Threat of pay strike still looms

Mar 14 2008 By Neil Elkes, Local Government Correspondent

COUNCIL workers attending a series of mass meetings have so far voted overwhelmingly to reject a new pay deal.

The feedback from meetings held at Villa Park and Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centre, in Kings Heath, was that workers are still far from happy with the pay and grading system, despite the council pumping a further £9 million in to sweeten the package.

Union representatives put details of the new package to staff, following two weeks of intensive negotiations and indications are that staff are unhappy.

It means the threat of further strike action hangs in the air despite attempts by city human resources boss Alan Rudge to end the dispute.

The improved pay offer includes extra cash for poorer paid workers, changes to the grade system to reduce the numbers losing out and an extension of basic pay protection until 2011.

But feedback from the meetings revealed that workers are still unhappy at elements of performance related pay and that salary protection will not include annual increases.

Further meetings are being held today and all indications are that the dispute could rumble on.

And there is likely to be a postal ballot once union legal and financial experts have fully assessed the impact of the new deal.

Unison spokesman Tony Rabbiotti said: "It is a complex deal and we need to check all the details."