SINGLE STATUS UPDATE

Scottish Executive must fund equal pay

By John Stevenson

Local Government delegates from across Scotland called on the Scottish Executive to fund councils to meet their equal pay responsibilities at a special UNISON meeting in Edinburgh.

In the morning, branch representatives took part in Single Status workshops before the afternoon meeting of the Local Government Service Group. Speakers called for more links between branches facing problems and more support from the union's organisation.

Aberdeen City: The council is to withdraw letters sent to staff and issue letters of apology after threatened strike action over job evaluation results. It has also agreed to enter into "full and meaningful negotiations" with unions to try to reach a new deal over pay. UNISON members were angry after receiving letters which left some facing pay cuts of thousands of pounds a year.

UNISON's Karen Donnelly said: "This is a great result but it is now that the hard work begins in what I am sure will be some very detailed and very difficult discussions.

"Our members now have to let us get on with negotiations, but can rest assured that we will consult with them before any decisions are made." Moray UNISON continues to call for an independent audit of how the council organised job evaluation after members raised concerns as to how the process was handled.

Moray's website (www.morayunison.co.uk/) said that the union had made it clear to the council that "the overwhelming message coming from our members is that no-one should lose pay, so that is our negotiating position".

While there has been a great deal of ill feeling over large pay rises to some big earners, the biggest number of winners are those on low pay, especially in jobs historically done by women.

Aberdeenshire has secured a statement from the council that no-one will lose money because of Single Status.

Edinburgh and Glasgow are in discussions with their councils. Both councils want to implement the Greater London Job Evaluation Scheme rather than the recommended Scottish one. "In Edinburgh we are currently examining the scheme to see if it has any benefits to members - but the bottom line is that it must be equality-proof", said John Mulgrew, Edinburgh UNISON chief negotiator. South Lanarkshire agreed and implemented a non SJC scheme without apparent problem some time ago.

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