More than 140 staff at Tendring Council are in for a pay rise, following a major evaluation of posts which will add about £200,000 to the wage bill.

The move will break down historical barriers between blue and white collar workers, introducing a common method for grading jobs.

Tendring Council is one of the first authorities in the country to complete the exercise of the National Single Status Job Evaluation Scheme.

It has been brought in ahead of many other councils and has been done in consultation with employees and Unison representatives, both locally and regionally.

It will mean leisure attendants, meals-on-wheels drivers, office cleaners and gardeners will be on the same terms and conditions of employment as all other staff.

A total of 142 posts will go up, 33 will go down and two will remain unchanged.

Many of the posts going up are part-time positions, where staff work for 10 to 12 hours a week.

Robert Bucke, chairman of Tendring Council's manpower committee, said that he was pleased with the outcome.

Published Friday June 11, 2004

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