Ofsted workers vote to reject pay offer

(31/03/08) UNISON members in Ofsted have voted overwhelmingly (94%) to reject an unfair and divisive three-year pay offer - also rejected by PCS members.

Ofsted can have been in no doubt about the strength of feeling among members, yet it has still moved to impose the pay offer without agreement.

UNISON and PCS have written to Ofsted to advise them that we are in dispute and that we view this unilateral action as extremely disappointing and misguided.

We remain open to further negotiations and urge them to come forward with an improved offer.

We are now working closely together to consider our next steps. Further updates will be issued to members shortly and will also appear on this page.

Reasons for rejection…

The offer amounts to a pay cut in real terms for most members. Not just for 2007 which is long overdue, but for 2008 and 2009 as well. In the first year of the offer there is a guaranteed offer of just 2% non-consolidated. In years two and three this ‘guarantee’ drops to just 1%. Meanwhile RPI inflation, the amount you need to stand still, is running at over 4%.

Ofsted has chosen to push through a new pay system which is unfair and unacceptable.

• An unfair ‘single salary’ system
• No pay progression
• An untested performance-related bonus scheme
• Higher paid grades favoured at the expense of lower paid
• Worsening the undervaluing of jobs in the Children’s Directorate
• No equality-proofing of the large pay gaps between grades

In a tight public sector pay environment Ofsted has sought to divide and rule. While over 40% of all schools inspectors (HMI) get over 6% in the first two years, 20% of childcare inspectors and half of all social care inspectors and inspection managers have their salary frozen for three years. Of those getting an increase in these grades around half qualify for less than 2%.

If you work for Ofsted and are angry about pay – join UNISON now! Just go to http://www.unison.org.uk/join/index.asp for details of how to join