STATEMENT FROM PROSPECT and PCS
Below is a statement which has just gone out which I hope sheds some light on what appears to be a missunderstanding of the Unions position. I hope this clarifies the situation
Dear Colleague,
The purpose of this circular is to update you on the issue of pay. Some members may have read an article covering NATS pay in the most recent edition of Prospects magazine Profile. Unfortunately this article was incorrect and factually misleading. The article published was an initial draft put together by Prospect communications department which had been subsequently corrected. Unfortunately it was the initial draft which was published.
As you will be aware, Prospect and PCS submitted a “core pay” claim to
Management for 2009 in September 2008. This is a moderate claim for an increase of RPI + 1% based on the August 08 RPI figure. Since that date Prospect and PCS have been seeking to enter into substantive negotiations with NATS in order to advance the interests of members.
Whilst some discussions have taken place, management have yet to make a formal pay offer and have suggested a pay freeze in the light of the current economic downturn and rising pension’s costs.
For clarity, both PCS and Prospect stand ready to enter into formal negotiations with management on the issue of pay and are exasperated by the lack of progress.
For clarity, in a context where NATS is scheduled to make significant profits this year and debate as to whether a dividend should be paid to shareholders, particularly against the backdrop of the recent pensions ballot, such a position as articulated by management to seek to impose a pay freeze will be met by a ballot of PCS and Prospect members on industrial action.
We will keep you in touch with developments.
Garry Graham Paul Smith
National Secretary National Officer