Council staff to learn new grades

THE results of a rigorous job evaluation process will be revealed to council workers today.

Employees have received the results from the first stage of a council-wide review of pay and grades by post under terms of national agreement.

The review is carried out to ensure staff doing work of equal value are paid the same and that the council complies with the law.

Oldham Council has worked closely with the GMB, Unison and Unite trade unions to evaluate every job to determine the skills and qualifications required and also the demands of each job. Every job has been given a score and each score has been agreed between the council and the trade unions.

Drop-in advice sessions, a dedicated helpline and an intranet site have been set up to offer support to staff.

More than 7,000 staff will receive their score and there will now be time to hear any appeals.

The final agreed scores will be used to form the basis of a new pay and grading structure that will be negotiated with the trade unions.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “This is an important milestone in our work to ensure that all Oldham Council employees are rewarded consistently for the work they do.

“Job evaluation is a rigorous process designed to give fair reward for the skills, qualifications and demands of each job and I am delighted that we have been able to work in such close partnership with the trade unions on this issue.

“I can reassure all our staff that every single score has been agreed with the trade unions and that we will continue to work closely together during and after the appeals process as we develop the new pay and grading structure.”