AFPRB:- 2013 Pay rise anyone??

[Spot 4]

Have I got it wrong in thinking that our two year pay freeze is over and that a little extra ££ should be coming our way in about a months time?

A friend who enjoys a military pension has had none of the usual correspondance about incremental rise in pension either. The silence is deafening.

I am quite savvy to the state of the nation, but I am also fully aware of how much extra of my coppers dissapears into electricity, gas and forecourt taxation nowadays. It appears the Govt and Energy companies between them are burning the candle at both ends.

[dctyke]

Those of us that 'enjoy a mil pension' will get CPI at whatever it was calculated at last Sep/Oct time. Still too early for the letter notifying the above.

[Hueymeister]

Wasn't it an 'Up to 1%' payrise? Standing by for a 0.001%, while the pigatitions get their collective snout in the trough for another inflation busting pay rise...**** bags..:mad:

[Not Long Here]

The September CPI was 2.2% for those on pensions. I don't normally get a letter just an update to show that the April & May figures will be increased (April as its a part month due to my date and May showing the whole increase). It normally reaches me after the April payment has gone through.

Consumer Price Indices (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cpi/consumer-price-indices/index.html)

shows the monthly figures

[Pontius Navigator]

Huey, maybe 1% in the pot and redistributed so as to improve morale in specific groups?

[jayteeto]

Cops, paramedics and other civil servants still have pay frozen and also annual increments on hold as well. Has cost my missus thousands in increments already. Dont expect too much!

[Jacks Down]

The overall pay-bill is allowed to go up by 1%. It therefore doesn't have to be 1% across the board, but I'm sure it will be.

[Lima Juliet]

Don't forget that if it is 1%, then after tax it is either 0.8% for basic rate tax payers and 0.6% for the higher rate. I reckon my payrise will be just worth about £25 a month after tax - hardly enough to buy a family of 4 a decent meal from a supermarket (horse excluded!).

Hurrrumph...:*

LJ

[Melchett01]

According to the Daily Mail link, the 1% payrise doesn't kick in until 2014:

Families of soldiers, sailors and airmen lashed out after George Osborne capped public sector pay deals at 1 per cent for two years from 2014.

So I'm not sure who is right. I should probably be able to work it out for myself, but frankly, there have been so many policy announcements, u-turns and extensions to various aspects of austerity in the past few years, I have lost track of what's what other than the fact that George & his chums in HMRC seem to take more of my pay every month in one way shape or form.

[Melchett01]

Having just dug out the 2012 AFPRB report, it appears the Daily Mail is incorrect. There's a shocker.

However, it does look as though the X-Factor is up for review this year, so I'm wondering what the potential is to sneak a little extra in through a change there? A more realistic assessment of the motor mileage allowance would also be very welcome at a time when petrol prices are shooting through the roof thanks to a combination of a rapidly weakening pound and market speculation.

I shan't hold my breath for either though :sad:

[Courtney Mil]

so I'm wondering what the potential is to sneak a little extra in through a change there?

Well, they might have been, but you've spilled the beans now, old chap.

[Melchett01]

B:mad:r ... nothing to see here, we are fully austerity compliant. Now move along please!

Edited to add - in all seriousness, they are going to have to do something sooner rather than later about pay. I know of 5 individuals, flt lt - gp capt, who have PVRd in the past 6 weeks and know of at least another 5 who are actively looking and will hit the button as soon as they can find something to go to. And despite the economic fragility, business service companies still seem to be taking people on, so I don't think the MOD can rely on the notion of a austerity preventing people from jumping ship for much longer.

[Jambo Jet]

It is all a matter of timing; the sine wave of discontent in the service and the sine wave of hiring in the civil sector. However with the services getting smaller and smaller then the effect on those people leaving has more impact.

That said this is nothing new. It has all happened before. This time though it looks like with the ROS of 5 years on PAS and other examples in other branches that at least manning are aware and attempting to do something about it.

The lack of a payrise though for individuals at the top of their paybands, will certainly increase those in the discontented pool.

[Two's in]

Osborne has proven to be a master of timing with this. With Iraq and Afhganistan moving well out of the public gaze (clearly not for the poor sods out there for the next God knows how long), the likelihood of an outcry following a pi$$-poor service pay rise is slim to none. PVRs are not a fully effective weapon in a climate of redundancies and draw down, even if as we all know, the people going out of the door are usually the last ones you can afford to lose in a situation of perpetual undermanning. Once again, the government of the day will attempt to score political points with voters on the backs of service sacrifice - now there's something that never changes no matter how much you think it does.

PS. Jambo, oops - must have enabled the Vulcan mind meld with our posts!

[Tiger_mate]

It would have been nice if the payrise had rebalanced the recent loss of Family Allowance; but sadly it seems not.

As for MMA, I gave my accountant my MMA mileage and copies of JPA claims, and received the difference back from HMRC. (HMRC rate is 45p / mile) I am happy that the accountants invoice did not dilute the advantage and in any case, I would rather put money into a local business then the Govt wallet. Likewise, I felt rather smug recently about filling up my cars (sizeable) fuel tank* on the Continent rather then the UK. As you can see, loyalty is a two way street IMHO and these days I have much sympathy with tax exiles.

If you wind the clock back a few years, Pprune speculation and comments wrt pay would have begun pre-Christmas; are we all now institutionalised to accept the shafting we are getting?

*Diesel is cheaper than unleaded on the Continent, but not in the UK.

[Jumping_Jack]

Watch with SFA rents go up by considerably more than any payrise, rumour has it by considerably more than inflation too. :*

[Melchett01]

Tiger_mate,

You're absolutely right, you can go about getting relief on the difference amongst other things you might be able to claim back. Unfortunately, if you're getting HTD then as it's a payment for commuting to your regular place of work rather than a meeting or temporary duty, you take a bit of a batting as that doesn't fall into the category of permitted claims.

[Party Animal]

and just to chip in.... the much discussed 2 year pay freeze is and always was a 2 years and 364 day freeze, assuming we get something this year. Apart from b'stard MP's, most normal people would actually call it a 3 year freeze!

[Canadian WokkaDoctor]

I'm content with a 2.2% RAF pension increase, it matches the 2% the RCAF will get in 2013!:ok:

CWD

[BlindWingy]

Any news? Cutting it kind of close aren't they?

[Lima Juliet]

I was thinking about this on the way to work on Thursday. The latest they normally announce is the 19th/20th. I think this is pretty cr@p of the Govt, though. The AFPRB will have made their report and the politicians are just sitting on it because they know it will be bad news and so will wait for a day with some really sh!t news so that this minor bad news is burried.

So much for "increased transparency" - they can't even be straight with their own people...:ugh:

LJ

[Just This Once...]

I understand that they are actually breaking the law as they are failing to provide the statutory notice of rent increases.

Ah well.

[Lima Juliet]

JTO

If I was in quarters then I'd 'press to test' on that just to wind up the pencil necks that have sat on this for way too long...

LJ :ok:

[Willard Whyte]

Ooooh. Glad I'm in civvy street. 3.3% this year...

[Twon]

I'd thought about the month's notice of charges changes before. However, it depends on how the MOD defines it. Does the change need to be notified a month before 1 Apr when you start "owing" it, or is it a month prior to the last working day of Apr when you actually pay it?

Guess which one my money is on? Do any lawyers, professional or amateur, know? As a landlord, I understand that I have to tell my tenants a month before they start "owing" the money rather than rent payment day.

[nice castle]

I thought as a married quarter occupant you do not have the same rights as a tenant renting a house 'normally'. Could this rent rise be covered by that as well? Covenant working wonders, natch.

[Jumping_Jack]

As a Licensee rather than a tennant we have no rights whatsoever....:(

[Al R]

Just announced.

HM Forces will be exempt from controversial changes to housing benefit - Echelon Wealthcare (http://www.echelonwealthcare.co.uk/hm-forces-will-be-exempt-from-controversial-changes-to-housing-benefit/)

[Tiger_mate]

BBC R2 said that the Armed Forces exemption is for parents with 'children' who are serving members as opposed to Armed Forces themselves. ie If you are single and retain a room at home with mum & dad, they get the exemption.

[unclenelli]

Tiger Mate's right.
If your parents are on benefits, then:

If you're a Singly and live with Mam & Dad (rent-free or paying a pittance) at 1st posting, close enough to home, instead of in SLA, then they remain as is for benefits, while you're OOA! (Downside is your OJAR/SJAR will show you up as a possible non-team-player/socialiser)


If you're a Singly in SLA, miles from home, but choose to remain on the electoral register at home (for credit rating purposes), register car at home (for insurance purposes), somewhere to return to while on leave etc, then you lose out!
Mam & Dad are on reduced benefits, or downgrade their house and sell off your bedroom!

Either that or you room share with your parents Student lodger, and can only take leave at home with Mam & Dad during School-Holidays (like the rest of the RAF!) "Mam, What IS that stain on MY Mattress????"

This will lead to a functional Military only during term times as now Singlies will only be able to take leave during school holidays!!!


"Hello, this is RAFP/Med Centre/Fire Section/ATC/JCCC/Aeromed Cell. There is nobody here to take your call at the moment. Please leave a message and we'll call you back after Half Term ..... BEEEEEEP!)



(Or a lodger, and you can only take leave when he returns to his family once/twice a year!)



This may end up being a consideration for PSF's when using QR1027, as they may well be making singlies homeless, as they can no longer return home to Mam & Dad. This will then become a burdon on the Welfare State as they start claiming housing benefit.......! (Only this time a full flat/house as opposed to 1 room at Mam & Dad's (which was their's in the first place!!!!))


Surely Singlies LI should ALWAYS have a right to an actual & usable address outside the wire?
The penalties for a Singly trying to use a work address as a credit rating is appalling. One SAC defaults on a loan and the WHOLE WORK POSTCODE is BLACKLISTED!!!

Whatever happened to the Military Covenant?
Don't Singlies have a right to a Home outside the wire? Or are they just swallowed up and spat out to the welfare state? Not everyone get's married whilst in the Military. Quite a few even get Divorced!

What Divorcee would get a 1-bed flat knowing how much EXTRA green/pink kit they have to store as clothing stores won't take any of it back!!!!



Just HOW WRONG can this policy Be......?

[Easy Street]

(Downside is your OJAR/SJAR will show you up as a possible non-team-player/socialiser)
Comments on that kind of thing have been banned for years and the manning offices are very thorough at weeding them out.

Heck, we even have unmarried squadron commanders living in the Mess these days!

[GalleyTeapot]

So its published, no real surprises!

[OldnDaft]

So a 0.5% increase in X-factor is recommended but not accepted because the department had not budgeted for such an increase..............

[GalleyTeapot]

X-Factor increase is "under review".

[OldnDaft]

Call me an old cynic, but if it was a decrease of X-factor there would be no such review.

[Whenurhappy]

Link, anyone?


ignore....just received from IPP

[Tiger_mate]

One percent of a lot is... a lot for the senior officers.
One percent of not a lot is... not a lot for most people and less than a childs family allowance* for most. (*Taken away recently)

A reduction of food charges is very generous considering we are all now on Pay-As-You-Dine negating any 'food charges' being in place at all.

I guess it is the best we could hope for given public spending at the moment, but all things considered, it equates to a pay cut* IMHO.

*Based upon rising energy costs and that almost all servicemen travel well above the average mileage year by year.

[airborne_artist]

AFPRB March 2013 report (http://www.ome.uk.com/Document/Default.aspx?DocumentUid=BE297674-541B-4357-A608-12EAEC5FC316)

[Jumping_Jack]

Nice to see that your own department fights against a rise in x factor. Good to see the v high priced help getting 1% aswell :ugh: I'm surprised and a little disappointed that those at the bottom of the heap didn't get a little more at the expense of those sitting on the top. :hmm:

[Mick Strigg]

The pay rises in the annexes of the report run out at 1.44%, which must therefore include the increase in X-Factor that we are not getting! This makes the report meaningless.

[Climebear]

The pay annnouncement signal published on the intranet gives the figures excluding the recommended 0.5% increase in X-Factor

[airwaverider]

Could we have got more??

http://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/312321507420426240/photo/1

[thing]

FWIW guys as a civ in the public sector I haven't had a pay rise in 5 years now.

[Lima Juliet]

Here is the article in an eaiser format...

David Cameron sacks adviser in row over Armed Forces pay - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9931534/David-Cameron-sacks-adviser-in-row-over-Armed-Forces-pay.html)

...thank you Prof Smith for trying! :ok:

Military Covenant, my arse! :mad: They are giving GPs a 1.3% pay rise :ugh:

Harrumph!

[Lima Juliet]

Thing

I know plenty in the public sector who have had plenty of pay rises. It just depends on what sector you're working in...

LJ

[BlindWingy]

Thank you Prof Smith for trying to help the Forces. A brave thing to do. Those who forced you out of you job are devoid of honour.

[FODPlod]

If there isn't more to this than meets the eye, then shame on Cameron.

[Willard Whyte]

Jeez louise.

There are plenty of well paid jobs on 'the outside'.

And far less bullsh*t to boot.

[Melchett01]

You would almost be forgiven for thinking that Cameron didn't enjoy being PM and was actively trying to make sure he didn't get re-elected. In fact the more I see of Cameron and his chums, the more I wish they would tear up their commitment to full 5 year terms and give us an election now. The rest aren't any better, but frankly we need an election now as a matter of self-preservation of this country's military capability.

To go against the advice of an independent pay body is one thing, to sack the Chairman for having the temerity to do his job is in an entirely different league.
What little credibility Cameron had on defence has now gone for ever. Whenever we see him talking about defence, stating how pro-forces he is, we will know he is lying - we will be able to see his lips moving.

[Stuff]

Willard - undoubtedly true but those who are within 1-3 years of the IPP are pretty much "trapped" because of the financial penalty of leaving before the 16 year point.

Of course the day that you hit your 16/38 point this changes :D Hopefully someone in DASA has "done the sums" and the recruitment rate will cover the outflow.

[Willard Whyte]

The trapped folk undoubtedly have my utmost sympathy, it's a sh*t position to be in.

Hopefully someone in DASA has "done the sums" and the recruitment rate will cover the outflow. I think a 100/1 runner at Cheltenham would be a safer bet.

[Lima Juliet]

Here's a telling graph of how much "in debt" we are in comparison to yesteryear...

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/ukgs_line.php?title=Public%20Net%20Debt&year=1900_2011&sname=&units=p&bar=0&stack=1&size=m&spending0=30.17_33.24_35.92_38.02_37.81_36.29_34.42_32.35_33 .30_32.39_31.65_29.22_27.30_25.83_25.30_36.59_61.36_93.25_11 4.52_135.20_130.70_154.00_171.33_181.68_174.70_168.25_173.51 _164.00_163.41_159.59_161.58_171.49_175.76_177.57_172.91_165 .01_156.08_145.95_145.65_137.71_109.97_119.79_137.54_156.77_ 182.34_215.64_237.12_237.94_213.97_197.77_193.89_175.34_161. 99_152.16_146.66_138.19_129.03_122.18_118.14_112.44_106.76_1 03.06_99.87_98.15_90.97_84.82_82.07_79.41_78.33_72.27_63.99_ 57.99_55.46_49.48_47.87_43.48_44.81_45.70_46.76_43.61_42.11_ 44.40_44.55_43.13_43.59_43.45_41.81_39.14_34.98_29.30_26.69_ 25.27_26.70_30.97_36.05_39.55_41.20_41.93_40.14_37.85_35.38_ 30.58_29.34_30.46_31.84_33.80_34.85_35.57_36.61_44.26_52.08_ 59.97&legend=&source=a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a _a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a _a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a _a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a_a

OK, it's not great, but we've been here before. As I understand it, it is the Private Debt that is causing most concern - that is the money that our banking sector has borrowed. Yes, the same banking sector that is paying out mahoosive bonuses each year.

By the way, if you read an article by Moneyweek called "The end of Britain" it is complete hoop in my opinion (advertised on Prune, no less). All of their scaremongering graphs have not been adjusted for inflation. They have omitted to add that they failed to predict financial crises like Lehman Bros, Northern Rock and alike - they are being very misleading in my humble opinion. It's actually looks like a thinly disguised sales ploy/scam by Moneyweek to get more subscriptions to their magazine - don't believe the hype! Sales of magazines/newspapers are reducing rapidly due to the volume of free online content.

Anyway, take a look at the above graph and ask yourself "why have we had 2 years of pay freeze and now 1%"? My answer is "incompetence, corrupt contracts and waste" - I see it everywhere...:=

LJ

[Jacks Down]

The cost of the recommended but rejected X Factor increase is £22M pa. The amount of risk provision or uncommitted funding in the EP is in the order of £2.9Bn over each of the next ten years. But we can't afford it, apparently. That sends a great message about our 'greatest asset' doesn't it?

[Biggus]

If you want to be sure of a pay rise:


BBC News - North Sea wages 'rising too fast' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21792466)

[thing]

I know plenty in the public sector who have had plenty of pay rises.

I know plenty that haven't!:) I can't complain, I'm ex mob and on a pension. I still knock around with serving aircrew at my flying club though and believe me, the RAF doesn't pay too badly cf with civ street except maybe with the exception of the big jet pilots.

[Tiger_mate]

Reading through the party line this morning, it appears as if the 'system' is relying upon IPP to soften the blow. Which of course means that if you are presently capped you have dipped it. It also is sugggestive of AFPRB 2014 being a repeat of this year at approx 1% :{. It is unusual for comments being made mandating parity with 'civil' public sector workers, as AFPRB is normally stand-alone in view of the increased operating risk to life associated with military operations and the months of maritial separation that our civil peers do not endure. ie Civil domestic charges are rising and therefore military ones (SFA Rent) will do also shadowing the civil medical and educational fraternity.

In my own case, I leave next year anyway and was hoping that either the 13 or 14 pay award would restore the balance of the not insignificant pay freeze. At least I can consider the pension peoples recommendation to leave early with some realistic planning fiqures.

[Biggus]

T_m

As far as I remember, some 3 odd years ago, the future pay rise package for the military (entire public sector?) for the next four years was announced. It was always intended to be two years of 0%, followed by two years of a 1% cap. This was all part of budget deficit reduction measures.

I was therefore under the impression that 1% next year as well as this is already a forgone conclusion!!

[Nimbus20]

Thing - something that emphasised the difference between private and public sector, was that the public sector "smoothed out" the peaks/troughs of corporate fortune and payed a safe, steady inflation-adjusted salary.

In commerce, there were good years and bad years. The astute would bank the bonuses from the good years and thus cover the lean.

One could argue (as indeed I am) that both systems, as was, roughly panned out.

What characterises the situation today is that public sector workers are no longer being afforded the protection in the poor years and, no surprises, do not benefit from large pay rises and/or bonuses during the times of plenty. This is what is giving rise to the feeling that public sector workers are being let down.

The injustice in the pay award is that the VSO, the people who advised and influenced the decision-makers (and must bear some culpability for the budgetary block holes) are now being awarded the same as the "little people" who had no part to play in the crisis.

I know of junior people, in the MoD, who warned against front-loading of programmes, of PPP, of leverage of budget - they were cordially invited by the VSO to STFU or leave. Yet these are the same people who now must "play their part in the recovery process" (sound bite attributed to Dave C).

This is why the bitterness, the disallusionment and the interesting observation that people are leaving, despite the "harsh climate" outside. For info, the Army are not struggling to find volunteers for the 3rd tranche of redundancy.

If these are not another 2 examples of how the VSO have failed, I am unlikely to be able to cite any others.

I am expected, as part of my duties, to promote MoD and Govt line. I find myself increasingly hard-pressed and ill-inclined to so do.

Nim.

editted for fffat fffingers effect

[Just This Once...]

An interesting turn of events - 'Independent' Pay Review Board questions its own independence in its own report; MoD fights to not pay its people more; X-Factor review produces an answer that the MoD and No 10 cannot stomach; boss of Pay Review Board does not get his contract renewed.

Quite a battle over a few million but I guess the government wanted to make sure that there was no remaining hint of 'independence' in the board and deemed that that this was an important enough message for the long term to tolerate the short-term negative press.

For the military aircrew that frequent the board the probable changes for Flying Pay--->Specialist Pay--->Recruitment and Retention Incentive--->Recruitment and Retention Pay--->back to Specialist Pay (for a bit whilst they sort out JPA) is interesting and potentially alarming.

Previous years had questioned why SP is awarded to those who could expect to receive it for the career (eg aircrew) and suggest a more targeted spine. This year there is open talk of:

proposed annual adjustments in levels of SP

flexible approach should allow levels of SP to move down as well as up in response to manning levels

recognises that when a training commitment is associated with a return-of-service commitment there is more scope to reconsider the appropriateness of paying SP

a standard 12 months notice would be given prior to any reduction in SP coming in to effect...transitional arrangements if their SP was to be decreased or stopped altogether

We broadly endorse the new approach proposed by MOD and the associated safeguarding of pay if SP rates are reduced

and just to twist-the-knife into all those new DDHs out there with that 'inescapable legal responsibility' for flying risks:

MOD also reviewed the payment of SP to those at OF5 and above. About 250 personnel at OF5 and above were in receipt of some form of SP, over 200 of whom received SP (Flying). MOD acknowledged that there was some inconsistency in the approach to SP for more senior personnel and undertook to investigate this further.

We will see how this develops but just muddying the waters in this way will have an effect; the report already notes that reserve banding and removal of SP on 'voluntary outflow' may already be driving people out at option points.

20 years ago I got a mortgage based on my basic plus flying pay - would it be wise for the next generation to do so?

[Onceapilot]

Very interesting to see the head of the AFPRB being culled by DC. However, it is a great pity that the board failed to include the observation that "if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys" in their final draft.

OAP

PS. No disrespect to monkeys

[Stuff]

Just This Once...

I understand that they are actually breaking the law as they are failing to provide the statutory notice of rent increases.

Does anyone know which law/rule/regulation this is and what the minimum notice period should be?

I've just received a notice that my quarter charges are going from Grade 3 to grade 1 and they've given me far less than a month's notice. DIO are simply pointing at JSP464 Para 122 which says, "occupants of the affected accommodation are to be notified in advance of any deduction from pay of any changes to the accommodation charge."

[Courtney Mil]

I think that was covered earlier in the thread. Not tenants, licence holders. See posts 29/30.

[Willard Whyte]

Public sector rises capped at 1% p/a until 2016?

Even with this year's x-factor enhanced 1.5% that's going to be enough to tip those who's fingers are poised over the pvr button over the edge. That and the pension farce.

The industry I've joined has seen wages rise 12% over the last 3 years. No guarantee of future rises of course, but at least we've got ASLEF fighting our cause! Final salary pension too.

[Jumping_Jack]

Regrettably WW the the new pay scale does not include the 0.5% X-factor rise. The scales published in the AFPRB Report are not those that have been released in the 'Pay Signal' received by units.

[SirToppamHat]

From the Budget Document:

2.16 Military Pay – In addition to the recent 1 per cent increase in base pay for the armed forces, the X-Factor component of base pay will also be increased by half a percent, as recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, from 1 May 2013. By accepting the recommendations in full, armed forces personnel are receiving a total 1.45 per cent increase in base pay.

See here:

HM Treasury: Budget 2013 Dated March 2013 (http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2013_complete.pdf)

I suggest that if the pay tables do not reflect this statement then they are incorrect.

I await with dread the traditional increases to accommodation and other charges which will more than offset any rises which have been announced.

STH

[LFFC]

The downside of the budget is that pay rises will now be capped at 1% for the next 3 years!

So over a 6 year period (starting 3 years ago), pay will increase by only 4.45% - that's 0%, 0%, 1.45%, 1%, 1%, 1%.

Remind me; how much has RPI/CPI increased in the first 3 years alone? :ooh:

[Lima Juliet]

Now, it isn't 0.5% increase for all serving full time is it?

It's a 0.5% increase on the 14% X-Factor that Regulars and FTRS(FC) get. A 0.5% increase on the 5% X-Factor that FTRS(LC) get. But absolutely no increase for those on FTRS(HC) terms as they get 0% X-Factor.

Unless, of course, they mean that FTRS(HC) go up to 0.5% X-Factor? Which I am sure is not the case! :eek:

LJ

[Greenielynxpilot]

Hate to be a pedant, but actually it is 4.524% over the six years, not 4.45%. (The awards are compounding, not additive).

Wouldn't normally interject to correct an inaccuracy so small, but the awards themselves are so meagre it actually makes a difference!

Still - it could be worse ... other countries have had to impose pay cuts on their public sector workers - whilst many UK servicemen and women are still getting their annual increment, and are still promoting, on top of these nominal increases.

As the former chief secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, said: ''I'm afraid to tell you there's no money left''. People shouldn't forget on whose watch this all started ...

[Lima Juliet]

LFFC

RPI Rates?

2013 3.3% (estimated)
2012 3.1%
2011 4.8%

So from this we are getting 0%+0%+1.45% = 1.45% rise
But we have seen retail prices rise by 11.4%

So in real terms our wages have dropped by ~10% in the last 3 years. :(

LJ

PS GreenieLynx - I'm too slack to do the compound interest thing!

[LFFC]

So in real terms our wages have dropped by ~10% in the last 3 years. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/sowee.gif


More importantly, so have your pensions. :sad:

[Lima Juliet]

More importantly, so have your pensions

Not so, for me my pension was in payment in 2011 as I am FTRS :ok:

[LFFC]

LJ

I would keep your head down if I were you! I don't think this is anyway near ending yet.

[Jimlad1]

While I am incredibly sympathethic to the mil argument about wages dropping in real terms, I must caution that my experience is that the MOD CS are feeling even more hard done by. Far lower wages than their mil counterparts, and no progression on the salary spine for 3 years now (unlike the Mil gaining seniority). The MOD has been told today that at best it will get a 1% average rise in 2015/2016, and also that its salary spine progression is being scrapped.
So, my very strong advice to those of you who work with MOD CS is not to moan too loudly, because the MOD CS is being shafted far more badly than HM Forces, and is taking proportionately far greater job cuts, and higher salary cuts. While we all want to support the military, please remember that your civilian colleagues across the world, both in the UK and in operational theatres are not getting anywhere near as "good" a deal as the military. You are, relatively speaking, getting the best deal of any public servant in HM Govt service for the next 3 years.

[Hueymeister]

JimLad, whilst I agree with your sentiments, they are free(er) to move on to other careers than us that have to PVR etc. They can, I believe, strike to bring their pay issues to bear. The pension is pretty good too, if what my uncle has recently retired on is anything to go by. Undoubtedly that'll have changed to their detriment, but let's face it they don't get X-factor because they aren't the ones standing on IEDs in Helmand. We shouldn't be afraid to complain if we think aren't getting what we deserve.....

[Jimlad1]

Huey - fair points, but you mifght be surprised at how many MOD CS are in HERRICK right now, and who have done TELIC too.
Also, the pension is nowhere near as good as its mil equivalent (and has to be contributed too as well).

My point is not that you should complain about your lot (as a Reservist I share the frustration at the rise), but that you should be wary about complaining too loud as a lot of other people out there who will never have the support or sympathy of the public are getting a far worse deal. Please just understand that you've got a much better deal than anyone else out there, as a lot of people are feeling very bruised tonight, and not just in HM Forces.

[Ginseng]

"2.16 Military Pay – In addition to the recent 1 per cent increase in base pay for the armed forces, the X-Factor component of base pay will also be increased by half a percent, as recommended by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body, from 1 May 2013. By accepting the recommendations in full, armed forces personnel are receiving a total 1.45 per cent increase in base pay."

Surely if the rise in base bay, as recommended by the AFPRB, is 1%, and the rise in X-Factor is to be 0.5% (from 14% to 14.5% of base pay), then the resulting total rise in basic pay will be about 1.156% (but only if paid for the full 12 months)?

Or am I missing something?

[Jacks Down]

Ginseng,

By my maths the increase is 1.44%, and that is the same figure you get from the pay amounts listed in the AFPRB report. So whoever put out the 1.45% figure is offering an extra 0.01%. I suggest we keep quiet about that one as there has been enough water under the bridge already! It works like this:

2012 base pay plus 14% old x-factor = 2012 basic pay amount

2012 base pay plus 1% pay increase plus 14.5% new x-factor = 2013 basic pay amount

[Lima Juliet]

Application of 0.5% X-Factor is not going to all who qualify for it...

The 0.5% increase to X-Factor will apply to Regular Forces, Mobilised Reservists, Full-Commitment Full time Reserve Service, and the Gibraltar Regiment Regulars. The level of X-Factor for the Military Provost Guard Service, Home-Commitment and Limited- Commitment Full Time Reserve Service remains unchanged.

So nothing for MPGS, FTRS(LC) or FTRS(HC)...

LJ

[ralphmalph]

Leon,

Perhaps because those people will still serve solely at home?

Ralph

[Lima Juliet]

FTRS (LC) personnel have identical pay to their Regular counterparts but receive only 5% X-factor compared to the 14% paid to Regulars.* They do not have any entitlement to Service Families Accommodation, medical and dental care or allowances but they are eligible to apply for Single Living Accommodation if required. FTRS (LC) may be detached from their parent unit for up to 35 days per annum, subject to no single period exceeding 21 days.

Ralph

Not quite. FTRS(LC) deployed/detached for up to 3 weeks at a time and then a further 2 weeks each year. They may volunteer to do more as can FTRS(HC).

LJ