Unite the Union, Ireland Region

Management commits to address all workforce concerns in comprehensive agreement to end dispute

Any council worker who loses out in the management-trade union led job evaluation process will receive between £500 and £7,500 in compensation

Trade unions representing workers at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council issued the following statement concluding their industrial action after management moved to address longstanding pay and conditions issues, some of which were inherited from the formation of the council in 2015.

“The four trade unions have concluded our industrial dispute after management at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council moved to address our members’ issues. This dispute centred on a number of issues: the flawed job evaluation process with no panels and no input into job descriptions, threats to allowances, the application of the council’s redundancy policy, adherence to TUPE policies, and pay equality for workers from both legacy councils including recognition of service.

“Management has agreed with trade union side to pursue a job evaluation process similar to that in other council areas; they have agreed that all roles, responsibilities and duties which currently attract allowances will continue to do so; that trade unions will have a role in drawing up job descriptions; and that negotiations will open on a new redundancy policy, without any preconditions.