Management commits to address all workforce concerns in comprehensive agreement to end dispute
Any council worker who loses out in the management-trade union led job evaluation process will receive between £500 and £7,500 in compensation
Trade unions representing workers at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council issued the following statement concluding their industrial action after management moved to address longstanding pay and conditions issues, some of which were inherited from the formation of the council in 2015.
"The four trade unions have concluded our industrial dispute after management at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council moved to address our members' issues. This dispute centred on a number of issues: the flawed job evaluation process with no panels and no input into job descriptions, threats to allowances, the application of the council's redundancy policy, adherence to TUPE policies, and pay equality for workers from both legacy councils including recognition of service.
"Management has agreed with trade union side to pursue a job evaluation process similar to that in other council areas; they have agreed that all roles, responsibilities and duties which currently attract allowances will continue to do so; that trade unions will have a role in drawing up job descriptions; and that negotiations will open on a new redundancy policy, without any preconditions.
"In regard to pay inequality, management has agreed to a timetable and resources necessary to conclude full pay harmonisation by the end of the year. Where pay anomalies have arisen as a result of the council merger in 2015, staff accepting the newly negotiated job description and compromise agreement and suffering any detriment will receive compensatory payments in line with earnings and time served, ranging from £500 to £7,500.
"All issues of concern having therefore been addressed by council management, the trade unions are happy to be able to call an end to this industrial dispute. It is unfortunate that the delay in management taking these steps previously led to a situation where workers were forced to take industrial action in the middle of winter. The trade unions particularly regret the unnecessary disruption to the public that resulted.
"The successful conclusion of this dispute demonstrates once again the importance of workers collectively organising to win improvements through their trade unions. The trade union negotiation team would like to thank their members who have successfully prosecuted this campaign for pay equity. We would also like to thank the wider public whose consistent support for the workforce was decisive in ensuring such a positive conclusion."
