Community announces 4% pay increase for Corus Strip and Long Products
The following is a letter sent to all Community members in Corus Strip and Long Products
Dear Member,
4% across the board pay increase for Community members in Strip and Long Products.
Your union delegates from the Strip Products Joint Council and Long Products Business Joint Council have negotiated a pay deal which offers a 4% increase to gross wages, including bonus, overtime and shift payments backdated to 1st of April 2008.
This 4% increase is above inflation and represents a significant step forward for Community and Corus. This 4% increase will be applied across the board and represents real wage growth.
A real difference in the pay packet
This table shows the increase in pay, before overtime, bonuses or shift work payments.
Weekly earnings* | £300 | £400 | £500 | £600 |
Per Week | £12.00 | £16.00 | £20.00 | £24.00 |
Per Month | £52.00 | £69.33 | £86.67 | £104.00 |
Per Year | £624 | £832 | £1,040 | £1,248 |
*figures estimates only
Importantly, this 4% increase in pay is a stand alone agreement and is not linked to Bonus consolidation.
Community believes that this is a fair deal for Community members in the current economic climate. This deal recognises the value of Corus’ employees and their contribution to the company’s success.
Concluding the deal
As the largest union, Community has led the negotiations with Corus. On the 9th of June 2008, Community representatives negotiated this offer from Corus and put it to the committee of elected lay delegates from the Strip PJC and Long Products BJC. Your delegates voted to accept the deal and members are already benefiting from this increase.
Other unions do not empower their lay delegates to make decisions and have decided to ballot their membership. We believe our delegates, which you elected, are experienced negotiators and have a proven track record of achieving the best deals possible.
National Learning Agreement
Community have reached arrangements with Corus to set up a working party to discuss the feasibility of a National Learning Agreement and the learning agenda.
Community understands that the success of the Steel industry in Britain is due to the high quality of the goods produced, which is in turn a result of the highly skilled staff in Corus Strip and Long products. To ensure the future competitiveness of the British Steel industry as well as job stability for Community members, Community believes it is important for Corus to begin constructive talks on this issue. This is an extremely positive development which we look forward to working together with the company.
Bonus Review
While the 4% across the board pay increase excludes bonus consolidation, Corus have scheduled meetings to discuss a review of Bonus arrangements.
Community recognises how important the current bonus system is to Community members, with up to 23% of take home pay reliant on bonus.
This is a continuing issue that will require the support of all members in order to protect bonus arrangements and other working conditions.
Yours in unity