Arqiva members ballot on pay offer

A consultative ballot on a 4.5% pay offer for Arqiva members is underway.

Arqiva members now have the opportunity to vote on the company’s pay offer for the year from 1 July. Consultative ballot papers should arrive with members today; ballot papers must be received at BECTU head office by Monday 16 June if they are to be counted.

The ballot follows a series of constructive meetings between Arqiva management and BECTU’s negotiating team. Talks focussed on the union’s claim, on the economic conditions impacting the company and on the company’s business activities in the short to medium term.

Based on their economic view, Arqiva initially proposed a 3.8% increase for all employees; after consideration this offer was rejected by the BECTU team. Further representations by the union led to the improved 4.5% offer which BECTU representatives considered to be sufficiently positive to take to members in a consultative ballot. The 4.5% pay offer is above the latest RPI figure of 4.2% reported in May.

As an additional interim measure, Arqiva has also agreed to increase the £1.25 per hour on-call payment to £1.30 with effect from 1 July; the company has also committed to a review of allowances as part of integration discussions later this year.

Looking ahead, BECTU and Arqiva have reaffirmed their commitment to work together constructively to facilitate the integration with National Grid Wireless (this assumes that the proposed merger will be given final clearance by the Competition Commission.) Both parties have pledged to expedite the process, where possible, and to work to minimise uncertainty and anxiety for staff.