 million of those cuts have been identified, and unions representing council workers say that the cutbacks will mean definite job losses at the council. On top of this the workers are facing a single status review that will lead to pay cuts for some workers, with some losing as much as £8,000 a year if the single status plans go ahead. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14276 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14276 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:03:14 +0000 Over 50 angry and worried GMB union members, demonstrated outside Leeds Civic Hall on Wednesday of last week. The union wanted to lobby the council meeting, to show its opposition to pay cuts of up to £6,000 a year included in the council’s single status deal. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14278 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14278 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:01:13 +0000 Up and down Britain council workers are being saddled with Gordon Brown’s public sector pay freeze – and at the same time face councils using single status to attack them. Single status deals are supposed to deliver a common pay scale and harmonisation of conditions for all jobs. But the government has refused to give local authorities the extra funds to pay for those who are supposed to gain from the deal. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14282 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14282 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:59:54 +0000 Birmingham council bosses have been forced into a significant climbdown over their attempt to cut wages in the name of equal pay. Having spent 18 months refusing to seriously negotiate with the unions and attempting to force through a rotten single status pay deal, they have now been forced to the negotiating table. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14281 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14281 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:58:52 +0000 A pay bombshell has hit 6,000 city council workers and left hundreds fearing they will face salary cuts. The implications of a Government shake-up of local authority salaries will affect everyone from binmen and dinner ladies to white collar staff and managers at the town hall. The luckiest will get big pay rises, but some will find their wages frozen – or even cut. http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk:80/news/Implications-of-council-salary-review.3805017.jp http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk:80/news/Implications-of-council-salary-review.3805017.jp Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:49:17 +0000 Unite members working for Birmingham City Council have agreed to suspend strike action for two weeks to enter into negotiations with the Council. The workers had been due to strike tomorrow in an ongoing dispute over new pay and grading structures imposed by the council without trade unions or workforce agreement. Trade union’s say the proposals could reduce council workers pay by up to £18,000 a year and will not solve equal pay issues outstanding at the council. http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8019 http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8019 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:47:33 +0000 A solution to Birmingham's bitter pay dispute has edged a step closer, with UNISON winning a promise from the council to begin negotiations afresh. Unions called off strike action planned for today after constructive talks with council leaders, who have agreed to scrap plans to impose a new pay and grading structure. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4064 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4064 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:44:41 +0000 Edinburgh is facing a "summer of discontent" leading to massive disruption across the Capital unless efforts are made to appease disgruntled council workers. The stark warning from unions is that possible strike action could lead to schools being closed, bins left unemptied, community centres and libraries shut, and social work and housing offices left unstaffed. http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Summer-of-discontent39-warning-to.3809340.jp http://news.scotsman.com/politics/39Summer-of-discontent39-warning-to.3809340.jp Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:02:45 +0000 Workers at national housing charity Shelter are to strike on Wednesday March 5 over management plans to scrap their pay and grading structure and force them to sign new employment contracts. Members of Unite: the union decided by 211 votes to 74 in a secret ballot to take strike action to secure a rethink by the charity’s management following months of fruitless negotiation over the issue. http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/tgwu-strike-on-march-5th-at-shelter-housing-charity-$1207258.htm http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/tgwu-strike-on-march-5th-at-shelter-housing-charity-$1207258.htm Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:01:33 +0000 TRADE unions have attacked a deal offered to almost 3,000 low-paid council workers in Cardiff to settle a long-running equal pay dispute. Cardiff council is offering up to £9,700 in pay-outs to mainly school cooks, cleaners and care workers but union officials who attended an executive meeting said that it was not enough. http://tinyurl.com/2eebm8 http://tinyurl.com/2eebm8 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:43:51 +0000 Local government workers in Waltham Forest will march to the London borough's town hall on Thursday 28 February in protest against "single status" pay cuts. Refuse workers could lose £100 a week with street cleaners losing £70 a week. The government's 'efficiency' review could make 300 council workers redundant. Socialist Party members in Unison and Unite agree with equal pay for men and women, but not at the expense of other workers. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3809 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3809 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:13:40 +0000 A GROUP of Nottinghamshire County Council workers have made an official complaint against their own union in a dispute over a pay review. Around 3,500 workers are facing pay cuts of between £2,000 and £8,000 under equal pay laws which aim to end discrimination between men and women doing jobs of similar value. http://www.chad.co.uk/news/County-council-staff-in-pay.3788069.jp http://www.chad.co.uk/news/County-council-staff-in-pay.3788069.jp Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:40:06 +0000 No pay cuts! Equal pay for women, now That's what Birmingham council workers will be saying as they strike for the second time on 26 February. Tens of thousands of members of GMB, Amicus, TGWU, UCATT and Unison struck on 5 February and hopes are that the action will be as effective and vibrant again. http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3786 http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/3786 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:20:52 +0000 Argyll and Bute council has offered employees a new set of proposals on pay and conditions, after staff took industrial action earlier this month over plans to tear up agreements and impose cuts on staff conditions. A series of all-out strikes, selective action and working to rule led to the council making new proposals, including: http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4051 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4051 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:19:26 +0000 Taxpayers in Dudley could be saddled with a c40 million debt to fund a controversial equal pay deal for council staff, it was revealed today. Dudley Council estimates implementing the single status pay deal for 11,000 workers will cost between c30 and c40 million. http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/02/23/40m-bill-for-new-pay-deal/ http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/02/23/40m-bill-for-new-pay-deal/ Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:16:57 +0000 Union members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new pay proposals at Staffordshire County Council.Workers with Unison, the T &G section of the union Unite and the GMB were balloted on the authoritiy's Single Status pay and grading proposals and the vast majority gave their support to the proposals http://tinyurl.com/yr958l http://tinyurl.com/yr958l Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:23:58 +0000 Birmingham Council binmen have been threatened with privatisation if they walk out on strike again in protest at the imposition of new contracts and pay cuts. Refuse collectors and street sweepers in Birmingham are set to walk out for the second time in a month on Tuesday as the bitter Single Status dispute continues. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/02/22/new-threat-to-bin-strikers-97319-20510806/ http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/02/22/new-threat-to-bin-strikers-97319-20510806/ Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:22:38 +0000 UNISON Scotland has condemned a decision by East Lothian council to dismiss all its staff and re-engage them on inferior terms and conditions. The union is balloting members at the council urging them to vote for industrial action to reject planned cuts, which form part of the council's single status proposals, to conditions. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4046 http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4046 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:48:24 +0000 UNISON, the UK's largest pubic sector union, is warning Coventry City Council to "face the fact that equal pay is not a take it or leave it piece of legislation, but the law of the land". The union is calling on the council to stop wasting residents' money fighting equal pay claims made by the union on behalf of 250 low paid women council workers. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98122.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/98122.php Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:47:08 +0000 HUNDREDS of low-paid women working for Coventry City Council have won the right to claim thousands of pounds in back pay. Some of them will be entitled to as much as £42,000 compensation for six years back pay, thanks to a tribunal victory. About 250 care workers, cook supervisors and escort drivers brought an their case to an employment tribunal at Birmingham under the Equal Pay Act. http://tinyurl.com/2f2nxh http://tinyurl.com/2f2nxh Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:20:36 +0000 A MULTI-MILLION pound pay deal u-turn could lead to strike action. Council chiefs were this morning expected to write directly to 6,500 workers asking if they would accept the single status settlement, which is currently on the table. A majority agreement on the current equality proposal could lead to it being enforced. But that has caused fury among trade unions who are effectively being bypassed. http://tinyurl.com/2y3afs http://tinyurl.com/2y3afs Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:18:00 +0000 Angry refuse and street cleansing workers in Leeds are to demonstrate on Wednesday of next week against Leeds council’s proposal to take up to £6,000 each year from their pay packets. Workers in the GMB union plan to protest outside a council meeting at Leeds Civic Hall. Bill Chard from the GMB said, We have voted by over two to one to reject the council’s pay proposals. We will fight to take low paid women out of poverty pay and resist Leeds council’s attempt to plunder the pockets of refuse and street cleansing workers. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14228 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14228 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:38:51 +0000 The battle for equal and fair pay in local government is coming to a head in Birmingham council. Over 20,000 workers in the GMB, Unison, Unite and Ucatt unions are set to take their second day of strike action on Tuesday of next week. They are fighting the imposition of a rotten single status deal which would see many workers facing devastating pay cuts. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14227 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14227 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:37:07 +0000 Private sector employers have been warned they could face an equal pay nightmare on the same scale as that currently overwhelming local authorities, after a survey revealed a lack of data about salary levels. http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/02/18/44466/private-sector-warned-of-huge-equal-pay-timebomb.html http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/02/18/44466/private-sector-warned-of-huge-equal-pay-timebomb.html Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:04:18 +0000 Arbitrators have been called in to try to prevent nurses working at Derby's hospitals from going on strike. The trust which runs the city's main hospitals wants to downgrade some posts as part of restructuring. It said it needed to make cuts totalling £55m. For the past three weeks, management and unions have been in talks but have so far failed to resolve the dispute. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7250649.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7250649.stm Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:01:39 +0000 Around 3,000 Swansea Council staff who may potentially be eligible for an equal pay payment are to get details of their individual settlement offers in the coming weeks. The authority is writing to the staff - mainly women in care, catering, cleaning and teaching support assistant posts - to make the offer and invite them to specially organised signing days. More than 1,200 of these staff attended briefing sessions last month to explain more about the offer and how it affects them. http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=13339 http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=13339 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:59:05 +0000 A judgement by an employment tribunal in Birmingham means that hundreds of women council workers could be in line for financial pay-outs, a union says. Unite said 250 workers at Coventry City Council could make a claim after the union won the tribunal case, and this could prompt other UK-wide claims. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7249618.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7249618.stm Mon, 18 Feb 2008