wage cuts

[bazigi]

can a company suddenly ditch bonus payments after several years of paying them, when long term employees have become accustomed to an established method of payment.
rotherham borough council have just done this to some of its employees, effectively dropping wages significantly. for some as mach as �50-�60 a week.

yours bazigi.

[Kathyan]

If they are bonus payments, you shouldn't depend on them! Is this what I pay extortionate Council Tax for? As for your question, I would imagine they can do what they want.

[plowter]

What are the qualifying conditions for the bonus payments?

Are they bonus payments - eg. paid for targets - or are they premiums - eg. paid for unsociable hours. If you meet those conditions, and the terms of your contract haven't changed, then can't see why the employer can withold them.

Check your contract and/or terms and conditions. What does you union say?

[flip_flop]

Well as council workers are allowed to retire at 60 on a final salary pension, whereas those of us in the private sector (who pay extortionate council tax to pay for the council workers pensions) are being told to work until we drop and then retire on a pittance because of Gordon Brown's theft of our money, I don't think council workers have got too much to moan about.

You've got it pretty good.

[dzug]

Well as council workers are allowed to retire at 60

Myth

The standard retirement age in the local government pension scheme is 65. Yes you may be able to retire at 60 but there is a massive cut in your pension in most cases if you do so.

[buildersmate]

Yes, the days when Local Government employees could retire early but on an enhanced pension as if they had worked until 65 are pretty much gone. And not before time.

[thugulike]

All bonus schemes are being discontinued by all Local Authorities as they are not equal pay/equal value proof as
most workers getting bonus are men. You're not the only ones losing wages either. Due to Single Status many local authority workers will see a decrease in their earnings

[Stu Dent]

Lots of people on here with an axe to grind on council workers, it would appear - even Buildersmate - who isn't slow to rebuke others for failing to give legal advice when it's being asked. My father worked with our local council. Prior to the minimum wage being set (thankfully) he worked for less than 3 quid an hour. Hardly the cushy number some of the ignorant on here would wish to believe.

Anyway, Bazigi has a contract with his employer. Perhaps a term/condition of this contract is being breached. If so, what can he do about it?

We need more details of how the bonus payment is paid, Bazigi, as well as how they arose in the first place. Please write again with further details and I'll try to advise you.

[flip_flop]

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/tax-advice/counci l-tax/article.html?in_article_id=421463&in_pag e_id=82

25% of my council tax, and rising, goes towards paying for local government workers pensions - that's almost �700 PA I am paying to enable them to have a final salary pension.

That. Is. Bloody. Disgraceful.

First things first - scrap the final salary pension scheme, and second, make them retire at 68.

[Stu Dent]

Why stop there though? Why don't we criticise the earnings, terms, and conditions enjoyed by countless other professions. Footballers, fat cat company directors, or accountants? What about police officers? Great terms and conditions (and deservedly so), but they get much of the same benefits as council workers do - also funded by council tax - but receive a higher salary. Are we arguing that they should also have their entitlement to a final salary pension scheme removed?

If private sector employees feel they should have the same or better conditions as public employees, then fight for them. The answer, surely, is not for public employees to downgrade their conditons to match the downward spiral of private sector employees conditions, widening the ever increasing gap between the haves and have nots in our society.

Our council workers do some of the most dirty, horrid, dangerously unhygenic, yet highly admirable and completely necessary jobs. Maybe we should have a wee think about some of the things they have to do before we criticise. How many of you lot would pick up dead cats, remove insect infested old furnishings, clean public loos, dig graves, or work outside in all weathers? Maybe lots of us - but not for what they actually get.

Trust me, the 25% pension costs aren't paying for the pensions of the guys that pick up our litter and empty our bins. It's the fat cat council bosses (chief execs, not, by and large, our elected officials) and the accountants that score.

Rant over;-)

[Stu Dent]

p.s I work in the private sector and enjoy a far better salary and conditions than some of the roles mentioned above. Good on them, I'm glad they are there for us.

Have a nice evening folks. :-)