Capita TVL Field workers set for substantial base pay rise

Postal, Capita August 11 2023

 

Average salary increase of 9.5%, with visiting officers’ base starting pay rising 26.7% after consolidation of commission scheme…

Field TV Licensing workers employed by service provider Capita have voted by a 72 per cent majority to accept a complicated but substantial pay agreement negotiated by the CWU, with monies set to be paid out in this month’s pay roll.

The deal, which applies to the company’s 165-strong Field team, increases starting salaries from £23,680 to £30,000 and provides the option of a company car, while abolishing the long-standing commission scheme for the 139 visiting officers within the Field operation.

Speaking to CWU News this afternoon, the union’s acting deputy general secretary postal Andy Furey said: “It’s good to get a massive turnout of 79 per cent and this strong vote in favour of the deal, which represents a very positive step forward for our Capita TVL Field members. There were some concerns expressed by some of our visiting officers during the debate about the abolition of the commission scheme, but it was our view – and that of the employer – that this scheme was coming under increasing pressure and that it may have become quickly unsustainable.

“So, we were very pleased that the CWU negotiating team was able to capture the full value of this scheme and consolidate all of it into base pay – that accounts for the majority of the 26.7 per cent base pay increase, although there are also significant elements of new money here as well.”

There are also lump sums of £650(prpt) for all, worth an estimated 6.75 per cent for those on standard salary, and an extra £500 minimum* ‘transition’ payment for the minority of visiting officers whose new basic pensionable pay will fall below the maximum commission scheme bonus they could have earned under the old scheme.

*There is a mechanism within the agreement for higher transition payments to visiting officers who earned the highest commission scheme bonus.

“The new salary structure protects pay and enhances pensions whilst offering a more attractive package to new recruits,” continued Andy, “which is why we decided to recommend the deal.”

Capita TVL also employs several hundred admin and customer-contact workers at sites in Bristol and Darwen and, due to the very different nature of their roles, there are separate salary negotiations here. These talks are in progress and are resuming on Monday, Andy reports.

“We do have an offer on the table from the business for our Bristol and Darwen members and this is currently under consideration. We’ll provide a fuller update on these pay talks as soon as we have more details to communicate.”