Council pay to be unified after six years

Staff had been on different pay structures since the three councils became one

Council staff in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be on the same pay structure for the first time since the three councils became one six years ago.

Hundreds of employees doing similar jobs at BCP Council have been on different rates of pay since the unitary authority was formed in 2019.

After years of negotiations, GMB and UNISON union members voted in favour of the latest proposals.

At least 92% of staff will see either an increase or no change in their pay from 1 December, subject to formal approval by councillors in July.

Staff facing a pay cut will have their salary protected at current levels for a further 18 months, the council said.

The ballots held in June resulted in 83% of UNISON members and 77% of GMB members accepting the offer.

BCP's resources and governance councillor, Jeff Hanna, said: "Currently, we still have staff being paid at several different rates for doing the same job and that cannot be acceptable.

"It has been a significant source of anxiety and concern for our workforce and it has understandably affected staff morale.

"I firmly believe this is the best offer we could have made to our staff considering the limitations on the council's budget, and it would allow us to achieve the fairness and equality in our pay and grading structure that has always been our primary aim."

The new structure will cost the authority a further £1.7m, which will require formal approval.

A report to cabinet and the council will set out savings to meet the additional costs.

GMB's southern region senior organiser Nick Day said it had been a "long process", adding: "GMB's members were are at the forefront of rejecting these proposals the first time around, and then after two more subsequent offers.

"GMB was the only union to reject and we have therefore secured and negotiated vastly improved terms that satisfy the majority of our members' concerns."

UNISON south west regional organiser Janine Miller said: "This agreement brings some much-needed stability after months of disruption and uncertainty.

"It also comes with 18 months of pay protection, which gives staff time to adjust to the changes ahead.

"UNISON will continue to work with the employer to make sure the deal is implemented fairly and staff are treated with respect."