Now for the bad news.... if you are one of the 1.496 staff in the MOD who got the rise, you did so because without this increase the MOD would have been paying less than the minimum wage and breaking the law.In the meantime, after 6 years of imposed deals, which in the last two years have meant a real terms pay cut for half our staff, we are waiting yet again for negotiations to start on our pay increase.
At the same time we work alongside service personnel who have had their increment on their pay scale, their cost of living increase, and an increase in their X factor.
Not surprisingly therefore, with great reluctance, members have taken a democratic decision to go on strike on 10th November and I hope that you will all support this action. When you are in trouble you expect the union to be there for you. Well, it’s a two way pact. The union, or rather its members, are expecting you to be there, or rather away from work and not here, on November 10th.
Unfair, discriminatory, low pay systems are bad for us, bad for the MOD and bad for the country. We have waited long enough. Please support the action on November 10th. If you are not only prepared to be on strike but can help us on the picket line, then please let me know.
Ian Melvin
VA(NB)PCS Secretary
Ext 69081
