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Job Evaluation - Press Release - 29 Nov 06

Fair Pay achieved for Staff at Devon County Council

UNISON South West signed an agreement on Monday 27 Nov 06, which will see the implementation of a new Pay & Grading Scheme (the Job Evaluation scheme) for Devon County Council employees from 1 Apr 07.

(left to right): Steve White for TGWU, Heather Barnes for DCC, Tony Dowling for GMB and Ken Pearson, Regional Officer for UNISON, meeting to agree the collective document for Job Evaluation.

Ken Pearson, UNISON South West Regional Officer, said:

'After three years of negotiations with the employer, and consultation with our members, we were pleased to be involved in the signing of the Collective Agreement with Devon County Council.

The Job Evaluation scheme is a way of agreeing a fair, equal and transparent pay system.

It has resulted in identifying a large number of staff who will receive an increase in their salary and grade, or remain unchanged. Although a number of staff will face decreases, the Job Evaluation scheme also has agreed measures which will afford protection and provide support mechanisms to offset those decreases.

Ken further added:

'After full consultation, our members voted in favour of accepting the scheme in an independent postal ballot.

Its implementation will mean that all existing staff will be put on to the newly agreed pay system with effect from 1 Apr 07. This also provides a clear structure for any new staff joining Devon County Council and should prevent any future inequalities occurring.

Under this scheme Staff who meet the equal value criteria will be able to claim up to six years compensatory pay, which is the maximum that can be claimed under current legislation.

UNISON and Devon County council have worked together to make this agreement which addresses historical pay inequalities throughout the authority and this has set a precedent for future negotiations.'

Bill McMillan, UNISON South West's Regional Head of Local Government said:

'We welcome the progress Devon County has made toward correcting historical discrimination against women in their pay system and hope that other local authorities will correct similar discrimination as soon as possible.'