On Tuesday 19th August, 2008, West Dunbartonshire Council agreed to reconsider an earlier decision made by Council on May 14th, 2008 in relation to the implementation of the Single Status Agreement. This was due to the fact that the decision taken on May 14th could not be legally implemented without Council identifying where the budget shortfall associated with the new proposals could be taken from.
The decision marks the end to a long and difficult process to address the issue of Equal Pay, legislation that has been around since the 1970's.
The decision will be implemented on March 1st, 2009 and represents a solid financial position for the authority. Local tax payers will be protected as the decision does not require any increase to Council Tax in future years to fund it. Furthermore, the decision allows the Council to demonstrate 'Best Value', a criticism levied at the council in previous years, and will help safeguard 'in-house' service provision for years to come - a further benefit for local service users.
The decision will mean:
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The majority of council employees will receive an increase to their pay from March 2009 – an investment of £9 million
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The Council’s lowest paid, predominantly female staff will benefit from salary increases of up to 30% from March 2009.
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An additional investment of £7 million will be made to reach new compromise agreements for those 1,300 female staff members – cleaning, catering, home care and bus escorts, whose arrangements expired in 2006. The accompanying package will provide 100% compensation payments. In addition, the Council will provide staff with the option of seeking independent legal advice.
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Staff facing a reduction in salary will have their pay protected, on a cash conserved basis, for 3 years.
David McMillan, Chief Executive said: “Addressing pay inequality is, and will remain, a priority for the Council . Despite Council being required to review its position of the backdating of salaries to April 2006, an investment of approximately £7 million in compensation packages will be provided for female members of staff who have been identified as being in a position of pay inequality.”
McMillan continued: “Despite the fact that the majority of the Council’s workforce will see an increase in salary from March 2009, it remains a top priority for management to work with local Trade Unions to identify ways to minimise detriment for staff in red circle positions during the 3 year pay protection period.”
Council Leader Iain Robertson added: "It has fallen to this administration to finally address the issue of Single Status and ensure equal pay for our lowest paid workers. The situation in West Dunbartonshire is no different to the situation for councils and council workers across the country. This decision has been a hard decision for all members involved, however I believe it to be the right decision and time will prove this to be the case. This decision protects the council, and the services it delivers, from potentially damaging future legal action. It protects local jobs and it protects local taxpayers from increases to council tax to fund the settlement.”
