Dispute over Comhairle’s living wage sums 3/11/14
The Comhairle has denied union claims it does not pay its poorest earning workers the living wage.
The council tactic of topping up the wage calculation by adding on workers’ islands’
allowance angers many staff -
Many of the affected employees work in catering and care sections.
Council union Unison maintains many local authority staff in the Western Isles are
receiving less than £7.65 per-
The council has promised to pay the proper living wage -
A council spokesman said: “The decision which the Comhairle took in February 2014,
to pay the Living Wage to all its employees without taking account of islands allowance,
represents a further attempt by the Comhairle to give its lowest-
“Adoption of the current Living Wage with immediate effect would, unless changes are made to the grading structure, have the effect of removing the pay differential between grades A and B, and the Comhairle must approach that issue, as with any grading issues, in the proper way and through established procedures.”
He explained councillors will debate “proposals for a realigned pay structure which could enable the Comhairle to give the Living Wage to all employees exclusive of Islands’ Allowance, for 2014/15.”
A report will be going to the council meetings at the end of this month.