Title

Trade union representatives have accused Perth and Kinross Council of going behind their backs to get a new pay deal through. Unison branch secretary, Wilma Armstrong, said the council had asked workers directly to sign agreements accepting a new deal, without first letting the unions see the new contracts. ‘The council has not offered anything,' she said. ‘Its staff are asking employees to offer to settle, which is a complete abdication of the council's legal duty to tackle discrimination and deliver equal pay.' A council spokesman said the local authority was taking ‘all reasonable steps to encourage all our employees to agree to accept the single-status package, and minimise the need for the termination and re-engagement process'. And more than 70% of Unison and GMB members at Fife Council have accepted the local authority's new terms and conditions package. The deal includes a standard, 36-hour working week for everyone. ‘It's a great result for all council employees,' said head of service for policy and organisational development, Michael Enston. ‘This is an excellent package of proposals, affecting around 16,000 people. I'm delighted that it's now been accepted by the overwhelming majority of union members who voted. ‘Most members also voted for unsocial hours to be paid at time-and-a-third.' Joint trade union secretary, Linda Erskine, added: ‘We're pleased that our recent negotiations with Fife Council have now reached this positive conclusion for all parties.' Meanwhile, Unison members have rejected an equal pay offer from Shetland Islands Council. Branch chairman Brian Smith said: ‘The council offered our members less money for working more hours, and needn't be surprised that 93% of them said, No thank you.'

Title

FINANCE

Fury over 'back door' pay deal

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING