Ulsterbus Company News

Ulsterbus Inspector grades 2009 pay award

24 November 2009 After postal ballot of members TSSA have agreed to accept the pay offer from Translink.

The results of the ballot were as follows:

Yes: 75%
No: 25%

The offer is as follows: Year one:

1.0% increase in pay on all rates of pay from 1st April 2009

Year two:

1.0% increase in pay or RPI increase less 0.25%, whichever is greater up to a maximum increase of 3%

for example:

if RPI is 3.5% then the increase will be 3.0%
if RPI is 3.2% then the increase will be 2.95%
if RPI is 2.8% then the increase will be 2.55%
if RPI is 1.1% then the increase will be 1.0%
if RPI is -1.6% then the increase will be 1.0%

if RPI is above 4.5% (using the government RPI data for February 2010) the TSSA reserve the right to reopen negotiations with Translink.
3 days guaranteed bereavement leave for immediate family normally to be taken within 7 days of the bereavement
.

It was agreed during paytalks to bring some issues to the Consultative group. Below is listed a update from the Consultative meeting held on the 19th November.

1. On the issue of Timing of monthly payroll and advance Overtime Payments.

The company agreed to consult with their finance department and contact the TSSA with their findings and also that a representative from the finance department attend the next consultative meeting.

2. Approach to Flexible Working

It was agreed that the TSSA would put in writing their proposals on this issue and that a separate meeting would be set up for discussion.

3. The New Defect Reporting System

The system has been piloted in Craigavon, Banbridge, and Antrim and would be further piloted in Lisburn and Coleraine in the near future. However the reps expressed their concerns on who are the best placed to enter the information onto the system (engineers or inspectors) and pointed out that as the information was entered retrospectively, so does not work in "real time", it was actually a defect recording, as opposed to a reporting, system and as such should be inputted by engineers. It was accepted by the Company that every location was different and with issues including sub-depots and the location in which the defect book is kept, whomever inputs the information should be decided at local level by the Service Delivery Manager in consultation with staff in each location.

4. Assault Pay

There was some debate regarding this issue which resulted in the Company agreeing to put in writing further proposals regarding assault pay.

5. Redundancies

The Company stated that at present there are no plans for redundancies, voluntary or otherwise.

We will continue to keep members updated as we work through this issues.

Patrick McCusker: Acting Senior Irish Organiser

Registered Office: Nerney's Court, Off Temple Street, Dublin 1