Telecoms workers get 4.1%

STAFF at Thales Telecoms Services received pay increases from 1 March of 4.1% on basic rates. The company provides telecom services to the UK transport and telecoms markets.

Thales has 1,400 engineers and support staff based in its headquarters in Reading and offices in Glasgow, Derby, Birmingham, York, Doncaster and London. Employees are represented by rail unions RMT and TSSA with a three-grade structure.

The 4.1% increase applied to all three grades so that pay scales now run from £15,972 to £34,591 a year (technical grades); from £14,381 to £21,753 (clerical) and from £21,788 to £54,176 (management).

Management grades are covered by a performance pay system which means that some will receive no increase in 2008. Managers are also covered by an incentive compensation plan that can pay 10% to 12%, but the paybill increase is only 3.25%.