Council staff in strike warning

May 3 2007 By David Bell, Birmingham Mail

A MAJOR union today warned the city it was facing a summer of discontent over its "unequal and unfair" pay deal.

The 5,500 members of the GMB, who include lowly-paid kitchen staff and cleaners, have voted overwhelmingly to reject a new council pay structure due to come into force in September.

The union's regional organiser Dominic Hinks said the new pay deal simply perpetuated years of discrimination against low-paid female workers.

They remained at the bottom of pay scales while men were at the top. And as an added insult, they would get less holiday time.

"Unless substantial improvements are made, there is a strong possibility of industrial unrest and lengthy litigation against Birmingham Council to force them to meet their equal pay liability," he warned.

Although entitled to six years' back pay, many staff are signing up to three-year deals bringing in windfalls of up to £32,000 - provided they promise not to take the council to court for the rest.

Mr Hinks promised the GMB would back any of its members ready to go to employment tribunals to claim their full entitlement.

"The deal on offer does not achieve equal pay and we only have until September to reach agreement," explained Mr Hinks.

"In the past couple of weeks the council has brought shift payments on to the agenda as well.

"We are deeply concerned that the scope of the review is now so wide it leaves little time for the council to consult and negotiate meaningfully to reach agreement with trade unions - and they are continuing to discriminate against low paid female workers.

"One of our options has to be industrial action.

"It is becoming a very distinct possibility."

Worst hit under the pay review are road workers and binmen who stand to lose thousands of pounds through the scrapping of a bonus system. They have still to give an official reaction.