GMB MEMBERS REJECT PAY AND GRADING PROPOSAL FROM BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL

GMB members overwhelmingly voted to reject Birmingham City Council’s pay and grading proposals last night at one of the first meetings organised by GMB throughout Birmingham.

The proposals are as a result of lengthy discussions between the City Council and the Trade Unions concerning the 1997 Single Status Agreement, which aimed to end discriminatory pay and grading structures within Local Government and resolve issues of equal pay for low paid female workers.

The proposals included:-

• A new pay and grading structure to be implemented in September 2007.
• Performance related pay progression
• Changes to holiday entitlement
• Comprehensive review of Allowance payments
• Termination of all Bonus Agreements
• A new Flexibility Agreement called Employee Bargain

GMB Regional Organiser, Dominic Hinks, stated: “Our members have listened to our concerns presented to them last night on the latest offer from Birmingham City Council.  The GMB is deeply concerned that the scope of the Pay and Grading Review is now so wide it leaves very little time for the City Council to consult and negotiate meaningfully with the Trade Unions with a view to reaching an Agreement within its workforce.

Birmingham’s new proposed pay structure and their proposal on holiday entitlement continue to discriminate against low paid female workers and will not resolve their equal pay issues.  Indeed it is my view that it will result in a further waive of equal pay claims against Birmingham City Council.

Other issues such as Performance Related Pay, a review of Allowances and Employee Bargain lack any real detail and the imposed termination of all bonuses will result in some of our members losing thousands of pounds.  This is not acceptable.

GMB members sent a clear message last night that the proposal in its current capacity is not acceptable and unless substantial improvements are made there remains a strong possibility of industrial unrest and lengthy litigation against Birmingham City Council to force them to meet their equal pay liability.  If the City Council is unwilling to do so then the GMB will support any member who wishes to pursue their full statutory entitlement under Equal Pay Legislation”.

Further meetings across the City are planned for the end of this week and the following week.

-          Ends –

For further information please contact Dominic Hinks, GMB Officer or Samantha Jones, Press Officer on Tel: 0121 550 4888.

Notes to Editors:

Further meetings that have been arranged by GMB across Birmingham

Wednesday, 2^nd May 2007

Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

Jockey Road, Sutton Coldfield

West Midlands. B73 5PT

Thursday, 3^rd May 2007

Martineau Centre

74 Balden Road, Harborne

Birmingham. B32 2EH

Tuesday, 8^th May 2007

Queensbridge School, Specialist Arts College,

Highbury Community Campus

Queensbridge Road, Moseley,

Birmingham. B13 8QB

Thursday, 10^th May 2007

James Watt Primary School

Boulton Road, Handsworth