Midlothian Council (2)
As predicted earlier this week (see post dated 6 August), Midlothian Council has written to all employees about its plans to implement a new pay and grading structure.
The letter is really just a long-winded admission of failure - because the council has failed to persuade the trade unions to sign up to its (very) belated Single Status scheme - the original agreement dating back to 1999
Why? Well on this occasion the council has only itself to blame - it has stubbornly refused to publish details of its job evaluation (JE) scheme - so no one (apart from a few senior managers) knows how their jobs have been scored.
In turn, no one can tell how other council jobs have been scored - so instead of being open and transparent - the whole process is secretive and furtive which is not how things are supposed to work.
The letter is really just a long-winded admission of failure - because the council has failed to persuade the trade unions to sign up to its (very) belated Single Status scheme - the original agreement dating back to 1999
Why? Well on this occasion the council has only itself to blame - it has stubbornly refused to publish details of its job evaluation (JE) scheme - so no one (apart from a few senior managers) knows how their jobs have been scored.
In turn, no one can tell how other council jobs have been scored - so instead of being open and transparent - the whole process is secretive and furtive which is not how things are supposed to work.
If the council has nothing to hide, why doesn't it just publish the details of the JE scheme - as many others across Scotland have done, without batting even an eyelid?
The council's behaviour is impossible to justify - having failed to win over the unions - they are now trying to appeal over the heads of the trade unions to individual employees - but this is likely to end in failure as well.
So, our advice is just to sit tight - do not agree to anything without seeking proper advice - it is better for the council to impose a new pay and grading scheme - rather than for you to accept the new terms voluntarily.
