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October 14, 2008
PROBATION PAY OFFER
Dear Colleague,
Probation Pay Offer 2008-2010
I am writing to provide you with the formal offer from the employers in response to the trade union side claim originally tabled in January 2008. The offer constitutes a 2 year deal covering the period 1/4/08 - 31/3/10. Please draw this Circular to the attention of all members.
The Probation Negotiating Committee is recommending acceptance of this offer to members. Unison is also recommending acceptance. The offer in full is attached.
Background
At the time that the trade union side made its claim it was becoming clear that the employers had decided to withhold the payment of increments and include the payments as part of the overall resolution of the pay round. Whilst the employers have always accepted their contractual obligation to pay increments the number of points awarded are, they believe, open to negotiation. It was this issue which dominated the negotiations more than any other with the trade union side recording a dispute and running an indicative ballot which demonstrated overwhelming support for industrial action if necessary from 92% of those voting in a turnout of over 50%.
It was this stunning response from members in the ballot which we believe had the effect of forcing the employers to reconsider the unhelpful stance they had maintained in negotiations until that time. Subsequently more meaningful negotiations were initiated and slow progress was achieved. The issue of the rightful payment of the increments due to staff remained, however, a priority for the trade union side and was the principal stumbling block during the summer. The negotiators are pleased, therefore, that this offer includes the payment of the increments due to staff for the 2 years of the deal on the basis established in the 3 year Pay Modernisation Agreement of 3, 2 or 1 point on the salary bands.
The Treasury's constraining position on public sector pay was a further difficulty which the deteriorating global and national financial situation has only served to exacerbate. The increases in headline pay have to be seen in this context bearing in mind that the initial proposal involved an increase of less than 2%. The economic outlook is also the reason why the negotiators feel that a 2 year agreement is in the best interest of members at this time.
The Offer
i) Headline pay
This will be increased by 2% from the 1/4/08 and increased by a further 2.3% on the 1/4/09. The increase for the current year will be backdated and paid to members once agreement has been reached on the offer. The economic factors impacting on the size of this increase are set out above.
ii) London Allowance
The allowance will be increased by £100 in the two years of the deal with this year's money being backdated. The original offer simply passed on the headline pay % above to the allowance for the 2 years. We were successful in having the figures rounded up and whilst these increases are short of our aspirations they mark an increase of almost 5.5% over the course of the deal.
iii) Pay progression
Pay progression will take place during the two years of the deal in line with the arrangements put in place under the Pay and Modernisation Agreement covering the period 2005-08 ie 3, 2 or 1 point according to the individual's position on the pay band in relation to the development point.
It is proposed, however, to move the date of incremental progression to the 1st October. This is designed to separate the appraisal and personal development period running from April to April from the date at which progression is applied. This will complement the arrangements for the implementation of the development point (provided for in the 05-08 agreement) once they are agreed by the NNC. Staff will be compensated for the change in the date in the first year of the deal by a one off unconsolidated payment providing a sum equivalent to that which would have been paid if progression had taken place on the 1st April.
It is the case that longer term progression beyond the period of this offer will be the subject of future negotiations. Negotiators will be seeking to maintain the current arrangements or, indeed, improve them but are aware that the employers have their own agenda. The two year deal does offer all parties the space in which to seek agreement ahead of the 1st October 2010 in order to avoid the confusion and anger caused by the employers' actions this year.
iv) Minimum payment
In both years of the deal any member of staff whose pay is increased by less than £900 will receive an unconsolidated sum to take their increase to £900. The attached offer carries examples of how this will apply. This provision is particularly welcome for lower paid staff and for some staff above the development pay receiving the lower rate of progression.
v) Band shortening
On the 1st October 2008 and 2009 Bands 1-4 will have the existing lowest point removed raising the starting salary in those bands. From a trade union perspective this is welcome but is part of an ongoing piece of work aimed at shortening some of the existing bands further in line with equality principles.
Probation Modernisation
The offer includes a joint commitment by all parties to discussions of an agreed agenda of items currently unresolved. This covers, amongst other things, pay progression beyond the period of the two year deal, the pay structure including equality issues, and the harmonisation of working hours all of which formed part of the trade union side claim. A work programme will be agreed by the 31st March 2009 although no guarantee can be provided that agreement will be achieved on every issue. The paper covering this outstanding work is being agreed separately and will be circulated to branches in due course.
Conclusion
Napo members in Probation have been treated poorly this year and the employers are aware of the loss of trust their behaviour has engendered. The collective response of membership, notably in the indicative ballot, has demonstrated the strength of members’ feelings and their willingness to fight for their rights if it became necessary.
As stated above the Probation Negotiating Committee is recommending members' acceptance of this offer. It is not simply the Committee's view that this is the best offer that can be negotiated at this time; it is also its opinion that, under the current circumstances, the offer is a positive outcome following months of difficult negotiations.
Branches are asked to organise meetings at which members can discuss and vote on the offer. In line with the national constitution (clause 20 (a), subsection (vi) these meetings do not have to be quorate. A separate ratification document will follow. The deadline for results to be received by the General Secretary is 12 noon on Monday 10th November 2008.
Yours sincerely,
JONATHAN LEDGER
General Secretary
Posted by Hampshire at October 14, 2008 07:57 PM