October 2023 

GMB MEMBER COST OF LIVING SURVEY REPLIES

Dear GMB member,

Thank you to everyone who completed our 2023/24 cost of living survey, the results of which will be used to develop our contribution to the 2024 Joint Trade Union pay claim.

What came through loud and clear was that members were being severely impacted by the cost of living crisis this past two years. Overwhelmingly members reported being at least £60, but in most cases £80 worse off a month, which is a significant amount for any worker.

Again when asked about an increase, members were clear that they didn’t want to go backwards again, so are looking for that an increase matched to the cost of living was crucial. We also don’t want to fall behind G4S Cash, and so far we are given they secured an 8.5% pay rise last year.

Therefore we’re proposing that similar to G4S Cash the RPI inflation rate for October is the 2024 award, which also reflects the fact that inflation has remained stubbornly high this past year despite almost all projections last year suggesting it would be significantly lower throughout 2023.

Members also indicated that they wanted to see improvements on:

• • rates of overtime @ 1.5 per hour;
• • increased holiday entitlement by 2 days and
• • rates of bank holiday premium @ 2.0 per hour.

In advance of the pay talks we have also submitted a request for information on the Company financial performance in order to challenge any issues regarding the ‘affordability’ of both your claim and any Company counter-offer. We will keep members updated as talks progress.

Please share this bulletin and encourage any non-members to join www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in solidarity,

GMB NNC                                                                                                                                                                                      GMB National Officer