Council social workers accept proposals to phase in higher pay

Unison and Unite have agreed to call of the long-running industrial action against Southampton Council after their members voted in favour of accepting a new pay deal.

By Kirsty McGregor on October 8, 2012 in Community Care

Social workers and other staff went on strike over the pay cuts

Social workers and other staff at Southampton Council have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end the long-running dispute over last year’s heavy pay cuts.

In July 2011, the council’s then-Conservative leadership dismissed all staff and asked them to sign new employment contracts with lower salaries. Social workers earning between £22,000 and £35,000 had their pay cut by 4.5%.

The move was met by a wave of industrial action. However, May’s local elections saw the Tory leader of Southampton Council, Royston Smith, ousted by Labour – and the new leadership presented local unions with a proposal to restore staff pay in phased stages.

Under the new deal, those earning between £17,000 and £22,000 will see their pay restored in November. Staff earning between £22,000 to £35,000 will see their pay restored in three instalments between November 2012 and April 2014.

Those earning over £35,000 will have to wait until 2015 for their pay to be fully restored. Council workers made redundant as a result of the 2011-12 council budget will receive a one-off compensation payment.

Nine out of 10 Unison members and eight out of 10 Unite members at the council have voted to accept. As a result, the unions will withdraw all legal action against the council and call off the ongoing industrial action.

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