Above-inflation rise at Santander & Geoban
Telecoms & Financial Services March 1 2016Santander workers and their colleagues employed by the company’s customer support service provider Geoban are looking forward to receiving pay increases above the rate of inflation following two overwhelming ballot endorsements by CWU members.
Majorities in favour of 94 per cent and 98 per cent respectively indicated huge support for the two deals, which were negotiated at each business by committees of lay reps and led by CWU assistant secretary John East.
Responding to the voting results, John East said: “It’s extremely pleasing to see members support our recommendations to accept these pay deals, both of which mean rises above the rate of inflation for this year and substantial, consolidated increases in Years Two and Three. And it was pleasing that the turnout to vote was so high – 78 per cent in Geoban.”
The agreements also set in place Living Wage and London Living Wage adjustments that will mean rises of 5 per cent for the lowest paid workers, as well as the consolidation of the “You Choose” allowance worth up to £315 per year and improvements to salary-band progression, maternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
“One aspect of these agreements is a new, unique arrangement, whereby parental leave can be shared with grandparents if both are employed within the Santander Group,” John said, adding: “We believe this is the first agreement of this type in the UK.”
Employees at another Santander service provider, data and hardware contractor Produban, are currently voting on a one-year pay offer from the business, which would increase wages by a minimum of 2 per cent in most case.
For further details on the Santander and Geoban agreements, see (link to previous web articles on Santander 04.02 and Geoban 22.02)
Details of the Produban deal can be viewed here (link to this attachment)