Carlisle council staff to be disciplined if they complain about pay cuts

Staff at Carlisle City Council will be disciplined if they dare to complain about cuts to their pay packet, according to The Cumberland News.

The paper claims to have seen a confidential e-mail from the head of personnel, David Williams, detailing the threat.

It claims the e-mail said: "Expressing dissatisfaction about a job evaluation score is not a grievance... Malicious use of any procedure, including this one, could invoke disciplinary action against the employee."

The report added that more than 250 council employees are set for a drop in pay after a controversial job evaluation exercise, and many workers are expected to lodge formal grievances. Earlier this month, the council began the process of imposing a new pay structure, and is consulting for 90 days before issuing new contracts.

Councillor Barry Earp, the executive member responsible for performance and development, told the paper: "The whole of this went through, with packages agreed by the unions and by the members. It wasn't done willy-nilly. It was done legally with what is laid down by central government for job evaluation."