Sting in tail of pay offer

Local government workers in Oldham will be balloted on a 1 per cent pay offer.

It is an increase on the first offer of 0.5 per cent. But unions say the letter from employers’ secretary Sarah Messenger has a sting in the tail, warning of compulsory redundancies if the pay deal goes through.

The offer is 1.25 per cent for those on the lowest grades, and a 1 per cent pay rise, backdated to April 1, for the majority of staff.

There will also be an extra day’s leave for those with less than five year’s service, and a commitment to producing joint guidance on handling redundancies.

But Brian Strutton, national secretary of the GMB union, told members that the threat of compulsory redundancies makes it more important than ever that they exercise their votes on the offer. He added: “There will be a recall conference on August 11 to determine our stance and we will ballot after that.”

Ms Messenger’s letter said: “Since authorities set their budgets for 2009-10, the recession has led to a significant reduction in councils’ incomes alongside an increase in demand for services.

“Consequently the amount available for pay has been squeezed, and in many councils implementation of the employers’ improved offer would mean cutting expenditure elsewhere, which in turn may lead to reductions in jobs, possibly through compulsory redundancies.”

The unions are being asked to reply by September 11.