Some of the lowest paid council workers in Bath and North East Somerset are bracing for a reduction in their pay this summer, a move being met with strong opposition from labor unions.
Employees working in waste and recycling, passenger transport, and IT at Bath and North East Somerset Council have been notified about the potential pay cut. While the new pay offer is set to be approved by the council’s employment committee and take effect on June 1, plans for a pay reduction in passenger transport and waste and recycling will be addressed separately in the next three months.
Unison, the trade union representing workers at the council, has expressed strong disapproval of the proposed pay cuts. Amy Rushton, branch chair for Unison, stated that the move is especially harsh for workers who are already among the lowest paid in the council. She highlighted the additional financial strain from a nearly 5% increase in council tax, making living costs even more challenging for affected workers.
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There are suspicions within the union that the pay cut is aimed at avoiding an equal pay claim. The recent in-sourcing of adult social care contracts by the council resulted in a significant number of low-paid, predominantly female workers transferring to the council under protected employment regulations.
Toni Mayo, a council social worker and Unison activist, emphasized the importance of addressing equal pay without disadvantaging any gender. She expressed the need for fairer compensation for women in the workforce.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Bath and North East Somerset Council emphasized the ongoing dialogue with unions and staff to evaluate a broader range of pay and role profile changes. The council aims to implement the pay proposals by June 1, with plans to increase salaries for over 800 of the lowest paid staff. Additionally, discussions will continue with unions and affected staff to address the impact on those facing pay reductions, with a three-year pay protection period agreed for affected employees.
While Unison members rejected the pay offer in the consultative ballot, Unite and GMB, which also represent council workers, are yet to report their consultative ballot results. Unison is advocating for the decision on the pay offer to be made by the full council rather than solely the employment committee.
The employment committee is scheduled to convene during the council’s “values week” to deliberate on the implementation of the pay cut.