West Dunbartonshire Council back pay battle is stepped up

Nov 28 2008 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

HUNDREDS of angry workers are filing grievances against West Dunbartonshire Council for not paying out back money.

Around 300 members of the GMB trade union and 79 members of Unite have filled in forms complaining about not receiving back pay in the single status pay deal.

The council forced through the new single status pay structure in August, which scrapped individual back payment deals for workers – some up to around £13,000 – and replaced them with a £1500 goodwill payment for everyone.

Charlie McDonald, of Unite, said: “The council may feel that the issue of single status is finished but there’s still a lot of disenfranchised people out there.

“We’ve tried the political route and got nowhere so now we’re going down the legal route.

“We’ve got a duty to our members to see this through.”

GMB union representative Duncan Borland said: “In about three years of negotiations at no time was it said that the council never had the funds to pay back money.

“Now the SNP are reneging on a promise to the workforce.”

A council spokeswoman confirmed that 79 grievances were received on behalf of Unite and a collective one was received from GMB on Monday.

She said: “The implementation of the single status agreement is lengthy and it has been difficult for all parties involved to reach a decision given recent Court of Appeal judgements.

“Nonetheless the council reaffirms its commitment to the process of collective bargaining and ongoing partnership working with the trade unions as a fundamental principle in underpinning effective employee relations for the future.”

She added: “The grievances will be dealt with through the council's agreed grievance procedure.

“The council can also confirm that as part of the implementation of the single status agreement, regular meetings have been confirmed with the local trade unions to progress priority issues such as appeals, protection and detriment.”