Last august RPI 4.8%, this august RPI possibly -2.8%, end result cost of living theoretically 2% higher (almost). Payrise in this time, 2%... Not quite as bad a deal as it seems, and i do thank the union bods for that
that's assuming AUG RPI will be that poor. also you are looking at RPI over a one year period. i.e. Aug 08 to aug 09. This deal is for 2 years and will also encompass the RPI for Aug 10 which will be positive (so say the commentators) and thus we will definitiely be getting much less than the combined RPI you have described.
The current deal as it stands gives us a below RPI deal, without even considering the Aug 10 RPI, which will make the deal even worse. Next payrise will not be until Jan 2011
and before anybody starts... Yes AUG 2010 RPI should be the baseline for Jan 2011 pay negoitiations but these NATS crooks will most likely try to move the goalposts and seek a different more favourable (to them) inflationary indicator. That coupled with the poor baseline generated by the current proposal and we can all look forward to record NATS profits and $hit pay deals!
We are mad to even consider signing away 2 years of pay rises based on guesses on the future RPI. I would much rather we waited until AUG09 RPI and used definite figures than numbers plucked out of thin air (and believe me I know economists and they do a lot of educated guessing) as well as have the NATS accounts in our hands
VOTE NO