Workplace Report June 2009

Bargaining news

Pay deals on Payline

THE latest pay settlements recorded on LRD’s Payline database include the second stage of Hitachi’s pay deal giving 3% from 1 April 2009. Hitachi workers also received a pay rise of 4.2% in January of this year, giving a total rise of 7.2% for the year. Paternity leave pay has also been increased.

The power sector is still delivering on long-term pay deals. West Burton Power has raised pay by 4.7% in the third stage of a three-year deal, based on the average annual RPI (all items) index from March 2008. Scottish and Southern Energy workers, in the second stage of a three-year deal, will receive 4.4% based on average RPI from July-December 2008 plus 0.6%. Transport has also continued to reflect good settlements. East London Bus drivers get 3.8%. BMI cabin crew get 3.2%. But, in one of the worst-hit sectors, local paper staff at Herts & Essex Newspapers, Lancaster & Morecambe Newspapers (Johnston Press), Brighton Evening Argus (Newsquest), and the Bristol Evening Post/Western Daily Press had their wages frozen.

Better news for employees at CIBA Specialty Chemicals and Macmillan Publishers. Both had previously had their pay rises deferred. Macmillan has now awarded a rise of 1% while CIBA, after threats by the GMB general union to take legal action on unlawful deduction of wages, agreed to implement the second stage of its agreement (due on 1 April) in August, with backdated pay, giving 3%.