Southampton Council workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end the long running dispute over pay cuts imposed by the previous Conservative leadership of the City Council.
Under the deal, those earning between £17,000 and £22,000 (full time equivalent) will see their pay restored in November. Those earning between £22,000 and £35,000 will see their pay restored in three instalments between November 2012 and April 2014. Those earning over £35,000 will have to wait until 2015 for their pay to be fully restored. Those earning less than £17,000 will receive an increment payment backdated to May 2011. Council workers made redundant as a result of the 2011 / 12 council budget will receive a one off compensation payment.
In return for the settlement, UNISON and Unite will withdraw all legal action against the council and call off ongoing industrial action.
UNISON Southampton’s branch secretary Mike Tucker commented: “UNISON members have voted by a large majority to accept this settlement because it restores the pay which was cut by the previous Conservative administration.
“It was the Conservatives who acted unlawfully in cutting our pay as part of their desperate attempt to stay in control of the council. Council workers now face savage job cuts being forced on the council by the actions of the coalition government in reducing funding. Once again it is the Conservatives, this time at a national level, that are hitting council services and jobs.”
And he added: “We’ll be at the march on 20 October in London because we need to take our message to the government that their policies have failed and we need a future that works.”