What is the Single Status Agreement?

The Single Status agreement was reached by Local Government Employers and Trade Unions at a national level in 1997.
It sets out a framework to merge previously separate terms and conditions of employment for former manual workers (white book) and former administrative, professional, technical and clerical (APT&C) workers (purple book).

The main features of this agreement are:

• A single pay and grading structure
• Harmonisation of terms and conditions
• A standard working week of 37 hours
• Grading reviews based on equal pay for equal value

What does Single Status mean?
Single Status allows the Council to determine locally its pay and conditions of service to enable flexible working and improve service provision to our customers. This is done in consultation with the Trades Unions to enable the needs of the Council and its employees to be met.

If the agreement was signed in 1997 why has it taken so long to get this far?
Although the agreement was signed in 1997 most council’s throughout England and Wales did not work towards implementation until it became part of the 3 year pay settlement in 2004. The Council is currently working in partnership with the Trades Unions to reach agreement on the Single Status proposals and an implementation date.