Regrading sparks dispute at Falkirk

Social work staff in Falkirk look set to ballot over industrial action after the council announced it was to push ahead with its job regrading exercise.

Staff are angry that the council has issued them with 90-day termination of contract notices because they voted to reject new terms offered to them. The council said it would offer all staff their jobs back under the new contracts.

Falkirk is the latest Scottish council to have problems implementing the single status agreement, which requires councils to assess employees’ jobs to evaluate whether pay levels are fair.

Last week, Unison said it is to ballot its members in Glasgow over plans that will lead to cuts in pay for one-third of staff after three years.

Stephen Smellie, social work convener for Unison Scotland, said: “A number of staff are lodging unfair dismissal claims against Falkirk Council and some may possibly apply for judicial review.”

A Falkirk Council spokesperson said 90 per cent of staff would not suffer under the new contracts and most had accepted them.

Further information:
Falkirk Council