BPIF-Unite Pay Negotiations 2009

I have no intention of doing battle with the usual suspects who use the columns of Print Week to knock Unite (and the BPIF!)! Suffice to say - Unite is very disappointed we failed to reach an agreement.

Over the past months we have been upfront fighting for our industry - examples - the pressure on the Government to lean on the banks re the lack of help for small companies came from Unite, the pressure currently on to loosen up T2G money to help companies came from Unite, demands for help for manufacturing came from Unite.

At the negotiations the Unite panel consists of lay reps who work in the industry, plus full time officers. After two days of patient and considerate discussions, during which we were pressed by the BPIF to accept a pay freeze and explain it to our members - taking into account the problems parts of the industry faces our panel advised the BPIF that their final offer of £1.84 was just not realistic and could not be put to ballot. Also note the phrase “a fair and reasonable agreement for 2009” - this was the substance of our claim. £1.84, for full cost recovery, and a strong inability to pay clause is hardly fair and reasonable!

Our panel gave careful consideration to the offer and took into account all the points made by the BPIF. However, given that Class 2 and class 3 workers would get even less and after tax etc, (even with a small knock on for shift premiums etc) our panel felt we had no alternative and that a round of consultation would begin with our full time officers and our reps. Details of the lack of negotiations and lack of progress is being sent to all of our reps working under the agreement.

Here is the full text of the press release. "The BPIF-Unite pay negotiations for 2009 took place on 18th & 19th February. Tony Burke, Unite Assistant General Secretary said: “We are disappointed that it was not possible to reach a negotiated pay settlement for this year. The BPIF advised us that they were strongly mandated to secure a “zero increase” for this year. The Unite Negotiating Panel consisting of lay reps from the industry and full-time officials told the BPIF that we were seeking “a fair and reasonable agreement for 2009” and that we could not recommend a pay freeze.” The BPIF finally made what they described as “a token offer” of £1.84 on basic Class One BPIF rate, however this was conditional on Unite accepting full cost recovery and ‘a strong inability to pay clause’.

"Unite has done all it can during this difficult time to support for the printing industry wherever possible and so have our members who are working harder than ever and face increasing living costs. We had to advise the BPIF that their final offer could not be recommended, was unacceptable and could not be put to a ballot. We will be reporting back to a meeting of Regional Officers and the Unite GPM National Sector Committee at a meeting in early March.”