Bargaining table power

A study conducted by Unite across 50 of its biggest private sector workplaces throughout London and the East of England reveals that in 96 per cent of workplaces where Unite negotiates pay, the union has secured increases keeping up with, or outstripping inflation throughout 2016 and into 2017.

And a third of workplaces secured pay deals at three percent or above.

The leading think tank the Resolution Foundation has warned that living standards for low and middle-income families are being threatened with the biggest rise in inequality since Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.

But having a strong trade union in the workplace gives workers an advantage when it comes to negotiating pay in the workplace.

“At a time of great uncertainty when pay is growing at a snail’s pace, and for many workers not at all, Unite has achieved some real progress in pay for thousands of workers across London and the East,” said Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary.

More power

“Unite has launched a powerful new online tool to help workers protect themselves from attacks on their pay from employers following the fallout of the Brexit vote. The new database will give union negotiators unparalleled access to pay data for their region and their industrial sector giving workers more power at the bargaining table with employers,” he added.

Unite recently secured a three year deal worth 7.9 per cent beginning in January 2017 for easyJet flight attendants as well as significant increases in other elements of pay.

The union also negotiated a pay deal to recognise the additional responsibilities of easyJet cabin managers. Workers at Stansted Airport employed by Manchester Airport Group will get an increase of 3.5 per cent from April 1 this year.

Electricians, mechanical engineers and plumbers working on the new Whitechapel Crossrail station will receive productivity payments worth ÂŁ867 a month thanks to their union Unite.

Workers at London United Busways secured a three year pay deal worth 7.5 per cent including a 3.5 per cent increase this year.

Last year talks between Unite, Transport for London, London’s bus operators and the Mayor of London delivered a new ‘minimum professional London bus driver wage’ applying to all new TfL contracts awarded to bus companies from this April.

“Having a strong union means workers at London United Busways can negotiate effectively with management to get the fairest pay deal possible,” said Richard Cushen, Unite convenor for London United Busways.

“We hope to build on it at our next set of negotiations. At a time when pay is growing slowly it pays to have a union supporting you,” he added.

Unite has launched a revolutionary online tool for the union’s negotiators which allows them to access a database of thousands of pay deals across London and the East of England.

The database means union negotiators will be armed with details of the latest and best pay deals meaning employers will not be able make bold claims about their pay offers.

Unite’s study is based on the rate of inflation measured by the Retail Price Index based on the midpoint of 2016 where it reached 1.6 per cent in June.

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