Press Release

GMB Members vote to reject Sunderland City Council's Single Status Proposals

8 November 2005

GMB, the North's largest trade union today announced that 89.4% of its members at Sunderland City Council have voted to reject the Council's proposals to implement single status across the council.

Under Council's proposals, designed to eliminate sexual discrimination and implement equal pay, over 3,000 employees would have had their pay reduced, in some case by up to 33%.

GMB Regional Official, Martin Gannon said

"Under the councils proposals over 4,000 employees would have received substantial increases. I'm delighted that our members have demonstrated to the council, in the best traditions of trade unionism, and almost 90% of our members agree with the union, that equal pay should be about lifting people up - not be about reducing the wages of others.

"Our members have now told the council what they clearly think about their current proposals.

"We now expect that the Council will come back to the negotiating table with a substantially improved offer.

"Failure by the council to fully recognise the depth of feeling expressed by our members could mean the union will have no alternative but to consult our members about Industrial Action".

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