TALKING PAY AT TELEFONICA

Telecoms & Financial Services, Telefonica UK January 18 2019

Negotiations on Telefonica’s 2019 pay round got underway yesterday (January 17), with the CWU presenting a claim for a ‘significant consolidated pay increase which flows through to all allowances, including pay and pension protection’.

With just over two months to go before the April 1 due date, the business’s opening pitch was a presentation outlining its approach to the pay review. In that presentation, Telefonica stressed that, as in recent years, affordability and market benchmarking would be key considerations for the company.

Other factors discussed included the general state of the economy, the current volatility of the pound and inflation and the potential impact of Brexit, as well as industry-specific challenges.

Assistant secretary Sally Bridge said: “It was a businesslike start to discussions, in the course of which the CWU robustly presented its claim for a significant pay increase which takes into consideration both the rising cost of living and the contributions that our members have made during the last year.

“The company agreed to consider the case we made and members will be kept fully informed as developments occur.”