Union hits out at jobs review

OLDHAM Council has denied claims by a trade union leader that staff are being left in the dark over its job evaluation plans.

The plans will harmonise blue and white collar pay scales and check that equal work of equal value is paid the same.

GMB union convenor Jim McDermott spoke out after Bury Council published its job evaluation and pay reviews. These will see 40 per cent of staff face a pay cut, leading some employees to claim they will be out of pocket by thousands of pounds.

Slamming what he claims has been “appalling communication”, Mr McDermott, who represents 600 council manual workers, said: “The unions are on record as continually asking for up to date, factual newsletters to go out to employees, all to no avail.

“The few that have gone out did not contain any realistic time lines for the changes.

“All this has done is compound the added stress and insecurity and encourage rumours to fill the gaps through lack of information.

“Even with a change in political leadership communication has not improved.”

But Councillor Lynne Thompson, Cabinet member for Finance and Resources, said she was disappointed he felt that way.

She added: “Job evaluation has the support of and the close involvement of the trade unions and the evaluation of every single job within the council will have been agreed with them before they are published.

“At the moment we are meeting union representatives several times a week. All parties know precisely what is happening, and what remains to be done.”

Robert Cragg, interim assistant director for Human Resources, added: “We have a dedicated intranet site with information for staff and have also published a series of newsletters. These have frequently been joint publications with the trade unions.

“Every member of staff will be able to see how their score was worked out and also how to appeal. We will also be holding a series of briefings and setting up an advice line.”

Ann Mitchell, Unison branch secretary, said: “We want to ensure the results are fair and accurate, and trying to avoid circumstances like Rochdale Council which has had 1,600 appeals against its job evaluation.”