Imposed Pay Freeze

This is the text of a document emailed to Community Union NSPCC employees

Dear Member,

RE: Imposed pay freeze

I am sure you will be as concerned as I am at NSPCC Management’s decision to impose a pay freeze, without any consultation with your union or you.

While Community understands the current financial situation faced by every organisation in your sector, Management appear to have assumed that we would have submitted a pay claim that was impossible to deliver, which we would not. Annual negotiations are not just about money – they’re about your daily working life, and all those other terms and conditions which are so important, and that we believe we can add value to.

You will have recently received from us a survey designed to gauge your opinion on your terms and conditions. The purpose of this survey was to ensure that your views were accurately reflected in negotiations to improve your terms and conditions of employment.

Let me be very clear that Community does not agree with this decision to freeze your pay. You will note from the FAQs issued by the agency that Management suggest that Community agrees with this move - this is not the case. The FAQs also state that there will be consultation about ‘ending the freeze’. Community looks forward to this consultation, as it will be a step back in the right direction for NSPCC and the relationship that the Union is trying to build honourably, which of course means that both sides should keep to agreements that we make. I can confirm that the union’s integrity is not now nor ever will be in question on these matters.

All this of course comes on top of the news about changes to your pension schemes. I have, on our members behalf already made the strongest objection to the way this decision has been taken.

Community firmly believes that mutually respectful negotiations always serve to enhance a workplace and that union input to your organisation can only have a positive effect for members and for the agency itself.

Any further developments regarding this or any employment situation will be immediately communicated to you as a union member. In the meantime Community urges you to speak to your colleagues, who have not yet joined the union, to join with you and assist in preventing similar situations occurring again.

Yours in Community

Joe Mann MBE

Deputy General Secretary