I am currently a National Convenor for the GMB in one of the Branch Companies. I have been in this role for several years. I am also the Branch Communications Officer for the G36 Security Branch
GMB G4S DWP – ACAS Won’t Arbitrate – Company Offer ‘Disrespectful’ – 9 January 2024
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ACAS WON’T ARBITRATE – COMPANY OFFER ‘DISRESPECTFUL’
Dear GMB Members,
We again want to thank members for your resolve and patience regarding 2022 pay.
In April we called on the Company to move straight to arbitration, but it refused. Instead, it drew out the pay talks and even sought to limit the independence of the arbitrator by claiming it could only afford the following:
5.15% consolidated increase from 1st Dec 22 to 31st March 2023 rising to;
7% consolidated from April 1st 2023 until 30th Nov 2023.
On November 30th ACAS formally advised that it wouldn’t arbitrate your 2022 pay dispute if the terms of reference weren’t agreed. Then on the 7th December the LNC met and offered to ballot members on their ‘affordable’ position above. However, on the 20th December the Company tabled an offer that is less than what they have claimed is affordable, and making it conditional on the LNC recommending it for acceptance:
5.15% with effect from 1 December 2022 and;
6.5% from 1st April 2023
YOUR LNC CANNOT RECOMMEND THE OFFER
Whilst this is technically the best outcome that can be achieved by negotiation, the LNC has agreed that it cannot recommend this offer to members because it falls far too short of your claim. Put simply, tabling an offer less than what they have claimed is the limit of their affordability is utterly disrespectful to members on the DWP contract.
As such the LNC has agreed to also ask members that if they reject the offer are they prepared to take industrial action in pursuit of a better offer.
To be clear the ‘no strike’ clause in your agreement does not apply to disputes under Clause F of the agreement, which covers issues such as pay, terms and conditions etc.
Workplace balloting will now be conducted during January closing on 9th February.
It is now important that members ensure their contact details are up to date, and during the balloting process we will be looking to confirm these with members. Make sure you check in with your local GMB shop steward.
We do not expect the Company will be happy with our position on their offer, and may well table something even worse, which would be a poor reflection on them and their attitude to members.
Please ensure you share this update with non-members and encourage them to vote on pay this year by joining GMB: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb
G4S have proposed arbitration terms that would limit the independence of ACAS in settling the 2022 pay dispute, by proposing to limit the amount of any award to less than 7%, and that it cannot be backdated to December 2022, only from April 2023.
The proposal directly conflicts with earlier advice from ACAS, and misses, perhaps deliberately, the whole point of arbitration, which is for an independent umpire, ACAS, to determine the pay award for 2022 without restrictions imposed by one party.
We have sought intervention from ACAS and have proposed the following:
The parties agree to pursue conventional arbitration.
The arbitrator is asked to make a determination on the pay award, at a point between the final positions each of the parties reached in conciliation:
9.2% for GMB and;
5.15% (+0.25% payable April 2023 and 0.25% payable August 2023) for the Company.
For staff covered by the G4S DWP contract for the 2022/23 annual pay period (anniversary 1st December 2022) as outlined in Company information.
The award is backdated to the start of the pay year for 2022/2023 ie December 2022.
We will update members once we receive feedback from ACAS and/or the Company.
The DWP contract is also now out for re-tender and we will be contacting the DWP to make a contribution on behalf of members, particularly in respect of the expectations of any successful service provider and their responsibilities regarding pay and conditions.
Please ensure you share this update with non-members and encourage them to voice their opinions on pay by joining GMB: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb
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
We hope this newsletter finds you well and we want to reiterate again our thanks to members for your patience.As we reported previously the Company has suggested that it would take time a long time to agree the terms of reference, and who should arbitrate the dispute.
When GMB had previously agreed terms of reference etc with G4S in another business unit, it was completed quickly and simply via email.
So, on 3rd October GMB sent an initial proposal for terms and nominating ACAS to arbitrate, and on 12th October the Company responded, though without any suggested terms, so on the 13th GMB proposed the terms below:
We are now waiting for a response from the Company and will advise one we receive something.
Separately we have written to Tim Kendall, G4S Secure Solutions Managing Director, out of courtesy advising that we would be looking to convene meetings with DWP, and Shadow Labour Ministers to discuss issues impacting the DWP contract, and also wider security related matters.
There is a strong chance that there will be a new UK Government so now is an appropriate time to flag to them our members’ views on a wide range of issues. We will update members following these meetings.
Please ensure you share this update with non-members and encourage them to voice their opinions on pay by joining GMB: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join–gmb
Voting to keep our Political Fund will open on 11 October. The Political Fund is our union’s campaign fund. It allows us not only to have a strong industrial voice, but a strong political one too.
And through the Political Fund, we have achieved so much.
We brought ambulance workers to Parliament, to speak to politicians directly about their dispute and why it mattered.
We put ASDA bosses in front of select committees to be questioned on their unfair working practices.
We are raising the voices of women workers to put pressure on local politicians to fix equal pay scandals across the UK.
There is so much more to do. And that’s why we need you, our members, to vote YES in the Political Fund ballot.
We hope this newsletter finds you well and we want to thank you once again for your patience. As reported in the last update, ACAS have agreed to arbitrate but the Company were still insisting that negotiations continue and they requested a further meeting this week.
In order not to further delay the process we proposed a virtual meeting so that it could be done as soon as possible, where the Company offered, on top of the 5.15%:
An extra 3p an hour (0.25%) from April 2023 and;
Another 3p an hour (0.25%) from August 2023.
This offer proves that despite repeated denials over the years, G4S can dip its hand into its own pocket to pay Officers more than it receives from DWP.
Now when the Company claims that “9.2% is simply not a viable option and risks the entire future of the DWP contract.” members have every right to be sceptical that the Company paying an extra 3-4% from its own pocket is somehow going to risk a multimillion pound contract.
Since talks have commenced your LNC have adjusted your claim to the lowest measure of inflation in December 2022, CPIH 9.2%, down from RPI 13.5%, in an effort to ensure that members do not fall behind the increased cost of living and to reach agreement.
The LNC holds the view that this offer is still substantially below any cost of living measurement and falls well below members expectations as expressed in your claim, so we are once again calling on the Company to move urgently to arbitration.
It has previously only taken a few emails to agree the terms of arbitration so unlike the Company we don’t see that taking up too much time or resources.
Please ensure you share this update with non-members and encourage them to voice their opinions on pay by joining
We’re pleased to confirm that we are running five online National Equality Summits this Autumn – giving our underrepresented members the chance to come together to develop their knowledge of workplace organising and campaigning.
All Regions are invited to send attendees who belong to the five equality groups to the summits, with no limit on how many members can attend and no requirement for any level of experience. This learning and development opportunity is open to all members who identify with the relevant group, and members new to campaigning are most welcome.
As a result of there being no limit to the number of attendees, it has been agreed that we will advertise the summits to all GMB Southern Region members. However, Branches like yours will be informed of who has applied to attend and asked to raise any concerns.
Please share this information with your members and ask them to apply for a place using the links below:
Race Summit – Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers: Saturday 4 November
We hope this newsletter finds you well and we want to thank you once again for your patience.
Like you, the LNC are exceptionally frustrated by the continual delays, the Company are obviously doing everything they can to avoid participating in arbitration.
Your LNC can only guess that the Company are scared about potentially having to pay members any additional money that comes from their own pocket, not just what DWP have funded them.
However we can report some good news.
ACAS have advised that they are prepared to arbitrate on the pay for 2022/23.
But this won’t come as a surprise to members now, the Company are still trying to avoid arbitration and are seeking another meeting (18th September) to table another offer.
We cannot emphasise this enough that the Company is deliberately doing this to try and undermine your collective strength and position.
Your support is invaluable in these negotiations, and we thank you for standing together in solidarity.
If you require further information, please contact your local GMB Representative or GMB Office.
Please ensure you share this update with non-members and encourage them to voice their opinions on pay by joining GMB: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb
We hope this bulletin finds you in good spirits, we want to keep you informed about latest developments and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving fair terms for all members.
We understand and share your frustration with the delay in getting this matter resolved, ACAS have now confirmed arrangements and the meeting will now take place on Monday 18th September at their offices in Victoria Street SW1.
We appreciate your understanding and ongoing support as we navigate through this process.
We will keep you updated on further developments.
In Solidarity
Mick Butler
GMB Union Regional Organiser
Please ensure that any colleagues who aren’t yet GMB members have their say on pay by joining GMB: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb
