Union Mail – May 2014: Pay Review, Financial Planning Business Committee

Pay Review 2014

We are currently in the early stages for the formal negotiation process in respect of the 2014 pay review. The negotiations will continue over the next two months and will be informed by a number of factors including Nationwide’s annual results, inflation figures and settlements elsewhere.  The Union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will be meeting in late May to review progress of the talks and agree a mandate for the negotiating team.  If we are able to reach a pay settlement, any awards will be implemented from 1 July 2014.

We are keen to hear members’ views and aspirations for this year’s pay review to help inform our discussions with Nationwide.  With individual pay awards being linked to performance ratings, we are particularly interested to hear members’ experiences of the performance management process – do you think your rating is fair? Were you able to influence your rating? What is your perception of the calibration process? If you were unhappy with your rating, did you appeal? If not, what prevented you and what changes to the appeals process would increase the likelihood of you registering an appeal?

Please share your views with your local NGSU Representative.  Our Reps will be attending Regional Councils meetings in May and June and will be discussing feedback and helping us to determine our priorities for the pay negotiations.

You can find details of your Rep on our website – follow the ‘Reps’ link at the top of the home page, then select ‘Who’s My Rep’.

Living Wage

As part of the 2013 pay negotiations we asked Nationwide to commit to signing up to the principles of the Living Wage and secured an agreement that no Nationwide employee would be paid less than the Living Wage.  We are extremely pleased to report that the Society has now taken the extra and important step of signing up to be an accredited Living Wage Employer.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay which reflects how much a person needs to cover their basic living costs. It is independently calculated, reviewed annually and employers choose to pay it on a voluntary basis.  The current rate is £8.80 per hour in London and £7.65 per hour outside of London – these rates are more than the national minimum wage, which currently stands at £6.31 per hour.

As a Living Wage Employer, Nationwide will take steps to ensure that everyone working regularly at Society premises will be paid the Living Wage, including temporary workers, contractors and service providers.  We welcome this initiative and the Society’s acknowledgement of the importance of placing the ethical values of a mutual organisation at the heart of decisions that shape the working environment.  We look forward to working with the Society to ensure these values are embedded into all working practices at Nationwide.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

Financial Planning Business Committee – Reps Needed

The Employee Involvement Committee (EIC) structure is the formal framework adopted by Nationwide and NGSU for the purposes of consultation and negotiation on all matters related to employment at Nationwide.  The structure includes a number of Business Committees that bring together local Union Reps and Union Officers with Senior Managers and HR from a specific business Area.

Following the recent changes to the structure in Financial Planning, I am seeking a number of Financial Planning Managers (FPMs) to join Debbi Dillon-Smith, Steve Goode and me as Union Representatives on the Financial Planning Committee – ideally two FPMs from each Region.  The Committee, which is chaired by Richard Gray (Financial Planning Director) meets quarterly and has a wide remit to discuss all aspects of Financial Planning including the negotiation of the terms of the FPM bonus scheme.  This provides a great opportunity for FPMs to take an active role in the consultation process and help shape their working environment.

If you are an FPM and a Union Member and would like to join the Committee or find out more about it, please email or call Kerry Wagg (Rep Support Officer) – kerry@ngsu.org.uk – 01295 710767 for an informal chat.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

NEC Vacancies

Executive Officer Election Result

The nomination period for the position of Executive Officer on the NEC, advertised in last month’s Union Mail, closed on Friday 25 April at 5pm.  I have received one nomination for Iain Jeffree (Customer Services & Ops in NAC) and therefore declare that Iain is elected to the NEC unopposed for the remaining period of the 2014/15 term of Office.

New Vacancy: National Regional Officer – South 2

A vacancy has arisen for the position of National Regional Officer for our South 2 Region (covering the following Areas in the Branch Network – Severnside & Ridgeway; South Wales & Avon; South Coast Central, Wessex, and South West).

The NEC is responsible for the overall running of the Union and implementation of policy as directed by National Conference.  As a member of the NEC you’ll attend bi-monthly meetings at the Union’s office in Middleton Cheney. As an Executive Officer your role on the NEC is to consider how the work of the Union impacts on all members.  As a National Regional Officer, you’ll work closely with other Reps in your Region and help organise and chair the Regional Council meeting.

Nationwide supports the work of the National Executive Committee by providing up to 11 days paid time off to attend NEC meetings, the biennial National Conference (2015) and to support local members.

Nomination Process

Members seeking nomination for this position must work within the Region and be proposed and seconded by members who also work in the Region.  Nomination forms must be received at the Union’s Office by 5pm on Friday 30th May 2014.  In the event that more than one nomination is received an election will be held.  Only members who are employees of Nationwide are eligible for roles on the NEC in accordance with Union rules.

More information and a nomination form can be downloaded here – Nomination Form – NEC or call Kerry Wagg, Rep Support Officer, on 01295 710767

Tim Poil
General Secretary

Work at a Summer Music Festival

Members or their friends and family may be interested in this opportunity from the Workers Beer Company (WBC) to attend and work at one of the music festivals this summer.  WBC is owned by the Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council.  If you are a Nationwide employee, you should talk to your manager before accepting any offer of other work in accordance with the ‘Other Business Interests’ section of the Contractual Handbook in the HR Policy Point.

Bar Office – Cash: Job description
This is an extremely important role within our onsite operation. The Bar Office role is entirely responsible for the handling and counting of the money taken at our festival bars.  Accurate and precise skills are essential, as this role counts, prepares and manages high volumes of cash in fast-paced and sometimes challenging environments.

Main Duties:
The role is completely office based (onsite)
• Responsible for dealing with large volumes of cash
• To have accurate recording skills
• To be able to follow instructions and comply with processes
• Flexible and adaptable approach at all times
• Self driven, proactive and must be a good communicator
• Able to work long shifts – sometimes to the early hours of the morning
• To be proficient and well experienced in the handling of large sums of
money

Important:
You will be required to camp at all events and you will have to provide your own camping equipment.  Conditions can be challenging due to the unpredictability of the British weather. Working hours will be shift based – mostly 12 hour days with a 2 hour break.  Dependant on the event, you will be required to be onsite anywhere between 4-7 days.  There will be intense periods of the day where you will be responsible for counting extremely large amounts of cash – so a calm and collected attitude is essential.

Welfare Package:
Camping:  WBC provides a separate secure campsite with showers & toilets, a canteen where you will be provided with 2 hot meals per day, free tea & coffee and of course our own subsidised bar.  You will also be provided with 2 drinks vouchers at the end of your shift to use in one of the onsite bars.  Coach transportation is provided for some (not all) events from various locations around the UK.

Payment:
£90.00 net (tax paid) per day worked at the event,
plus 2 x £45.00 travel.
For example Reading Festival operates Fri/Sat/Sun = £270 + £90 = £360.00 net (tax and NI is paid directly to HMRC).

If you are interested in more information please contact recruitment@workersbeercompany.com

May Draw Winners

First Prize  :  £11,408

087382 : John Dickinson (Pension Fund Member)

Second Prize  :  £5,000

125556 : Stephen Mullins of Enterprise Development (Swindon)

Third Prize  :  £2,000

087231 : Beverley Mutton (Pension Fund Member)

Fourth Prizes  :  £500

121088 : Stuart Holliday of Telephone Channels (NAC)

076475 : Malcolm Gentle of N.England/S.Scotland Area

093696 : Martyn Newcombe of Partner & Customer Management (NAC)