Judy McKnight's Napolog

Web log of Napo's general secretary

January 24, 2008

Pay and Increments- NNC Update

We presented our pay claim to the Employers at the NNC on Wednesday 23 Jan and they have agreed to come back with an initial response at the NNC meeting on 4 March.

On the particularly vexed issue of increments, we made clear the level of anger and the sense of betrayal that members felt as a result of the announcements that increments would not be paid from April pending the outcome of the pay negotiations. We made clear that we would consider appropriate action if this matter was not resolved through negotiations.

The Employers re-emphasised the fact that there would be affordability issues this year in relation to any pay increase, and increments needed to be included in the overall “pot” available for pay increases. The Employers accept that staff have a contractual right to increments but state that the contractual right does not specify the amount of the increment.

They nevertheless agreed to “fast track” discussions with us on the issue of increments and on what should be payable to staff from 1 April 2008.

They have agreed to “best intentions” to find an agreed way forward by the time of the next NNC on 4 March. That timing will allow for payments in April pay, assuming we can find an agreed way forward.

Posted by jmcknight at January 24, 2008 10:55 AM