REVISED TERMS AND CONDITIONS PROPOSALS

Following a Branch Committee meeting guarantees were sought around any proposed changes to terms and conditions. Wirral Council has therefore now submitted the following proposal for consideration by members.  A letter containing the full details and a ballot paper containing a recommendation to accept the proposal will be sent to members home addresses this week:

PROPOSED AGREEMENT (UPDATED 12-2-16)

Terms and Conditions

Following period of consultation, the measures to change terms and conditions of employment proposed in the Chief Executive’s letter to Trade Unions on 18 December 2015 are withdrawn and replaced by the following proposal:

• All employees to take 4 days unpaid leave for a period of 5 years from 2016.

(This will continue be applied as a Christmas ‘shutdown’ except in those service areas where this is not possible due to the nature of services delivered. The Council will seek to limit exceptions to the Christmas shutdown to a minimum).

• Council to meet the full costs of employees’ pension contribution arising from unpaid leave each year so there will no impact on pensionable pay.

• For the avoidance of doubt the proposals in relation to removal of enhancements for evening and weekend working and removal of essential car user allowance are withdrawn.

• There will be no further proposals to change these conditions for 2 years. Before the end of the 2nd year the Council will review its position and may after consultation with the trade unions end the agreement for the 3rd year and seek to negotiate a new agreement with the trade unions. If it does not do so, the agreement will continue but the Council will carry out further annual reviews which may lead to the termination of the agreement before the 4th or 5th year and negotiations for a new or amended agreement to take effect during those years

• Given the ongoing budget constraints, the Council will explore and may implement, at some future point, revised terms and conditions of employment relating to allowances and enhancements in respect of newly appointed employees only.

The above would form part of a proposed collective agreement with Trade Unions.

Severance

The proposal to change the terms of the Council’s severance scheme as set out in the Chief Executive letter to Trade Unions on 18 December 2015 will not be implemented and the Council will retain the current scheme based on a 1.4 multiplier and uncapped weekly pay.