HSE staff burn payslips in protest at enforced deal

Workers at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have undertaken a series of protests across the country following a decision by management to impose its 2003 pay offer.

Members of Prospect specialist union demonstrated outside the HSE's London headquarters in July, burning their payslips, while staff at other HSE offices took action including 15-minute work stoppages and flexi-protests - where all staff come in at the last start time and leave at the earliest finish time.

Prospect negotiator Richard Hardy said: "Members are incensed that the HSE Board, whose own pay increases for the same period topped five figures in some cases, have imposed pay cuts on nearly a third of staff."

Workers are outraged by the deal, which is worth just 1.7% to the most experienced staff and nothing for those in specialist grades. The protests followed a one-day strike and an ongoing work-to-rule. Prospect has submitted its pay claim for 2004 and expects the dispute to continue.

* HSE staff numbers decreased last year, according to the HSC annual report published in July.

Overall staffing was 4,019 in April 2004, a fall of over 3% since the previous year. The number of inspectors fell to 1,605, almost 3% fewer than in 2003.

The annual report is available at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports