Information for applicants - Single Status

Wolverhampton City Council plans to introduce Single Status by spring 2007 for most employees graded below Chief Officer.

The Single Status Agreement was negotiated between the National Joint Council for Local Government Services and Trades Unions and aims to create fair and non-discriminatory grading structures; to modernise terms and conditions to support current service delivery needs and to harmonise former manual worker terms and conditions.

All Local Authorities within the West Midlands and most others across the country are applying Single Status.

In order to achieve Single Status, Wolverhampton Council is:

• Undertaking an extensive job evaluation exercise to provide a fair and objective basis for setting grades
• Negotiating with employees about terms and conditions through their trade unions

Job evaluation

The Council is using the nationally agreed NJC job evaluation scheme which measures jobs against 13 factors. The factors are intended to reflect every aspect of the wide range of Local Government jobs such as knowledge; responsibility; mental demands; physical demands and the environment within which job-holders work.

Terms and conditions

This is commonly known as Part 3 of the Agreement. A wide variety of existing arrangements are being reviewed ranging from bonus schemes; overtime and car allowances to the way we apply market forces supplements and arrange Bank Holidays.

The outcome of Single Status will result in revisions to the salaries we pay and the way that we pay them. It will also result in improved service delivery and allow us to address equal pay issues.

There may be changes to the post for which you are applying which we are unable to confirm at the present time. These will not necessarily be negative changes and will in any event be subject to full consultation with recognised trade unions and employees.

We hope that you will proceed with your application and we will undertake to answer any questions you may have as part of the selection process should you be short-listed for interview.