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2010 VOA pay

Introduction

VO Members will know that the VOA pay settlement date is 1 August.

As members will expect the VO pay claim was shaped around the demands of VO members. These views were clearly expressed at the end of 2009 at the Valuation vocational forum and again in motion 11 at the May 2010 Revenue and Customs group conference. The VO pay claim also fully accords with PCS national pay policy.

To recap

A full version of the VO pay claim

  VOA pay claim 2010

The VOAC has also identified a few key elements in the claim that they wanted to emphasis to the VOA

  • it is essential that the VOA honour its pledge made to members in 2001 about pay guarantees. The funding for this crucial element should be without detriment to the rest of this claim. If the VOA were to fail in this regard it would destroy any credibility remaining in the VOA pay agreement
     
  • it is also essential that those members who are still trying to progress through their pay bands (and not due to reach the maxima in 2010) secure a reasonable increase this year as well
     
  • there should be an increase to all pay scale maxima. For too long those at the pay maxima have received little or zero pay increase, a situation that punishes longer serving loyal members of staff
     
  • former Rent service members expect their transfer terms to be honored
     
  • a single, unified pay arrangement across the whole of HMRC to include the VOA. This would resolve the pay anomalies that exist between the grades.

Update and where we are now

VO members will be aware from the media coverage and various announcements that the coalition government has imposed a draconian pay regime on all civil servants. This regime centres around a pay freeze on everyone whose pay is above £21,000 pa (or pro-rata for part time workers), and a limit of £250 for those earning under £21,000 pa.

PCS has not accepted this position and the VOAC will do everything it can to secure a better position for VO members through negotiation initially.

In addition to the coalition governments pay policy for civil servants, members will also be aware of their announcements about massive cuts and about their attitude to the civil service compensation scheme and to civil service pensions.

Taking everything into account the 2010 VOA Pay position looks particularly bleak. It also may well be the beginning of an extremely challenging time for all members on many different fronts.

To conclude

  • your PCS negotiators will advise you further as soon as negotiations are due to commence with the VOA
     
  • as in past years, the VOAC is committed to fully consulting members over the final pay offer and in any event as events unfurl
     
  • this year especially the VOAC will take into account national events
     
  • comments from members are always welcome so remember the PCS VO inbox valuationoffice@pcs.org.uk

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We are all experiencing increasingly difficult times. If someone you know is a non member encourage them to join us in PCS. The more members we have the stronger our voice.

Summary

The 2010 VOA pay claim can be summarised as follows:

  • a 5% (retail price index) fully consolidated and pensionable across the board increase. This to be supplemented by other increases to achieve common rates set out in part 3(a). All of this to be additional to any increase for pay progression
     
  • a minimum underpinning increase of £1,200 and UK-wide minimum of £8.25 per hour to tackle low pay and the more acute impact of previous and present inflation on lower paid employees
     
  • £4,500 London pay premium or a 5% (RPI) increase, whichever is more
     
  • VOA to honour its pledge made to members in 2001 about pay guarantees and the funding for this element should be without detriment to the rest of this claim
     
  • there should also be an increase to all maxima. For too many years those at the top of their pay scale have received little or no pay increase at all, a situation that punishes longer serving loyal members
     
  • all non-consolidated performance pay, and monies diverted into consolidated pay
     
  • HMRC department wide pay
     
  • regular equal pay and human resource systems audits
     
  • progress on pay equality
     
  • common conditions across the civil service and linked bodies, and our claim for Leave, hours and maternity/adoption provisions
     
  • better family friendly leave and provision.