The City Council intially invited UNISON to negotiations over a proposed new pay and reward scheme in late 2005. After over 20 hours of meetings, the Council then withdrew the acclaimed 'Win Win' proposals without even bothering to tell staff. It was Westminster UNISON who informed their members and even some managers that they were no longer going to get the pay rise they were expecting.
In August 2007 the City Council claimed to be 'Probably the Best Council in the Country' following the CPA assessment. On the day this was announced Phil Vaughan, Branch Secretary (WCC) wrote to the Chief Executive asking that our members who make this the best Council to have the best pay for their efforts. Members can click to see the letter and response.
The Council admitted in 2005 that they had fallen behind the market rate for pay and that the £2 million proposed for the scheme was a pay adjustment to bring us in line with our competitors. The Council U-turned and now say it is a reward linked to Worksmart savings.
Branch Secretary Phil Vaughan said "Despite there being clear benefits for many of our members, it is disapointing to note that given the unusually large financial reserves (over £90 million), the Worksmart savings achieved this financial year (over £10 million) and the savings made by delaying the pay and reward scheme for 2 years (approx £4-5 million), the current proposals exclude some of our members such as Schools and Westminster Adult Education Service staff, many of whom are low paid women. Westminster City Council is probably one of the richest Councils in the Country and all its staff should be adequately rewarded for their hard work."We must also be cautious of a 'sting in the tail' of any new Pay and Reward scheme as we believe the Council would like to cut other existing benefits such as shift payments. We resist attacks on our terms and conditions like the attempts to re-write the Compensation Policy, and will fight for a good deal for all our members.
UNISON and will keep you up to date with bulletins as the negotiations progress. It has been made very clear that a 3 week period must be built into the timeframe in order for us to ballot members on whether they accept or reject the new proposals.
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK - email rewards@westminsterunison.org.uk to ensure your voice is heard in the negotiations.
Click on the links below for the most up to date information:
