Hampshire workers reject pay deal (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Hampshire workers reject pay deal

10:30am Friday 29th June 2007 in News

HAMPSHIRE County Council workers have voted overwhelmingly to reject a new equal pay deal.

In a ballot held by Unison, the main public sector union, 79 per cent of members rejected the new grades and salaries proposed by the council.

Unions are due to meet council chiefs today (Friday June 29) to decide the next step.

A Unison official said: "Quite clearly our members don't like what is on offer."

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "It is disappointing that UNISON members have voted against the Council's proposed new pay framework, though we have yet to be informed of the turnout of their members. Union membership represents only a small proportion of County Council staff and we are still waiting for the ballot results from GMB and T&GWU.

"The process we have gone through to develop a pay structure that would be acceptable to all and ensure fairness and equity has included working co-operatively on job evaluation and detailed and lengthy negotiations with the unions.

"We will continue to work with the unions and staff over the next few months to attempt to iron out those issues where a resolution has not yet been reached. However, the Council is obliged to implement the outcome of the pay and grading review to be compliant with the National Single Status Agreement. We also want to end the uncertainty for all of our staff as soon as possible and will aim to resolve all the outstanding issues and implement the new framework within this financial year, backdated to April 1, 2007."