Two-year pay freeze is over at city council (From The Oxford Times)

Two-year pay freeze is over at city council

9:30am Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News

A TWO-year pay freeze for city council employees is over after bosses and union officials struck a deal.

A pay deal which equates to a 1.5 per cent increase each year for the next five years has been thrashed out over the past four months.

Chief executive Peter Sloman said: “The new deal provides stability for council finances and staff pay. It sets pay at a level which secures the council’s budget provision and it will enable us to manage a 30 per cent funding cut from central government without cutting services or jobs.”

Two years ago the council agreed to freeze pay increments and replace them with a bonus paid annually based on performance and attendance. The new deal was supported by 90 per cent of Unison’s members and 80 per cent of Unite members.

Most local authorities have been subjected to a pay freeze negotiated nationally, with some like Oxford City Council opting for their own pay deals instead. Oxfordshire County Council and West Oxfordshire District Council, which have followed the two-year national freeze, are waiting to hear the outcome of negotiations.

Councillors at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils will vote on a proposed two per cent increase later this month after a two-year pay freeze.

Cherwell District Council staff will receive a 1.5 per cent increase from April, and a 1.25 per cent rise the following year after a two-year pay freeze.