This Newsletter is sent to you to clarify the latest position with regard to the implementation of Single Status within your School. Whilst GMB has tried to cover all aspects of the Single Status package in this and previous Newsletters, we also believe it is important that we talk to you face to face away from your workplace. Therefore, we have arranged a number of GMB meetings to be held throughout the City. At these meetings you will receive more detailed information from your Senior GMB negotiators and have the opportunity to raise any Single Status concerns or queries. You will also be asked to participate in the Single Status ballot, so please do come along to one of the four meetings detailed below:-

• Monday 14^th September @ 6.30 p.m. at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield. B73 5PT
• Tuesday 15^th September @ 6.30 p.m. at Queensbridge School, Queensbridge Road, Moseley. B13 8QB
• Wednesday 16^th September @ 6.30 p.m. at Ladywood Arts and Leisure Centre, Freeth Street, Ladywood. B16 8TR
• Thursday 17^th September @ 5 p.m. at the Martineau Education Centre, 74 Balden Road, Harborne. B32 2EH

If you have a co-worker who wants to join the GMB, they can come too and once they have filled in a GMB Application Form they will also have a chance to participate in the ballot.

Progress to-date:

By now your School will have received an up-to-date copy of the spreadsheet which details the various grades allocated to differing job roles.

There are a number of job roles which may be subject of amendment due to further job evaluation questionnaires being completed, these include:

·                     Learning Mentors

·                     Nursery Officers

·                     Building Service Supervisors/ Managers

Whilst most Schools will be implementing Single Status next term the actual date will vary from School to School. If you have any concerns when your School starts this process, please do not hesitate in contacting your Senior Representatives at the Martineau Centre on 0121 675 8036.

When implementing the package your School should meet with you and advise you of the grade you have been allocated and a breakdown of the score allocated to you. You should also be provided with a copy of the Job Description, job overview, details of additional payments that you were previously in receipt of and whether this has changed.  You should also be advised of the right to appeal against the grade and the process to be used for such an appeal.  GMB will be available to support you through this process. In the meantime we have enclosed for your use a number of draft appeal letters (Appendix 1), which depending on your circumstances you can use different elements of. 

The Council take the view that in order to implement Single Status you must be issued with a new Contract of Employment. GMB strongly recommend that you do not accept this new Contract and enclosed is a letter which you can give to your Headteacher (Appendix 2). By using this letter you are protecting your rights for the GMB to pursue an Employment Tribunal claim on your behalf in the future.

What other information can I expect?

You may receive a letter from Tony Penny asking for your views on the Single Status package. If you intend to reply to this you may wish to bear in mind that GMB believe that the Single Status package falls short of being fair and equitable and recommends you reject the package. A number of our members have asked for a draft letter and so enclosed is a drafted letter to respond to Tony Penny (Appendix 3).

Why are the GMB recommending rejection of the Single Status package?

Unlike the rest of the Birmingham City Council workforce, School employees under the direction of the Governing Body:-

• Are not guaranteed to receive the grade identified for their role in the package
• Will not receive an automatic right to an independent appeal
• Will not receive back pay to 1^st April 2007
• Are subjected to the implementation of part time status and term time only working

What you will share with the rest of the Councils workforce is that where you are slotted into the grade is dependent upon whether you are a winner or a looser not what your job scored.

Therefore, even though there are some good parts of the Single Status package GMB recommend that you reject the package.

What is the Latest Position with regard to Equal Pay Claims?

Any GMB member who has not yet submitted Potential Equal Pay Claim Forms, GMB would strongly recommend that you complete the enclosed form no later than the end of September (Appendix 4) and return it to Manisha Chohan at Will Thorne House, 2, Birmingham Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3HP. 

For those GMB members who have already submitted an equal pay claim some will be made an offer by the Employer in the near future. All members receiving offers will be given full advice and support by GMB and Thompsons Solicitors and invited to attend a GMB meeting before they decide whether to accept or reject.

The majority of GMB members with a registered equal pay claim will not be made an offer in the near future. For these workers GMB pledge their continued commitment to pursing these Employment Tribunal claims for however long it takes.