Connect and Vodafone open pay talks in Regional Operations North and South

We have met with the company to kick off pay negotiations for 2008.

These talks will cover all employees who are covered by Connect and Vodafone's Recognition Agreement in Regional Operations North and South.

Your Connect reps have scheduled a series of meetings with the company to work towards negotiating an acceptable offer. As you would expect in doing so we clearly need to be confident that any proposals deliver on the issues of importance to our members in the unit. Subject to how negotiations develop our intention is to work towards the usual timescales for pay review implementation (effective from 1 July 2008).

Thank you to the many members who took part in the recent Connect pay survey and contacted us to express your opinions and expectations. The views expressed on the shortcomings of the 2007 pay review will inform our approach in seeking to negotiate an increase in the pay bill for 2008 that enables members to see the company address the key concerns around the negative impact of Global Banding, for example.

We will keep members up to date with developments and give members the final say on negotiations through a ballot.

Please note that we will be unable to ballot people who are not Connect members on any proposals. If you have any colleagues who are not yet members it would be a good time for them to join to have a say in their pay review. Please ask them to visit www.connectuk.org/join