Big ‘yes’ to 2% pay deal from Rivus Fleet members

Telecoms & Financial Services, Rivus June 16 2021

Members in Rivus Fleet Solutions have voted by four-to-one to accept a CWU-brokered pay deal which delivers a fully consolidated across-the-board 2% increase

Set against a relevant RPI inflation rate of 1.5% in March, the settlement represents a real term increase for Rivus members employed in the former BT Fleet workshops which were sold by BT in 2019 to private equity asset management company Aurelius.

Last year Rivus members received no pay increase at all, and from the outset of negotiations the CWU negotiating team was adamant that it was therefore crucial that this year’s pay award delivered a fair cost of living increase.

Following intensive but businesslike talks, the deal that was finally secured comprises a 2% increase in base pay rates backdated to April 1, 2021, with the deal flowing through to London Weighting and shiftworking payments, also backdated to April 1.

CWU national officer for Rivus Fleet Solutions, Allan Eldred, explains: “Management moved their position significantly during the course of the negotiations, both on the value of the offer and its implementation date. Earlier offers had been rejected by the union because both the value and implementation dates were unacceptable.”

Thanking members for their 80.5% backing of the company’s final offer, Allan concludes: “This afternoon’s ballot result demonstrates that our members overwhelmingly share the view of the National Team that the deal we ultimately reached is fair and reasonable – comparing favourably with the prevailing level of pay settlements being achieved across the UK economy, and delivering a higher award than is being seen in many sectors.”

“Our focus now shifts to protecting and advancing our members terms and conditions as we enter an uncertain period as the economy starts to get back to something resembling normality.”