Basildon Council is set to introduce a new framework of pay, grading and terms and conditions of service. This is in response to it’s obligations under national pay arrangements relating to equal pay.
The new arrangements for staff, known nationally as ‘Single Status’ will be considered by the Council’s Cabinet on 17 May. If approved it is likely to be introduced by the end of the year.
The new structure introduces equality based arrangements for over 900 Council staff. It will however mean that almost one third of Basildon Council staff will see their pay packets reduced while two thirds will either see an increase or no change. Implementing Single Status is a legal obligation on every local authority, Basildon Council is one of a minority of councils across the country yet to introduce it.
Speaking about the proposals Cllr. Phil Turner, cabinet member for resources at Basildon Council said:
“Implementing Single Status at Basildon Council is the right thing to do – that does not mean it will be easy. Some of our staff will be negatively affected but appropriate support arrangements have been put in place. The proposals consist of equitable and consistent pay and grading structures and a set of common terms and conditions for Basildon Council employees.
“I am concerned that a considerable minority of our employees, one third, will be negatively affected by these changes. But Single Status involves evaluating job roles – it is not a reflection on individual members of staff.
“As an organisation we will do everything that we can to support colleagues who will lose out, but implementing Single Status, as I have already said, is the right thing to do both in moral terms and to comply with the law. We do not, at the end of the day, have any choice.
“I would like to make it very clear that Single Status is not about making financial savings – indeed the Council has been making financial provision in our budgets for several years to help meet the initial and ongoing costs. It will make the council a fairer place to work and that will mean the Council will be better placed to do the best job of providing essential services to the community of Basildon and deliver our long term vision of regeneration and growth.”
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