Sign or you're sacked. Great policy.

If your wages can be cut by 15k, you are earning too much

This is how they can afford a low council tax increase. What they are not boasting about slashing peoples wages. A further cit in salaries next year of over 2million pounds, an extra 250k for the fat cats of the town hall.Cutting Services to parks, benefit advices. Selling off social services to the private sector and cutting a leisure centre in Blackburn. At the rates of cuts there should be a cut in council tax not an increase.

Rick wrote:
If your wages can be cut by 15k, you are earning too much

Why? Why are they earning too much!!? I'm sure you would like to be mugged of £1000's a year!

Basically the staff who are losing money in the council are being shafted because the cowardly council directors and leaders can get away with it.

I worked for the council and it's bloody poor pay compared to an equivalent job in the private sector.

Can you not understand that the council has just devalued the local economy massively. The ripple effect on local trade and the retention of skilled local people has just taken a backward step by 20 years!! Barmy!!!??

Gabs

Why not get rid of Social Services altogether?

A bunch of people who can't see bad in anyone while the real victims of crime are left to fend for themselves.

What is the success rate of this dept?

How many of the pampered criminals who get a pat on the head from these idiots actually go on to re offend?

Judging by some of the stories on here there are people with 60, 70 even 80 previous convictions still committing crime.

Getting rid of this dept would save millions which could be better spent on something more benificial like a duck pond.

Beammeup, its Adult Social Care that is being privatised. Three old peoples homes are up for sale, whilst the residents are still living there. Hardly pampered

Except that Social Services do not work with criminals. They provide care to the elderly, care to the disabled and protection to children at risk of harm.

An example of their effectiveness. In Blackburn with Darwen there are 300 children on the 'at risk' register. That is children at serious risk of harm from adults.

How many of these children come to serious harm. One every few years. Whilst one every few years is one too many, it still a very high success rate.

I am set to lose 20% of my pay. Would you turn up for work 5 days a week knowing you are only going to be paid for 4? I am about to go on 90 days notice - if I turn up for work on the 91st day and haven't agreed to my pay cut - no job!! Bullying, blackmail, corporate intimidation - it's happening right here, right now in your town!!

Rick wrote:
If your wages can be cut by 15k, you are earning too much

My husband is a senior manager in this Council and this £15,000 pay cut represents 40% of his salary. His new salary will equate to what he was earning 20 years ago, so much for working hard to achieve success all your life. He is currently paid the going rate for his job. See how you can manage on a 40% pay cut - it's all relevant!

Its not just about the money its about how the Council as employers value their staff. I'm not a manager and I looking at a £3000 cut. I'd say its a joke but its not funny.

Take the (simplified)test....

Can you get a better wage outside the council?
Give it a go. If the answer is "yes" - then you are not getting the market rate and could resign and say "stuff 'em".
If you can't get a better paid job outside, then let's face it getting a least market rate and - not in a position of strength to complain about pay.......(eg mayors overpaid personal minicab, see earlier article)

Joseph Yossarian wrote:
Take the (simplified)test.... Can you get a better wage outside the council? Give it a go. If the answer is \"yes\" - then you are not getting the market rate and could resign and say \"stuff \'em\". If you can\'t get a better paid job outside, then let\'s face it getting a least market rate and - not in a position of strength to complain about pay.......(eg mayors overpaid personal minicab, see earlier article)

Why should we be made to look for work elsewhere when our jobs aren't changing. Isn't that constructive dismissal. I like my job and have been doing it for ten years slowly working up the pay scale why should I have to start again somewhere else so much for experience and commitment.

This is the second time that we have been shafted. It's not all that long ago that we lost two days holiday and our working week was increased from 36.25 hours to 37 hours. The then management couldn't understand that this was, effectively, a pay cut and Unison stood back and let it happen

The last chief exec's salary was pushed past the £200,000 mark by the deputy leader who said the authority needed to pay the going rate for top executives. Who took over Phil Watson's job? The deputy leader who recommended the pay increase, Graham Burgess.

Get on, get on, get on the gravy train.

Why should we be made to look for work elsewhere when our jobs aren't changing.

Call it "market research" if you want -you don't have to move jobs - but you can at least find out if you are getting market rates or not.

Isn't that constructive dismissal.

No it isn't. constructive dismissal is (for example) where you are deliberatly paid significantly less than the market rate for a job with the deliberate intent of forcing you to resign.

I like my job and have been doing it for ten years slowly working up the pay scale why should I have to start again somewhere else so much for experience and commitment

Because we (well, those of us without government jobs) live in a free market capitalist society and have to run this risk every day of our lives.
Changing jobs does not mean starting again from scratch remember !. . .

WELCOME TO THE PARTY!
(but seriously for a sec, good luck)

Joseph Yossarian wrote:

Why should we be made to look for work elsewhere when our jobs aren't changing.

Call it "market research" if you want -you don't have to move jobs - but you can at least find out if you are getting market rates or not.

Isn't that constructive dismissal.

No it isn't. constructive dismissal is (for example) where you are deliberatly paid significantly less than the market rate for a job with the deliberate intent of forcing you to resign.

I like my job and have been doing it for ten years slowly working up the pay scale why should I have to start again somewhere else so much for experience and commitment

Because we (well, those of us without government jobs) live in a free market capitalist society and have to run this risk every day of our lives. Changing jobs does not mean starting again from scratch remember !. . . WELCOME TO THE PARTY! (but seriously for a sec, good luck)

Whilst I can appreciate the tongue-in-cheek comments I hardly think someone based in London, with the wealth of jobs available there, can understand the lack of private sector jobs in a town like Blackburn or indeed across most of the Northwest. Local Authorities are the largest employers in most towns and in order to attract quality employees have historically had to offer salaries comparable to the private sector. My husband has undertaken market research and has found that he is receiving the market rate for his job - one of the reasons he was happy to move to work for Blackburn. I would like to see the level of candidate that will apply for his job at £15,000 below the market rate when he does leave. Leaving his job is not an option it is a necessity we can't afford for him not to. He's also applying for jobs in London and across the whole of the UK as new job offers are difficult to come by when you are nearly 50 years old.
A few constructive comments would be most welcome!

And what would the little piggies in London or the south east know about such things occuring in the north west?

If only we lived in the land of Oz where such things were as clearly idolised as stated.

Yet ... cannot help thinking that those striking would get more sympathy if they DIDN'T pose for pics using children in the front line ie to gain sympathy. You'll be taken more seriously if you don't do that!

As to interchangable jobs ie London. If we all could that eaily - depends upon your profession I suppose ie MPs or politicians get work, even in fields they AREN'T qualified, nor experienced in ... when was the last time you saw Tony Blair driving a black cab, then? If it were THAT easy to change jobs in a decreasingly shrinking market that is being over run by cheap imported Polish workers, which employers leap on - just take a look at some of the top hotels in Blackpool ... you won't find an English speaking worker changing bed clothes amongst them I imagine ... - employers rub their hands together with glee because they know they can exploit them ... funny old world isn't it?

So, if changing jobs these days is such a doddle ... mmm ... some need to take a deeper, not by much though, look into the employment market in the UK, what affects it, ageism, sexism, discrimination against the disabled *just ask the former employees of 20 Remploy factories about how they feel right now ... yet no one lifted a finger to help them out ... surprise surprise ... and I didn't see any articles about the damningly apalling treatment of thise people in local press, either ... says a lot, really doesn' it?

So, jobs aren't as interchangeable as some seem to dream they should be. Other factors make it increasingly diffuclt - Remploy workers again; what hope have THEY got to find alternative employment elsewhere? anyone care?? as an example here - it's all about money. Nothing else.

Human beings in the UK are being short changed, their rights eroded period. This is just another example of it. Profit before people.

And things will get worse as our dear old New Labour destroys everything they can whilst propping up the fat cats.

To some it is clear Labour wishes to wreck everything. It's called social engineering and right now it couldn't be more obvious, more detrimental to the ordinary folk who cannot change jobs or get in that position to start off with.

So, if only we had interchangeable jobs in the UK. It's THAT easy folks! Yes, really it is! Not!

And on another matter shall I tell you what someone ex of a high managerial position can expect to get these days if they lose or get made redundent? If they are **** lucky they can expect to be either shelf filling in Tescos or filling burgers in McDonalds! No joke! It's reality for some out there.

Extremely well qualifed people thrown to the fires of the scrapheap. Can happen to anyone. So, what a crazy world we live in when such wealths of talent are being stupidly wasted like that!

It says a great deal about how people are valued in the UK. Devalued.

Can someone explain to me why when people have worked in jobs for years can someone turn round and tell them that their job has been over valued and they will receieve a pay cut

LesleypNimrod wrote:

Rick wrote: If your wages can be cut by 15k, you are earning too much

My husband is a senior manager in this Council and this £15,000 pay cut represents 40% of his salary. His new salary will equate to what he was earning 20 years ago, so much for working hard to achieve success all your life. He is currently paid the going rate for his job. See how you can manage on a 40% pay cut - it's all relevant!

What you on about? I know your husband and he was always off sick. His job was way overpaid and this process sorted it out. What's the betting he does not find an alternative that paid the massive wages he was on?

Whilst I can appreciate the tongue-in-cheek comments I hardly think someone based in London,

Former teacher at Cackburn college, ackchewerlee. Got fed up with moaning employees thinking they are underpaid when actually they are just inadequate.

Comments were intended to be taken seriously, but written in a slightly tongue in cheek fashion.
The points are however valid.
Think you don't earn enough? Get another job.
Can't get another job? You already earn your market rate.
Sounds harsh, but that's the way it is. Socialism and jobs-for-life are DEAD.

Ending positively - it's a tough call looking for a new job in a new part of the country - but ultimately that's what it's all about and good luck!

Wow that crowd was representative of then 7000 odd people working at the town hall. It appears we have a vocal minority situation here. How ridiculous that the LET gives them this much coverage.

"What you on about? I know your husband and he was always off sick. His job was way overpaid and this process sorted it out. What's the betting he does not find an alternative that paid the massive wages he was on?"

Sorry mate I think you must have the wrong person. However, it's amazing that people can be so dismissive of poor treatment of their fellow colleagues and human beings.

How would you like to have your human rights taken away? I'm not talking about the loss of money or "go get another job". It is about the inequalities of the whole process. We were assessed unfairly,denied a complete appeal process. Finally we are being threaten and bullied to sign acceptance of an agreement which is unjust or we are sacked. This is your council doing this to their workers, do you think they are to be trusted to deal with you, the council tax payer, in a fair way? Yes most of BWDBC staff will move on, to other, quite possiby better paid jobs, you will be left with depleted services, a town centre that looks like a 3rd world toilet, the lowest depravation and life expectancy in the uk. We are all being shafted!!!

I was very proud to be part of the demonstation. At least we showed the courage of our convictions. I only found out about the protest on the actual day as this information is on a web site that not everyone knows about. Therefore the low attendance numbers were not a true indicators of people's feelings or people being affected. Also a lot of BWDBC staff are really frighten of what is happening to them and are frighten what else may happen if they are seen to rock the boat, others are grasping at straws with the hope that if they do not bot their copy book they will somehow be rewarded. What a sorry state of affairs.

if theses wage cuts bother you all that much its simple, all leave easy ,let the council run onits own and find other work even if it is for less pay, have a bit of pride

Why have you all signed the new contracts? I havn't. I am now on 90 day notice. after 86 days I will sign new contract if I want to without detriment. If everyone had done the same as me then management would have been in one hell of a mess wondering for 90 days just how many talented people would be left at this shambles of a council. But no the council has threatened and so many poor lambs have fallen for their bullying tactics. I now have the same as anyone else, that is over 12 months to look for a fresh job if I eventually sign the new contractWhat sort if atmosphere will there be for all of us who cannot find new employers? An d what what will be the calibre of people applying for jobs at this wonderfull caring, investor in people, valuing employees, council of the year, in future. Pass the sick bucket pleeeeeeese. Too late!!!!!!!!!

Look out for the next press release by the council. It will probably read something like "Overwhelming majority of staff sign new contracts, showing support for new council measures"

How many of you have seen posters saying that people living in Blackburn die on average 8 years younger than the national average. Research is looking into the problem.
Why? The answer is clear, Because they want to.

I don't work for the Council but have been taking an interest in this bizare situation which I must say for the present Council does not suprise me. The fact that 61% of staff do not face any reduction in pay and in fact some will gain. For the Council to say that 60% have voted in favour of the changes, as if they would vote any other way. I shake my head in amazement when the Council announces that it has been a majority vote. Why would it not be. The losers are now being bullied into agreeing to the new pay or face losing their jobs.
My comment would be -it has cost BwD Council tax payers god knows how much money for job evaluation.
Can I suggest a 2% reduction in everyones salary except for the people who's salary must be brought into line. This would have been more acceptable and caused less friction and maintained a happier work force. Mind you I'm not a Chief Executive on over £150,000 a year!!