Outsourcing, Pay and National Joint Council (NJC) Terms and Conditions

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Conference
2015 Local Government Service Group Conference
Date
13 February 2015
Decision
Carried

Conference notes with concern that local government workers pay is falling behind other public and private workers.

Many employers are trying to move away from NJC pay and terms and conditions with the result that the NJC could be left to ‘wither on the vine’. The trade unions must take decisive action to prevent its collapse and suffer the unwelcome consequences that local bargaining would bring.

The role of the NJC is further weakened by the numbers of staff who are now employed by private companies as a result of outsourcing. It is therefore vital that any procurement documents ensure that staff remain on NJC pay and terms and conditions. The 2014 Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations further weaken protections for transferring staff. This often leads to deteriorating pay and terms and conditions for outsourced staff.

Conference, branches need to campaign with employers to ensure councils promote in house services as the best means to retain jobs within Local Government, to continue to strengthen the numbers directly employed on NJC pay and terms and conditions.

Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to:-

1)Provide support to branches to support them to protect pay and conditions and retain equality proofed pay structures;

2)Work with the National Executive Council (NEC) and legal services to campaign on the continued attack on TUPE;

3)Campaign for the survival of the NJC as the mechanism for pay awards for staff delivering local government services;

4)Support branches in negotiating with new employers so that admitted body status is achieved regarding pensions before any transfer takes place;

5)Provide support for branches to ensure that model procurement agreements contain sections to protect NJC pay and terms and conditions.