Shopfloor employees at JCB have voted in favour of a 2.6% pay rise for 2014 as part of a newly-agreed three year wage deal.
The agreement on the pay proposal was reached following a vote by GMB members this week and will see around 3,200 shopfloor employees receive the pay rise from January 1, 2014.
The increase is linked to November’s Retail Price Index (RPI), which was announced yesterday (Dec 17th). Increases in 2015 and 2016 will also be linked to those years’ respective November RPI figures.
The latest deal comes into force on January 1 following the expiry on December 31st of a 3½ year pay deal agreed in 2010, which was the longest pay deal ever agreed at JCB.
The deal will affect employees at JCB’s factories in Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Rugeley, Wrexham and Foston, Derbyshire.
Chief Executive Officer Designate Graeme Macdonald, who takes over as CEO on January 1, said he is pleased to have reached agreement again on a long-term pay deal for JCB’s UK shopfloor employees.
“It’s very welcome news and gives us the stability and forward visibility we need to plan ahead as we gear up to face the challenges and opportunities we will face in 2014 and beyond. The agreement also demonstrates a very responsible approach by all concerned,” he said.
The new deal comes on the back of an announcement that JCB is to invest £150 million in the next five years to create 2,500 jobs expanding its UK manufacturing operations.
GMB Works Convenor Gordon Richardson added the three year pay deal does gives employees some guarantees for the future.
“The deal compares very favourably to those being struck at other companies both regionally and in the UK but our members have worked very hard over the term of the last deal and the outcome of the latest negotiations is a reflection on their efforts,” he said.
