UNISON REJECTS PAY OFFER AS DERISORY!
At a meeting of the NJC (the elected body which negotiates with the Employer) on February 27th the Employers latest pay offer was unanimously rejected and it was agreed that that members would be consulted as regards industrial action.
It was recognised that members facing as they do job cuts , restructures and attacks to terms and conditions may not be up for taking action, but it was also recognised that the idea that we were somehow 'trading pay for jobs' was not the case and that our failure to pursue a substantial pay claim had not saved one job in Local Government!
As such it is no longer a case as to whether we can do nothing , we have no choice but to fight for better pay. and as activists we will need to go out to members and convicne them of the arguements as to why we must fight on pay
Below are minutes of the NJC meeting
At a meeting of the NJC (the elected body which negotiates with the Employer) on February 27th the Employers latest pay offer was unanimously rejected and it was agreed that that members would be consulted as regards industrial action.
It was recognised that members facing as they do job cuts , restructures and attacks to terms and conditions may not be up for taking action, but it was also recognised that the idea that we were somehow 'trading pay for jobs' was not the case and that our failure to pursue a substantial pay claim had not saved one job in Local Government!
As such it is no longer a case as to whether we can do nothing , we have no choice but to fight for better pay. and as activists we will need to go out to members and convicne them of the arguements as to why we must fight on pay
Below are minutes of the NJC meeting
Employers Pay Offer
Report from Heather
Wakefield (Head of Local Government)
Option 1
1% on all payscales
unilateral arbitration
clause replaced by bilateral reference”- HW comment employers have not complied
with unilateral arbitration for some years.
“Joint statement providing
note of the issues on which both sides agree to commence serious discussions”.
Employers want to cherry
pick even if changes were agreed there would be no uplift where local
negotiations have resulted in lower terms!
Option 2 HW called
“Punishment Option” employers response to not agreeing option 1!
1% on pay points 4 to 10
0.6% on pay points 11 and
above
Likelihood of imposition? HW
“would not surprise me in the least”
Employers side would it is
believed consult all employers on whether NJC should only discuss pay and T+Cs
would be kept to local negotiation.
GMB – Reluctant to reject
offer but it is believed that if UNISON did accept – GMB would reject!!
Decision agreed – Reject
both derisory options and consult Branches on rejection and possible industrial
action.
Motion from North West
After some debate as to
whether it could be debated (it could)
It was agreed with one
abstention.
The motion recognises that whilst there may not currently
be the mood for a fight on pay among our members UNISON believes it is
imperative we must build for that fight
