Staffs in rethink over pay

Proposals for an alternative pay system for Staffordshire County Council to replace the controversial scheme junked in January will be presented to councillors in April.

The initial "job evaluation" scheme would have seen 8,000 of the Labour-controlled council's 28,000 employees face pay cuts while 12,000 would have had increases.

The proposals, which would have seen some staff lose thousands of pounds, were dropped by the council's cabinet after a storm of protests.

Progress on negotiations with three trade unions – Unison, GMB and the Transport and General Workers' Union –was reported to the cabinet in secret session yesterday.

Council leader Councillor Terry Dix said he could not comment on the fine detail of the new model. " The unions are satisfied with the way things are going. The unions have not yet accepted the new model but they are working on it alongside council officers," he said.

Councillor Dix said recommendations will go before the cabinet in April if they are agreed with the unions.

Opposition Tory leader Councillor Philip Atkins said negotiations were at a delicate stage but it was clear no extra money was available in the council's medium term strategy to pay for the modernisation.

"There is only so much the county council can offer without having to make job losses.

"This is something that should have been addressed years ago. The chickens have now come home to roost and the only way to pay for it is with jobs going," he warned.

The unions' proposed changes could cost council taxpayers up to £130 million extra.

The unions, who say they are committed to finding a workable solution, are asking for the council to show how it can find that money. They want a structure which will ensure workers whose pay drops are placed on higher point scales to meet any shortfall.

The council is proposing a pay structure that could cost £14 million extra and reduce the number losing pay to 4,200.