Airwave pay deal out to ballot
Airwave March 4 2019Members in Airwave are being urged to accept a CWU-brokered pay offer that will see virtually all CWU-represented grade employees receive a fully consolidated 2.5 per cent pay increase.
Following the successful conclusion of negotiations – in which the CWU was adamant that anything less than a rise that kept pace with the cost of living would be unacceptable to the union – the company’s final offer matches the RPI inflation figure for the relevant month, and is therefore being recommended to members by the CWU negotiating team.
A consultative electronic ballot got underway on Friday – and, assuming members ratify the offer, the pay increase will come into effect, on time, on April 1.
Commending the deal as the e-ballot commenced, assistant secretary John East pointed out that, in addition to securing a 2.5 per cent pay increase to all G1 and G2 pay scales, and for higher graded individuals linked to the union’s bargaining unit, the negotiating team had successfully ensured that the rise will also apply in full to all those paid above their salary maximum who have a protected salary as a result of the ‘Securing Tomorrow’ agreement.
Flowing through to on-call, shift and cover allowances, the CWU also successfully argued that, for the small number of employees who are paid above their salary maximums but who do not have a protected salary, the 2.5 per cent will be paid as an unconsolidated monthly payment.
“Even some of these individuals will get at least part of the increase consolidated, because the way the salary range has moved over the past few years means that the maximum point of the scale has now caught up with them,” John explains.
“From the outset of negotiations the CWU made it very clear to management that anything less than a cost of living rise would not be acceptable to the hard-working staff who keep the police, fire brigade and ambulance service talking.
“Despite all the uncertainty of recent years, Airwave continues to generate healthy profits on the back of the tried and tested network that our members have built and maintain – and I’m pleased the company has responded positively to our entirely justifiable demands.”
Full details of the deal can be viewed in Airwave Members Bulletin No. 01/19. In order to be counted, votes must have been received by 10am on Monday March 25.