Council pay revamp talks are extended

A CONSULTATION on plans to shake up the way council staff in Edinburgh are paid is to be extended.

Council chiefs launched a formal 90-day consultation on its "modernising pay" proposals shortly after the turn of the year.

But trade unions Unison and Unite have reached agreement to have the consultation period extended until around June.

The council's proposals will see many staff given new job descriptions and terms and conditions, and comes after an evaluation of 17,000 jobs.

The move is an attempt to protect the council from further expensive "equal pay" claims.

In an update to members, Kevin Duguid, Unison's lead negotiator in Edinburgh, said meetings were being held at least every week.

He said: "By and large the meetings have been reasonably positive with the trade union side putting forward what we believe to be some very constructive and well thought-out proposals.

"All of these are being costed by the council and are under consideration at this stage."

He added that discussions are continuing on how to minimise losses across the council.