The public sector union Unison today blasted City of York Council for "interfering" in an internal ballot of members over controversial pay restructuring.

Unison has initiated a postal ballot of all its 2,000-plus members who work for the council urging them to reject the package of pay and conditions tabled under the Government's national Single Status Agreement.

Council chief executive David Clark has countered by writing to all Unison members in their own homes urging them to accept.

The council has also printed posters and leaflets urging employees to accept the package.

Dave Bonner, deputy convenor of the union's York branch, said: "They have launched a campaign to try and influence our members. There is no expense spared.

"There is a poster campaign, with posters appearing in the workplace like a rash; there are leaflets; the chief executive has sent letters out to our members.

"It is a blatant attempt to interfere with our ballot."

Mr Bonner claimed there was also an inaccuracy in Mr Clark's letter, which claimed the package would mean a 5.4 per cent pay rise for part time staff.

That was not the case, Mr Bonner said.

But Mr Clark said: "The council takes its responsibilities as an employer of over 6,500 staff very seriously and, like any other modern employer, communicates with its staff on a regular and ongoing basis.

"We have every right to communicate with our employees and do that on an ongoing basis. It is part of modern business."

He added: "The revised package for the locally-negotiated part of the national Single Status Agreement which we have now put forward means that the vast majority of those affected do not lose out. The package was improved following consultation with staff."

Mr Clark said the council had moved from its original position of trying to fund the agreement through £750,000 of savings, to agreeing to add £238,000 to its annual pay bill.

Managers and unions at the council have been in heated talks for weeks over implementation of the Single Status Agreement, which brings blue- and white-collar workers together under the same conditions-of-service umbrella.

It will mean a shorter, 37-hour working week for manual workers, but will also see overtime rates cut, and essential car users losing their allowance.

It would also mean weekly-paid workers being put on monthly pay - which unions say could mean low-paid workers like cleaners who earn as little as £4.12 an hour getting into debt.

The council insists that without the changes, it would face extra costs of around £750,000 a year.

Unison members have until noon on April 12 to vote.

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