Around 80 council workers staged a protest on the steps of Dudley’s Council House, forcing a meeting with bosses over a pay review.
The union members confronted councillors arriving for a crunch meeting last night amid an escalating pay row. Council workers including carers, cooks and cleaners gathered at the front and rear entrances ahead of the full council meeting. Many passing motorists sounded their horns in support of the protest action.
Around 1,000 Unison members are threatening strike action after talks stalled on a new pay deal.
But regional convenor of the Unison trade union, Steve Beardsmore, said members were now hopeful of thrashing out a new deal after council bosses requested a meeting.
He said: “They have asked us for updates this evening of when we are available to meet them. This protest has worked in so much as they have now said ‘Can we talk to you?’ But why are neighbouring authorities already making offers or paying the money out?”
Council leader Councillor David Caunt had vowed that the authority would stand firm, sticking to his stance that a deal would be done “by the end of the financial year”.
The row centres on a controversial equal pay deal which has been in the pipeline since 1997. Under the Single Status Agreement some workers will receive large sums in backpay while others face having salaries slashed.
The deal affects 11,000 staff in Dudley and is expected to cost the council £40 million. Union members are keen to force a conclusion as soon as possible.
They have accused the council of failing to carry out a promise to hold talks.
The national Single Status Agreement was made in 1997 between local government and trade unions to streamline all pay scales into one.
The agreement commits Dudley Council to review the pay grades of staff.
The union members confronted councillors arriving for a crunch meeting last night amid an escalating pay row. Council workers including carers, cooks and cleaners gathered at the front and rear entrances ahead of the full council meeting. Many passing motorists sounded their horns in support of the protest action.
Around 1,000 Unison members are threatening strike action after talks stalled on a new pay deal.
But regional convenor of the Unison trade union, Steve Beardsmore, said members were now hopeful of thrashing out a new deal after council bosses requested a meeting.
He said: “They have asked us for updates this evening of when we are available to meet them. This protest has worked in so much as they have now said ‘Can we talk to you?’ But why are neighbouring authorities already making offers or paying the money out?”
Council leader Councillor David Caunt had vowed that the authority would stand firm, sticking to his stance that a deal would be done “by the end of the financial year”.
The row centres on a controversial equal pay deal which has been in the pipeline since 1997. Under the Single Status Agreement some workers will receive large sums in backpay while others face having salaries slashed.
The deal affects 11,000 staff in Dudley and is expected to cost the council £40 million. Union members are keen to force a conclusion as soon as possible.
They have accused the council of failing to carry out a promise to hold talks.
The national Single Status Agreement was made in 1997 between local government and trade unions to streamline all pay scales into one.
The agreement commits Dudley Council to review the pay grades of staff.
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