Stff facing pay cut

Council staff who worked to secure unitary status are being rewarded with . . .wage cuts.

Letters were sent out to employees telling them that their pay would decrease as part of a harmonisation project to bring former Bedfordshire County Council and Bedford Borough Council staff pay in line.

Although a number of staff will receive a pay increase, those losing money have been left frustrated.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “It is likely that I will lose around £2,000 a year from my earnings and that just isn’t right.

“Everyone at the council worked tirelessly to gain unitary status and this just seems to be a kick in the teeth. We all worked long hours and overtime so this news has been quite a shock.” It is believed that staff will discuss the proposal with union representatives over the coming week.

A Bedford Borough Council spokesman said: “The council is presently carrying out a harmonisation project to bring the terms and conditions of former Bedford Borough Council and Bedfordshire County Council staff into line as required by Equal Pay legislation.

“For the vast majority of the workforce there is no impact on their pay. However, a few - 5.6 per cent of the total workforce - will be downgraded but their pay will be protected for three years.

“The implementation executive of the former borough council agreed to adopt the former county council’s pay and grading structure when it became a unitary council, so the impact is mainly on those officers who worked for the former borough council.”