BECTU Recommend Siemens Offer

Talks between BECTU and Siemens have secured a revised pay offer which, if accepted, could avert industrial action.
Members have previously delivered a strong mandate for industrial action in a formal ballot.
The revised offer for 2010 is a one-year deal, comprising a flat rate consolidated increase of £300 (pro rata for part-time workers) for staff working on terms and conditions inherited from the BBC.
The company had previously insisted on a pay freeze.
If agreed, the payment would be backdated to 1 January 2010 and would be implemented as soon as possible. The increase will not apply to fixed allowances such as London Weighting.
The offer also provides for further discussions on performance related pay with a view to reaching an agreement by 31 July 2010. Members have previously opposed PRP.
If an agreement in principle does materialise, and is accepted by members in a ballot, then a further £80 (again pro rata for part-time workers) would become payable, backdated to 1 January.
"Although this offer falls short of our original claim, we believe that a consolidated increase of £300 is the best that can be achieved through negotiation alone," said, supervisory official, Helen Ryan.
"We have committed to enter into further and meaningful discussions regarding performance related pay and we will consult members again on any proposals that come out of those discussions," she concluded.
A consultative ballot on the revised offer will get underway shortly with a closing date of Wednesday 14 April at which BECTU will be recommending acceptance of the offer to its members.
(BMcC/GK)