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.”
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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.”