Capita’s ZERO pay offer risks industrial dispute
Capita, Capita October 16 2024
Management refusal to offer a 2024 pay rise forces CWU to consider membership ballots…
“Industrial action in is now a strong possibility, unless a serious pay offer is forthcoming,” CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey told CWU News today, after a meeting of one the union’s two industrial executives gave its formal approval to a ballot timetable in accordance with the law.
Andy, who represents around 450 members working for the company’s BBC contract, explained that the decision to move forward with this plan had been “the last thing we wanted, but sadly, the failure of the business to make any pay offer at all in the seven months since the 2024 pay settlement date left us with no alternative.
“We’re still hoping, even at this late stage, that Capita will come forward with a reasonable proposal. Our hard-working members deserve fair recompense for the efforts they make, all year round, to provide this important service.
“But make no mistake, this ballot timetable will only be paused if there is fresh thinking on the part of the business.”
- According to the timetable approved by the CWU Postal Executive meeting, industrial action balloting would take place during November and either strike action or action short of a strike could begin during the following month.
“Our members are equally frustrated with the lack of progress over pay,” said Tracey Fussey, CWU assistant secretary with responsibility for around 750 workers on Capita’s Tesco Mobile and VMO2 contracts.
This group of CWU members belong within the union’s Telecoms & Financial Services section and, therefore, any move towards industrial action in accordance with the law would need to be put before the T&FS Executive for its consideration.
“We’re not yet at the stage where we’re ready to set out a ballot timetable, but we’re in close contact with our reps and members and we’re also doing everything we can to urge Capita to think again and recognise the massive contribution that their employees make. Time is running out and our members are frustrated.
“But if there is no movement, then this matter will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the T&FS Executive and we’ll consult our reps and members to discuss and decide on our next steps forward. It really is not on to expect workers to forgo any pay rise at all and we’re determined to get this over to the business. We sincerely hope that we can resolve 2024 pay as soon as possible.”
Last week saw the resolution of several outstanding issues pertaining to the 2023 pay settlement for this group of workers. This was reported here.