Social workers to vote on revised pay cut proposals

Social workers in Shropshire are set to vote on revised pay cut proposals from the council this week, following a day of strike action last month.

Social workers walked out along with other staff on 22 September in protest at a 5.4% pay cut to be imposed over two years.

Staff were set to lose 2.7% of their pay packet this year and another 2.7% pay cut next year. However, the second year’s cut will now be 1.9% or less with unions and council leaders committed to working together to reduce this second cut further.

Keith Barlow, leader of the council, said: “The proposals still enable the council to meet its agreed savings target of £7m a year, but reduce the impact on staff earnings.”

The council has also agreed to give all staff receiving the pay cut an extra two days paid leave and will increase the standard mileage allowance from 40p to 45p a mile.

The abolition of sickness pay for the first three days off, as well as the entitlement to between three and six month’s half pay when on long-term sick leave, will be subject to an independent review. Any subsequent changes will be backdated to the implementation of the reforms.

Alan James, Unison branch manager, said he felt the settlement was very close to the best employees could expect from the council.

He said: “If members don’t accept it then that means continuing industrial action, and who has got the stomach for that with the pension debate coming up?”

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