'Single status' battle in Manchester

THE MANCHESTER local government branch of UNISON is in dispute with the authority over implementation of the Single Status agreement. Management want to implement a scheme called "Administration In Manchester" (AIM) for 2,200 admin staff, mainly low-paid women workers.

AIM means introducing four generic admin job descriptions with four different grades. For example, admin support for advice workers would previously specify this advice-related role in the job description.

Under AIM it would be just described as admin support.

This is bound to mean a worse service for the public.

It means pay cuts imposed on staff as well. AIM means there will be no face-to-face interviews for job evaluation as staff are allocated new pay grades and no right to appeal over the pay grade to which they're allocated.

Manchester Advice admin workers face losing between £500 and £5,000 from their pay, and so have asked their union - UNISON to ballot for industrial action.

Manchester Advice senior UNISON steward Jim Cessford says,: "Our members are appalled at the way the Single Status agreement has panned out in Manchester.

"But we think this scheme can be defeated through concerted action. We're confident we'll win the ballot for industrial action."

Labour ministers make us sick!