The Council has written to all employees affected by Single Status giving you until 2nd January to sign up to the new terms and conditions. You have been given two options, either to accept or reject.
As we are unable presently to achieve a collective agreement the employer is clearly trying to put pressure on employees (in the run up to the holiday season!) to sign up to the new terms and conditions. We would urge UNISON members not to sign and should the employer need to impose new terms and conditions, you will be offered a new contract on those terms after your notice period runs out on your existing contract of employment.
UNISON has heard that managers have been telling people they will be dismissed if they don’t sign. What managers don’t seem to be adding is that you will be offered a new contract at the same time! To preserve your legal rights we would urge members not to sign and to go for option 2. In the meantime updates will be put on our website (an FAQ etc) and we will continue negotiating on your behalf.
Please also read this article in the Derby Telegraph: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Don-t-sign-equal-pay-contracts-Unison-tells-city/story-20313030-detail/story.html