The NJC Trade Union Side met on Wednesday to discuss the failure of the employers to make an offer, the likelihood of any offer being 1% and the link to the National Minimum Wage. Following discussion, the following statement was unanimously agreed:
This NJC Trade Union Side:
- Deplores the Employers’ failure to make an offer on 14 February 2014 and their statement on 21 February 2014 that a 1% remit was not negotiable.
- Rejects any pegging of NJC pay to the National Minimum Wage
- Reiterates the view expressed by our members last year that 1% for 2014/15 would not be acceptable
In light of the above, the NJC Trade Union Side believes industrial action looks inevitable and we are preparing accordingly.
Meanwhile, Business Secretary Vince Cable has revealed the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation is for a 3% increase in the National Minimum Wage (NMW) to a Select Committee.
We have to wait to see whether the government accept the LPC’s recommendation or applies its own increase, but a 3% increase would make the NMW £6.50 an hour.
A 1% increase on the bottom NJC scp 5 would give an hourly rate of £6.51 and £6.60 on scp 6. That would make scp 5 a pitiful 0.2% higher than the NMW and scp 6 just 1.5% higher.