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HP Pay Update 11 August

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you to all members for contacting our union recently regarding the pay offer. We have now completing the task of collating queries and concerns and we will be putting them to the employer today (Wednesday 11 August). We hope to be in a position to answer individual concerns as quickly as possible.

We are aware that there are three main issues where there are outstanding issues and concerns for members:

  • Individual pay offer letters have been received with an offer based on incorrect grade information - for example a recent promotion has not been recognised by HP on the system.
  • The pay offer has been made on incorrect salary information - for example, the calculation has been made on a higher salary that includes a shift allowance.
  • The pay offer is worth 1% non- consolidated for individuals who are less than 1% above the max (this is as a result of the 2008 pay deal where individual pay grew more quickly than respective pay band maxima). This means that a genuine overtaking issue exists where those who are currently at the max, could leapfrog those who are just above it.

We are also dealing with a few cases where opted in standard terms members have not yet received an offer letter and have nearly completed the exercise to correct offer letters for members earning less than £15,500.

We are working through the cases where the offer has been based on incorrect information. We are confident that these cases can be resolved quickly.

Where members have been employed in challenge posts without due recognition at the higher grade, we aim to take these up as personal cases with the company and will be raising the demand that members be made substantive in their current positions.

The issue for opted in standard members without an offer letter and the few remaining queries from members earning less than £15,500 will be resolved this week.

A bigger challenge exists for our members who have found themselves less than 1% above the max and who have been offered a 1% non consolidated increase. Initially HP pay data - that was shared with us - indicated that any PCS member above their respective pay band maxima was between 10%-30% above it. We reluctantly accepted that these members should receive a non-consolidated award but were astonished that anyone could have been allowed to move so far off the pay scale.

However it is now clear that the employer's pay data is not accurate.

Members have explained to us that the 2008 pay deal from EDS awarded members at their pay band maxima at the time a 2% consolidated increase per year but only grew the maxima by 1.8%. This has meant that in 2010 that some members now fall just above the maxima (from the members we have spoken to the range is between 0.4%-0.9%).

We want to clarify that at no stage has there ever been a proposal been to award members above the max a consolidated award. However it is also the case that until now we were unaware of the group of members who are marginally above their respective band maxima. 

Our task now is to appeal these cases. Whether we are able to find a resolution as part of this pay deal remains to be seen however we will press this issue as a priority and seek a resolution at the earliest opportunity.

We are committed to resolving the issues discussed above and each individual case will be dealt with. Whilst we cannot commit to resolving each case immediately we hope that this is sufficient information for you to cast your vote in the ballot.

Paul Barnsley
National Officer