3% and a change to Sunday working at Woolworths

Woolworths

Parent co: Woolworths

Group PLC

No. covered: 30,000

Increase: 3%

Length of agreement: 1 year

Date: 1.10.01

Hours: 39

Holidays: 22 rising to 27

after nine years

A 3% pay deal and changes to Sunday working premia for new starters have been agreed at Woolworths. The pay rise, effective from October, means that the hourly rate for a Grade B 'established' sales worker is now £4.58 per hour.

From February 2002 there will be a change to single time for Sunday working for new starters at Woolworth stores, although this will not apply to existing staff (who get time and a half). Sunday working is voluntary and, in spite of the change, it is expected that Sunday workers will continue to be selected on the basis of their skills or experience rather than the level of premium that would be paid to them.

As part of the deal, there is also a 5.5% increase in the Responsible Persons Payment which applies to Grade B sales staff when running a store in the absence of a Manager or Service Team Leader. This now stands at £10.50 for a 7.5 hour shift, £8.50 for a six hour shift and £4.20 for a three hour shift.

Finally the agreement extends paid bereavement leave of up to five days to in-laws (parents/brother/sister/children) and grandparents.

The last settlement, in July 2000, increased basic rates by 2.7%.

Examples of pay rates:

A £165.49 (cleaner)

B (recruitment) £167.07 (sales)

B (established) £178.75 (sales)

C £198.08 - 268.01

D £219.73 - 297.27

E £252.26 - 341.28