News

Unite is to urge its members working under the BPIF National Print

Agreement to push for a 3.7% wage increase from their employers, based

on the current UK Retail Price Index (RPI).



The union's call to action comes after the BPIF (UK print employers

federation) said they had "no mandate" to negotiate a pay increase for

2010.



In addition to putting the 2005 Partnership At Work (PAW) agreement in

jeopardy, this decision has led the union to advise its chapels to

negotiate pay increases with full support from the union at regional

and national level.



In a letter to all members working under the BPIF Agremment assistant

general secretary Tony Burke said: "The BPIF position last year was

that as the Retail Price Index was in the negative, there should be no

increase. Following the BPIF's logic, the claim should be an increase

in wages of 3.7%, which is the current Retail Price Index."



In addition, the letter claims some employers have already come to

agreements over pay, with rises ranging from 1-3%.



Unite national officer Steve Sibbald said the union would continue to

push for the national pay agreement to return in order to preserve the

PAW agreement.



"Our whole objective is to save the national agreement. It took a lot

of time and money to get the agreement in place and, if we are

complacent, the partnership is buried," he said. "We think it is worth

fighting for - it promises to deliver so much, but that won't happen

overnight. It is a unique progressive agreement that can do so much for

this industry. Yet, the first time we reach trouble and have a chance

to work through a problem together, the BPIF turn up with a mandate."



The BPIF has reiterated that is also sees a future in the partnership,

but insisted that some members were not in a position to implement a

pay increase this year, because of the recession.



Tony Burke said: "Unite Regional Officers are being briefed on the

situation. Unite GPM regional committees will be holding meetings to

discuss the failure of the BPIF to negotiate a national deal. Unite

chapels have recieved detailed information directly and are being

advised that Unite will support those chapels who persue pay claims,

including support for a move directly to industrial action ballots.

Some chapels have already submitted pay claims for 2010 and we will be

supporting their claims."