About 7,000 workers at Hampshire County Council are set to receive a pay rise following a deal with unions on new salary structures.
The decision follows a resounding ‘yes’ vote by Unison union members with about 27,000 employees falling within the remit of the deal.
The council said the vast majority of staff will be unaffected by the changes, due to come into effect in February 2008.
A quarter will see an increase in their salary, with 7% will be placed on pay protection until 30 September 2009 because their current salary is above the top of the range of their new grade.
Council leader Ken Thornber said: “It is regrettable that not everyone will be better off. However, we have minimised the overall number of employees who are disadvantaged and recent changes to the framework put more people in a better position with the majority unaffected.”
The council had to revise its pay framework following the single-status agreement requiring all local authorities to end pay discrimination.
There are three unions representing staff at Hampshire County Council, with Unison being the largest. The ballot results from the GMB and Unite are not yet known.
