Customer service assistants employed by Sandwell Council have won what the union Unite describe as a ‘substantial wage rise’.
The 14 employees were due to start industrial action next week to protest what Unite characterise as a ‘botched job evaluation process’.
However, the strike has been called off after the council agreed yesterday to re-grade the workers.
The re-grading means that employees who earn between £19,000-£20,000 a year will eventually see their pay increase by £5,000 per annum.
‘I am pleased that Sandwell council has seen reason and realised that its customer care assistants were being treated unfairly,’ said Unite regional officer Brian Rickers.
‘Unite was adamant that this dispute could be resolved by negotiation and that has indeed proved to be the case.’
A council spokesperson said: ‘We are pleased to have resolved this issue by working closely with the unions. The agreement we have reached not only addresses staff concerns but will also help us improve customer service.’
