Pay shake-up to be forced through at Edinburgh Council

Published on Friday 21 May 2010 11:57

THE council today revealed it will force through "equal pay" changes on its staff.

The council has ended its consultation period with unions on its plans to shake up the pay of 15,000 employees.

The manual workers in the Unite union were the first to take action over the proposals – but thousands more staff could take similar action later this year.

The council will now ask staff to volunteer to its new terms and conditions.

If they do not, they will be sent 90-days' notice of dismissal in July, alongside the offer of a new contract on new terms.

If they don't accept, they will lose their job.

Until now, Unison – the largest union on the council – has opposed industrial action and preferred to try to negotiate better terms.

But after talks broke down following five hours of discussions yesterday and the council confirmed it will press ahead with its proposals, Unison leaders say industrial action will now become much more likely.

John Stevenson, president of the Edinburgh branch of Unison, said: "We will continue to try to negotiate. We have seen some progress, not least with the night shift workers, but we will continue on the others.

"If we cannot get changes through negotiation and appeals then industrial action will be an option."

Mr Stevenson also revealed that the "modernising pay" changes – alongside wider cuts and proposals to outsource services – has led to a slump in staff morale.

"This has been an enormously difficult time for people working for the council," he said.

"People's view of working for the council has changed. There is now a general view of not feeling valued.

"It is not only about modernising pay, but also alternative business models and the 90 million of cuts on top of the existing efficiency savings that have happened.

"The vast majority of council workers provide services directly to the public; they are not bureaucrats."

The council said that its decision yesterday to end negotiations came after more than 100 meetings with unions.

It said that the total estimated cost of implementing its proposals has increased by 1m to 11.5m following the latest negotiations.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "I'm pleased that we can now move forward to the benefit of all.

"We must provide a fair, appropriate, flexible and affordable pay system."