January 29th, 2010

Unite are balloting it’s members in UKIO on the Company offer for the 2010 Salary Review. The full communcication is below.
The ballot runs from 26/1/10 until 5pm on 02/2/10.

Unite and PGDS have now concluded the pay talks for the 2010 Salary Review. Following consultation with our members, Unite’s claim included a pay pot above RPI, increases in maternity pay, introduction of an evening meal allowance for people who finish work unusually late, harmonisation of on call and overtime rates, improvements to Shift Allowance, review of Car Allowances and improvements to annual leave.
PGDS stated that with the current economic climate and the Group’s focus on maintaining cash and capital that providing money for the pay review remained difficult this year.
As a result , the Company’s final offer for this year’s pay pot is 2.8%. We believe this is a good offer and will be at the top end of settlements this year.
You may have also recently seen that PGDS have also agreed to improve maternity/adoption pay in line with our claim from 1st January 2010. Therefore the first 18 weeks will be paid at full pay and the remaining 21 weeks will be paid at the lower rate of Statutory Maternity Pay. They have also stated that anyone currently in their first 18 weeks of maternity pay on 1st January will receive this new improved rate. Adoption pay also improves in line with maternity pay. Unite are pleased with this as we have argued for a couple of years that PGDS whilst paying more than the Statutory minimum had fallen behind the market. This new rate is a welcome improvement.
You may have also seen that the evening meal allowance guidelines have also changed with effect 1st January allowing occasional late finishers who are away from their normal place of work on a business journey, working later than usual, finishing work after 8.00 pm to claim up to £15 (receipted) for an evening meal, where such a cost is incurred (you are not entitled to claim a late finish if it is part of your normal working pattern). Previously, you could only claim an evening meal if you stayed away from home. This change brings PGDS in line with Inland Revenue guidelines and again is a welcome introduction.
Ex Cap Gemini operators had a shift allowance introduced last year as part of the new Operators T&Cs. This was someway below other Operators and PGDS gave a commitment that the allowance would be increased over a number of years until it reaches parity with their colleagues. We are pleased that as part of the negotiations PGDS has made a significant move towards parity this year and this allowance will increase from 5% to 20%.
We are also aware of a number of people who receive a small historical shift allowance but do not work shifts. These individuals will have that payment consolidated into their basic pay.
We did discuss harmonisation of on call/call out and overtime payments during our talks and both sides agree that harmonisation is more complex than originally envisaged. PGDS understood our position that harmonisation would put everyone on the better terms and that harmonising down any payment would be unacceptable. However, PGDS made it clear that as a result of those constraints full harmonisation was not affordable. However, they have agreed that they will meet with us again within the next 2 months to understand all payments and processes we want to see reviewed, harmonised and simplified. This meeting will be the start of a process to look at these issues.
The Company did review the Car Allowances but have stated they will not change them as the rates are competitive when you take into account the total “reward” package of those individuals in receipt of the allowance. Unite are disappointed with this view and still believe these allowances are not in line with the market. However, we did agree that any money available should be put towards the pay pot and not diverted to increase this allowance.
Finally, the Company rejected our claim for an additional 2 days annual leave to move some way in line with the government increase to the level of statutory holiday entitlement as they believe that the current holiday entitlement is in line with the market.
The negotiating team are happy with the offer from the Company and believe the pay pot will be at the top end of settlements this year and with the additional improvements in a number of terms we believe the offer is a good one and are recommending that it is accepted.
It is now up to you to let us know whether you accept or reject the proposal. To do so simply click once on the relevant button below.
To re-cap, you are voting on the following:
A pay pot of 2.8%
Improvements to Maternity (and Adoption) Pay
Introduction of evening meal allowance for people who occasionally finish late (after 8.00 pm)
Ex Cap Gemini Operators shift allowance increased from 5% to 20%
Consolidation into basic pay of historic shift payments where shifts not worked
Agreement to discuss terms that need to be reviewed, simplified or harmonised
The ballot is now open and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 2nd February 2010.

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