News
NICS Pay and Grading Update
26/09/2011
This circular is being issued to update members on a number of pay and grading matters following a recent meeting of the CWC Pay, Grading and Allowances Committee.
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Dear Colleague
This circular is being issued to update members on a number of pay and grading matters following a recent meeting of the CWC Pay, Grading and Allowances Committee.
Comprehensive Pay and Grading Review
In Branch Secretary Circular CS12/11 members were advised of data that was being collected in order to inform detailed negotiations. Work has continued on this and should shortly be concluded. NIPSA also submitted a comprehensive response to the Gateway Health Check report and consultation paper on the broad direction of the review process.
At the Central Whitely pay meeting Trade Union Side stressed the need for the detailed negotiations to commence. Management Side agreed that the Comprehensive Pay and Grading Review needed to progress and committed to a more intense period of negotiation to consider a range of options on the future pay and grading structures. Trade Union Side also repeated its concern and the anxiety of members about a number of existing anomalies not least the position of the Executive Officer II grade. NICS Management acknowledged the strength of feeling on this matter. It is expected NICS Management will seek Ministerial clearance for the negotiations to proceed to the next stage of the process i.e. working up a range of options.
Review of Technical Grades I and II
It was reported in an earlier Branch Secretary Circular that a Joint Working Group had been established to consider the report on the Review of Technical Grades I and II. One of the issues raised was the need to address the fact that many members in these grades continue to undertake work of a higher level without being adequately recompensed. Trade Union Side had proposed that members undertaking work of a higher grade should attract temporary promotion terms until negotiations on the review were concluded.
At present the relevant Departments/Agencies are compiling an estimate of the costs if temporary promotion was to be approved. Trade Union Side pressed Central Whitley Management at the meeting to confirm that temporary promotion terms would be authorised in order to avoid pursuing the matter through other courses of action. Management Side agreed to give urgent consideration to the representations made.
Equal Pay
NIPSA presented further evidence to the Assembly Committee for Finance and Personnel on 7 September, in respect of a number of ongoing issues relating to the equal pay settlement. In particular our evidence covered the position of DOJ/former NIO members, PSNI/former PSNI members and retired civil servants. As part of the evidence NIPSA contested a number of points made by NICS Officials at a hearing of the Committee on 22 June. For example NIPSA made clear that it was wrong to suggest that the above areas had not been subject to discussion throughout the negotiations. NIPSA also contested the figures quoted by NICS Officials relating to the potential number of retirees who could be covered by the settlement if there was a willingness on the part of Ministers to address that issue.
Following NIPSA’s evidence the Committee for Finance and Personnel has written to the Finance Minister indicating it wishes to further examine the issues we raised. The Committee also requested that further work be undertaken in relation to these matter.
In relation to the cases lodged at County Court (previously reported upon in Branch Secretary Circulars) we have been advised that the Discovery process has almost been completed between the respective legal teams. The documents provided will require detailed examination by NIPSA and our legal representatives. In the meantime NIPSA’s legal team has requested an early date for a hearing. However, as stated in previous Branch Secretary Circulars, the listing of dates for hearings is entirely within the gift of the judiciary.
Further updates will be issued to report developments on the above matters.
Yours sincerely
KIERAN BANNON
Assistant General Secretary
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