Staff working for Optalis in Berkshire who are due to transfer to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council on 1 August, are celebrating after securing an additional 2% pay rise for 2024/25.
In April 2024, the majority of staff at Optalis were awarded a 5% pay increase. However around 100 workers in the statutory services and commissioning teams were told they would only receive a 3% increase. And this was put down to their impending TUPE away from Optalis.
A UNISON campaign followed seeking the same pay increase for those 100 staff as their colleagues had received. Following several months of attempted negotiation, legal advice, and a collective grievance – staff were informed today (31 July 2024) that they would receive the additional 2% payrise, backdated to 1 April 2024.
UNISON regional organiser Kieran Pearson said: “This is a victory for fairness and common sense.
“It wasn’t defensible for Optalis staff in statutory services and commissioning to receive a lower pay rise than other colleagues.
“UNISON members have worked together and stood up for what they deserved. They will be celebrating tonight having finally got confirmation they will receive the extra wages they should have had back in April.”
