Hastings Borough Branch of UNISON
	Updated 15 July 2004 Pay Claim 2004 Latest Situation (15/7/04) UNISON members have voted by a margin of two to one to accept a three-year pay offer for local government staff worth 8.9%. More than 140,000 members took part in the consultation exercise. The offer has also been accepted by members of the other trade unions. The national employers have been notified of the NJC trade union side's acceptance of the pay offer and they have sent official notification to local authorities so that the new salaries can be paid as quickly as possible. Agreement has now been reached on rates of pay applicable from 1 April 2004 to 1 April 2005. Rates of pay and allowances applicable from 1 April 2006 may be subject to the RPI figure at October 2005; those rates will be published nearer that time. This settlement also involves a number of changes to the National Agreement (Green Book). The attached appendixes are Annex 1 (new spinal column pay points), Annex 2 (new Implementation Agreement 2004), Annex 3 (revised Part 2 Para 3), Annex 4 (revised Part 3 Para 2) and Annex 5 (new part 4.8). ~~~~~~~~~ (9/6/04) Branches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being asked to consult on the 2004/06 local government pay offer. Details of the consultation and the timetable are set out in the documents. The deadline for branches to return their results to regions is 9 July 2004. View the documents here. Our own local consultation arrangements were determined at a Branch Executive meeting on 17 June and will be by electronic ballot. ~~~~~~~~~ (4/6/04) At the end of a difficult day of negotiations, the employers made an improved offer that they insisted represented their final position. The pay element of the offer is for a three year deal, consisting of 2.75% in the first year, 2.95% in the second year and 2.95% with an underpin of RPI in the third year. The ‘strings’ attached to the original offer have been either removed or significantly amended. ~~~~~~~~~ Informal discussions with the employers are continuing and the TU side is meeting on the morning of Friday 4 June to consider any developments. This will be immediately followed by a meeting of the NJC executive to continue the pay negotiations. At present the employers remain adamantly opposed to any bottom loading or a one year deal. However, they have indicated some possible improvements on pay and the relaxation of the strings in the original offer. ~~~~~~~~~ Some limited progress was made in talks with the employers on 18 May, but no new offer was made. In order to try to move the negotiations forward, both sides agreed to report back urgently to their respective sides. The full TU side of the NJC will meet on 4 June and the joint executive will meet later that day to consider any developments. ~~~~~~~~~ Talks collapse again. Click here for the situation at 5 May. And here for the meeting of the Trade Union side on 7 May (you can also view the employers response) ~~~~~~~~~ After three meetings between the joint secretaries it is clear that there will not be an improved offer without added pressure. Click here for the situation mid April. ~~~~~~~~~ Union talks with the employers broke down on 11 March with an offer that was regarded as “a slap in the face”. Full details of the offer click here. ~~~~~~~~~ The pay claim submitted to the employers can be viewed here The Local Government Pay Commission, which was set up following industrial action taken by members in July 2002, has now reported. View the full report here (page 122 for the conclusion). The report is being used as the basis for negotiations for the pay settlement due on 1 April 2004. Andrew Lipscombe represented the Branch at a Regional meeting on pay. View his report here. .
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