The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) gained statutory Trade Union recognition for the RSA’s more junior staff in December 2022. They are recognised for collective bargaining in respect of pay, hours and benefits.
We have been in a period of negotiation with IWGB for the across-the-board pay award for this financial year for the group of staff they represent (the bargaining unit). We have not reached agreement at this stage.
Our aim is to do the very best we can to support our staff team and their well-being, while at the same time ensuring the financial sustainability of the RSA both of which are essential to our success. We must comply too with our legal obligations as a charity.
As directed by our Board of Trustees, and after a number of years of running operating deficits (due in large part to investing over £2million of reserves during the Coronavirus pandemic to preserve jobs), financial sustainability means the RSA running a balanced budget on a sustained basis, without accessing our limited reserves. We have communicated transparently throughout negotiations with union representatives the need for any pay increases to be affordable within the financial constraints of our charity and our contractual pay policy.
Acting in line with the budgetary constraints we face, the average pay increase offered to staff in the bargaining unit is approximately 7%, well above the rate of inflation. Pay awards include those made for promotions, performance pay, and an increase in our minimum salary to £25,500 per annum which is around a third higher than the National Minimum Wage. All eligible staff (excepting the Executive team) have received at least a £1000 pay increase this financial year and have been offered a further £500.
Some staff have taken strike action in recent months and propose to do so again on 30 November. This means that there may be some pickets outside RSA House during this period. Please contact us on [email protected] with any queries.
We have urged the union to engage in conciliatory discussions (including facilitation by ACAS) so that concerns can be resolved quickly and amicably in the best interests of our charity, our exceptional staff team and our Fellows.