Unison v Wigan Council in pay showdown

In January, Unison, the UK’s largest union, launched a collective grievance against the local authority and its associated employers, regarding what they described a “failure to pay a correct pro rata annual leave entitlement to term time-only staff.”

Negotiations ground to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic but Unison members were hopeful they would begin again in September. However, they claimed the town hall was being uncooperative and “less than transparent in their communication about this matter”.

Unison’s Wigan branch said it had issued the council a deadline of the end of October to resume talks, before the council announced it had reached a decision whereby affected employees would receive one years’ back pay.

The council has responded by saying it is committed to working closely with the trade union in hopes or reaching a resolution.

Kay Winnard, branch secretary for the Wigan Local Government Unison branch, said: “We aren’t going to allow the council to short-change term-time workers. If necessary we will take the matter to tribunal as other areas have done.

“Claiming that we have worked with them on this decision is erroneous and frankly a misleading statement.

“The council, as usual, believe that they can treat low paid workers poorly and get away with it. We are setting up members meetings now to discuss this decision and members will hear from us shortly.’

A council spokesperson said: “With effect from the April 1 2020 it was agreed by the council’s senior management team to implement the new calculation for term-time salaries.

“An offer has now been made via trade union representatives in respect of the backpay period and this offer aligns with the date that the National Joint Council issued the guidance regarding the calculation, which was on February 18 2019.

“Like all authorities across the country we must prioritise our response to the Covid-19 pandemic however we remain committed to working closely with our partners and trade unions, and will continue to be open and honest with them about our current position.

“We will be meeting with trade unions shortly to discuss further and hope to resolve.”

The National Joint Council recently introduced guidance in relation to the way in which term time salaries should be calculated.

A decision was taken by Wigan Council to implement the new calculation from April 1 2020, which means an average annual increase in pay of 2.14 per cent for term-time staff.

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