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Date: Monday 3 August 2009
Union 90% vote approves Single Status deal
UNISON, Dumfries & Galloway's largest public service trade union,
and partner unions UNITE & GMB today announced that their members
working for the local authority, have all voted overwhelmingly
to accept a negotiated Single Status deal.
UNISON members delivered a majority of 89.6% in favour of the
package of proposals with 10.4% of members rejecting. The turnout
was 75%.
UNITE & GMB members also voted to accept the offer in a high
turnout with majorities of, - Unite 94% and GMB 93%
Speaking shortly after the votes were independently counted Marion
Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway UNISON branch secretary said; "I
am pleased that our members have voted to accept this deal. The
joint trade unions believed it was the best available through
negotiation.
"It has been a long, often very difficult process, which
started back in 1999. Recently, Trades Unions and the Council
formed an effective joint project board, led by retired Chief
Executive, Phil Jones.
"This is a prime example of what can be achieved by good joint
working and we are pleased the Council has recognised and invested
in our equality demands. The package has been subjected to three
external independent checks and has resulted in fairer pay for
many previously undervalued and under paid female groups."
This is believed to be only the second negotiated settlement
to be achieved between unions and their employers in Scotland's
32 local authorities. The Single Status agreement affects 6500
Council employees and seeks to eradicate current inequalities
that exist in local government pay and conditions.
Ann Patterson, Branch Chair for Unite the Union said after the
ballot "I am pleased to announce that Unite members have voted
to accept the Council's proposals within Dumfries and Galloway.
"The Joint Trade Unions believed that the Council's proposals
were the best that could be achieved via negotiation but recognise
that a number of members will be subject to pay protection. We
remain assured by the Council's commitment to pay equality for
all staff and both sides recognise that this is just the beginning
of an ongoing process to eradicate pay inequality."
Marion Stewart continued: "The result of the ballot marks a significant
milestone. The focus of our work now will be to help colleagues
who want to appeal their grading, to work to improve the position
of those groups of staff who are subject to pay protection and
to continue UNISON's ongoing support for members who have lodged
equal pay claims."
As part of the Single Status agreement those groups of staff
who are Pay Protected will be included in an exercise between
the Joint Trade Unions and the Council to seek to establish "job
redesign or job enlargement" which could potentially remove detriment.
ENDS
For further information please contact: UNISON Branch
Office /Marion Stewart (Branch Secretary) 01387 257393 High Cemetery
Lodge, Craigs Road, Dumfries, DG1 4EX. Email: info@unisondumfries.org.uk
Joe Lynch, Regional Officer, 07958 121 063(m) Chris Bartter, Communications
officer 07715 583 729 (m)
Stay in touch with UNISON Scotland's latest news releases on
our website http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/index.html
and frequent updates on our blog http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/
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