Resounding ‘YES ‘ to Real Living Wage rise in 14forty that delivers 10.1% for most

Telecoms & Financial Services, Capita, 14forty May 17 2023

Members in 14forty have voted unanimously to accept a pay hike mirroring the recommendation of the body that sets the Real Living Wage (RLW) – the independently calculated benchmark of the amount required to cover the actual cost of living for employers that have voluntarily committed to pay more than Government-set minimum wages.

Until last year pay rises at 14forty had been pegged to the Government’s National Living Wage – the confusingly rebranded national Minimum Wage which is significantly lower.

But all that changed in January 2022 when, following  persistent lobbying by the union, the outsourced facilities services provider reached an agreement with Capita to pay colleagues employed on its Capita contract the RLW – resulting in an immediate 6.7% rise to £9.50 per hour for catering, cleaning, security, post room and front of house staff.

The latest increase, ratified by 100% of members voting in a consultative ballot that closed yesterday (Tuesday), means frontline 14forty employees at the CWU-represented Capita sites in Leeds, Preston Brook and Glasgow will now receive the new RLW of £10.90 per hour.

Backdated to April 1, that increase represents a £1 per hour increase on last year’s RLW, which equates to a 10.1% rise for most of the union’s 14forty membership – and, where differentials need to be maintained, supervisors and first line managers will receive an increase of the same cash value, with their pay also rising by £1 per hour.

Thanking members for their resounding support for 14forty’s ‘final offer’, CWU national officer Tracey Fussey told CWU News: “Although the CWU National Team sought for the increase to be paid from January, we welcome the fact that, as Capita is an accredited RLW employer, the commitment to pay the RLW flows though to this sub-contract.

“That, however, does not change the CWU’s longer term aspiration for 14forty to move beyond being a RLW employer at our recognised Capita sites – and that is something we will attempt to progress in future pay negotiations.”