Prospect has negotiated a three-year pay deal, and a recognition agreement, on behalf of members at EDF’s West Burton B power station in North Yorkshire.

Under the deal, most staff will receive between 8% and 11% over the three years.

The company and the unions – Prospect, Unite and GMB – were keen to provide certainty and stability for employees against the backdrop of a volatile energy market.

The three-year offer provides for:

• all staff to move to the new pay structure in year one (2020). Virtually all staff will also receive a pay progression step worth more than 3%
• an additional a 1% increase in salaries and associated shift allowance where appropriate, effective from 1 April 2020 so everyone gets at least 1%
• a 2% increase in salaries and associated shift allowance where appropriate, from 1 April 2021
• a 2% increase in salaries and associated shift allowance where appropriate, from 1 April 2022.

Prospect negotiator Mike Macdonald explained that the headline increase in the first year is low because the cost of extending pay progression is more than 3%; but most staff will receive an increase of more than 4% during 2020.

The union expects most staff to receive at least one further progression step before 31 March 2023. So most staff will receive between 8% and 11% over the three-year life of the deal.

Macdonald said Prospect was recommending that members accept the offer.

He said: “This offer shows the benefits of union recognition – by working together, we have found a solution that encourages members to get the skills the business needs. So unions have delivered better rewards in a more efficient business.”

The increase will be reflected in April’s pay. Each employee will be receive a letter confirming which pay band and point they have been mapped to in mid-April.

Employees will also be invited to attend a pre-job brief with their line managers who will share the revised Reward Progression Model, process and associated pay scales.

Background

Prospect has been meeting EDF monthly since October 2019 when the overwhelming majority of staff at West Burton B (CCGT) voted in favour of trade union recognition.

EDF, Prospect, Unite and the GMB have agreed:

• a recognition agreement on how they will work together
• terms of reference for future WBB Partnership Forum meetings
• a revised Reward Progression Model that will include new pay bands and pay points linked to competencies; an annual progression review that will provide an opportunity to gain competency progression and agree work and training that gets people to the next step; the vast majority of staff will be eligible for further pay progression over the next three years.