March 2003

Pay in Wales

Discussions in Wales are continuing over the imple-mentation of pay increases from 1 April in the first year of a three year plan to bring further education pay in line with other parts of the public sector. The Welsh Assembly has allocated £9m to be spent on pay in the first year. ACM has been involved in discussions with Fforwm and Welsh Assembly officers, along with the other trade unions, to finalise the arrangements. It is also proposed to create a separate, autonomous negotiating committee for Wales.

In the first year Fforwm are planning to recommend to colleges that all staff, including managers, receive a flat-rate increase of 3% in April 2003. It is expected that employees will receive this in their April salary payment. Support staff and the lowest paid teaching staff can expect an additional 1.7%. Discussions are continuing on how the additional funding for pay should be allocated in the second and third years. ACM will be arguing strongly for money to be earmarked for the introduction of a revised pay spine for management staff and will be consulting members on this in the near future.

ACM’s Secretary in Wales, Jeff Robinson, said “We are making real progress in addressing the issue of low pay in FE in Wales. ACM is really pleased that all college employees will receive a further 3% increase in April. We will now be turning our attention to what happens in years two and three. We will be fighting hard to ensure that a chunk of the Assembly money is allocated to management staff to ensure that differentials are maintained, and that the recruitment and retention issues with management posts that colleges in Wales have been experiencing, are finally removed.”

MBA STERLING (UK) LTD TRADE UNION FINANCIAL SERVICES (TUFS)

2003 promises to be an exciting year for all at MBA Sterling as we move forward forging ever closer links with our Trade Union friends. We have decided that all literature and marketing will be re-branded as tufs or Trade Union Financial Services, demonstrating our commitment to you and fellow trade unionists.

We have also been reviewing the services we offer and have increased the number of products we are able to offer.

As many of you know we offer impartial, independent financial advice on all life, pensions and investment products. All of our Advisers are fully qualified and are selected for their strong personal ethics and professionalism. As Independents we deal with all of the major companies both within the UK and offshore, and in many cases are able to offer special terms to trade union members.

Our mortgage company offers advice on all types of mortgages from first time buyers to those who wish to release equity in their home to facilitate the purchase of a holiday – usually in sunnier climes in our experience!

On the general insurance products in addition to offering car and house and contents insurance we now offer travel, caravan and pet insurance. For those of you who have ever had to pay vet bills, this could be money well spent. Our recommendations on this are also independent as we have no link to any single provider, but search the market place for the best deals we can achieve for you.

We now have only one telephone number for all financial services products. If you need any help, guidance or advice you only have to ring 0870 2405896. Alternatively visit our website at www.mba-sterling.co.uk or email us at enquiries@mba-sterling.co.uk.

We have maintained our links with the Co-operative Bank and they are offering unsecured loans at attractive rates. Their number is 0800 591682.

We will be supporting the ACM Conference this year and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

ACM RECRUITMENT PACKS

For a supply of recruitment packs to pass on to potential members contact us by:

Telephone: 0116 275 5076

Fax: 0116 255 0548

Email: admin@acm.uk.com