Local
government employers and trade unions have agreed a three-year pay deal for the
1.3 million local council workers in England and Wales.
In
pay terms, over three years the deal is worth 2.75 per cent in the first year
and 2.95 per cent in each of the second and third years. The deal has been
accepted by the Unison, TGWU and GMB unions.
On
top of the pay rise, the employers have won agreement from the unions to its
six-point reform plan. This includes local pay reviews, a greater focus on
diversity issues and a joint review of conditions of service covering sickness
pay and leave, and maternity and paternity pay and leave.
Rob
Pinkham, executive director at the Employers’ Organisation for local
government, said: “The deal will bring pay stability for local authorities for
the next three years. It also provides the time and space to implement the
far-reaching reforms the employers have been seeking throughout these tough
negotiations.”
The
six-point reform plan consists of:
–
A new approach to local pay reviews: to reach local agreement to bring forward
comprehensive proposals for modernised pay and rewards policies in all
authorities by 31 March 2007
–
Reviews of other diversity issues
–
A joint review of conditions of service within the national agreement to look
specifically at car allowances, annual leave, sickness pay and leave, and
maternity and paternity pay and leave
–
Local workforce development plans
–
Replacing premium rates (for shift, evening, overtime and weekend working) in
the national agreement with a set of principles as recommended by the 2003 Pay
Commission report
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
–
A new agreement on shared principles for modernisation and improvement.
