South Lanarkshire Update

I wrote the other day about Manual Worker job evaluation scheme (JES) and the significance of the job outline for Home Helps which resulted in a score of 24 points and a high grade of MW5 under the Scotland-wide agreement known as the Green Book.

Before going on to consider the position in South Lanarkshire and what was said at the long-running employment tribunal hearing against the Council, I thought it would be helpful to share the scores and grade of two other predominantly male Manual Worker jobs - those of Refuse Collector and Refuse Driver.

Now both male jobs scored significantly lower than Home Carers with the Refuse Collector achieving 16 points and MW Grade 2, while the Refuse Driver managed a total of 19 points and MW Grade 4.

As I've said before on the blog site, job evaluation isn't rocket science - it's about common sense, fairness and consistency in looking at the skills and responsibilities of different jobs before deciding how these jobs should be placed in a pay hierarchy or pay ladder.

In this case a council pay ladder and it's obvious from these scores why Home Carers ended up with more points and a higher grade than their male colleagues and, for that matter, why a Refuse Driver achieved 19 points and Grade 4 while the Refuse Collector managed only 16 points and Grade 2.

Yet because of the hidden bonus payments to these male jobs (and many others besides) managed to leapfrog over the Home Carers in terms of their hourly pay and Refuse Drivers and Refuse Collectors were typical earning over £9.00 an hour while the women workers were being paid only £6.00 an hour.

The 1999 Single Status Agreement was, of course, intended to change all this and sweep away the widespread pay discrimination that had existed throughout the 1990s.

Yet, as regular readers know, the council employers and the trade unions effectively allowed this landmark equal pay agreement to wither and die until Action 4 Equality Scotland finally appeared on the scene in 2005. 

More to follow, so watch this space.


Home Help

MW (Manual Worker) Grade 5

OUTLINE OF DUTIES

Have individual responsibility, in accordance with the practices and procedures of the local authority, for the personal needs of clients. The duties will include: domestic duties (for example cleaning, cooking and washing), physical tasks approximating to home care (for example, washing and feeding clients); and social duties (for example taking with clients, helping clients to maintain contact with family, friends and community, assisting with shopping and recreation) aimed at creating a supportive homely atmosphere where clients can achieve maximum independence.

Also providing general support to the cline as part of a caring team liaising with other services as necessary.

Factor levels:

Skill - 4
People - 4
Responsibility - 2
Supervision - 2
Initiative - 3
Mental Effort - 3
Physical Effort - 3
Working Conditions - 3 

Total - 24


Refuse Collector

MW (Manual Worker) Grade 2

OUTLINE OF DUTIES

Undertake, usually as a member of a team, duties connected with the removal of household, industrial and commercial refuse from a variety of locations (for example houses, shops, school).

This could involve the use of a full range of refuse containers (for example household bins, plastic sacks, 'wheely bins', paladin bins).

Assisting the driver on safe manoeuvring of the vehicle on the round or at the disposl location.

Factor levels:

Skill - 2
People - 1
Responsibility - 1
Supervision - 1
Initiative - 1
Mental Effort - 2
Physical Effort - 4
Working Conditions - 4 

Total - 16


Refuse Driver

MW (Manual Worker) Grade 4

OUTLINE OF DUTIES

Drive and be responsible for any allocated refuse collection vehicle. Duties will include: vehicle checks, required routine maintenance (for example oil and water checks) and cleaning and the operation of any power mechanism which may be fitted; the collection of refuse within a round and the necessary tipping; transporting and supervision of the crew with responsibility for the operation of the service on that round. When not driving the driver may assist in the loading of the vehicle.

The refuse driver is also responsible for ensuring with the crew the best operational relationships between the service and members of the public. 

Factor levels:

Skill - 4
People - 1
Responsibility - 3
Supervision - 1
Initiative - 2
Mental Effort - 3
Physical Effort - 2
Working Conditions - 3 

Total - 19