This is a recent Press release

Managers and specialists at the Met Office will be taking strike action on
Wednesday 24 February 2016. The Prospect members will be lobbying
parliament, putting their case to their MPs and mounting picket lines in a
bid to get the government to grant the Met Office more freedom in how it
rewards its staff.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The union says that government pay policy is restricting the Met Office's
ability to:

a.. close the equal pay gap
b.. recruit and retain the specialist staff it needs
c.. match pay rates in the private sector (the Met Office is 20-30%
behind).
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average national pay
gap is 9.4%. The Met Office carried out an equal pay audit in 2014-2015
which showed the gap at 10.7%.

Prospect says the Met Office is a successful, efficient and growing
business, returning profit to the government. It provides a benefit
multiplier on public spending rarely equalled elsewhere. It can afford to
reward people properly but is not permitted that freedom.

Prospect negotiator Helen Stevens said: "Prospect members do not take this
action lightly. They are loyal and committed to their work but they believe
that the current pay policy is damaging the Met Office and its ability to
serve its customers."

Stevens pointed out that government talks the talk on fair and equal pay,
but does not walk the walk.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, urged successful business to pay their
employees more in a speech to the British Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
[https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...rce-pm-speech]

Earlier this month, the women and equalities minister, Nicky Morgan,
announced government plans to get rid of the equal pay gap
[https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...gap-reporting].

"The Met Office modernised its pay system in 2009, but the system has never
been allowed to work. The impact is that women are being discriminated
against and the Met Office is unable to recruit specialist staff.

"The Met Office needs these people to maintain the public weather service
and realise the considerable benefits of the investment in the Met Office's
new super computer.

"The pay problems at the Met Office would not cost the taxpayer a penny
extra to resolve. Prospect is simply calling on the government to give the
Met Office the freedom to manage its own paybill," added Stevens.

Why Prospect members are taking action

"More than five years of pay restraint is taking its toll on our lives, our
families and our morale at home and at work. We are demonstrably undervalued
compared to private sector scientists, but still we slave away on meagre
wages on one of the most important issues of our age."

"To have a vocation is fine - but you need fair pay to keep your family
well."

"When we work hard to make our employer efficient and world-class, why can
we not get a fair part of the reward? Is that not what this government says
is fair and essential?"

"British pride in meteorological science is at risk due to government's
insufficient investment in human resources."

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

On Monday, 22 February 2016 15:17:14 UTC, wrote:
This is a recent Press release

Managers and specialists at the Met Office will be taking strike action on
Wednesday 24 February 2016. The Prospect members will be lobbying
parliament, putting their case to their MPs and mounting picket lines in a
bid to get the government to grant the Met Office more freedom in how it
rewards its staff.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The union says that government pay policy is restricting the Met Office's
ability to:

a.. close the equal pay gap
b.. recruit and retain the specialist staff it needs
c.. match pay rates in the private sector (the Met Office is 20-30%
behind).
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average national pay
gap is 9.4%. The Met Office carried out an equal pay audit in 2014-2015
which showed the gap at 10.7%.

Prospect says the Met Office is a successful, efficient and growing
business, returning profit to the government. It provides a benefit
multiplier on public spending rarely equalled elsewhere. It can afford to
reward people properly but is not permitted that freedom.

Prospect negotiator Helen Stevens said: "Prospect members do not take this
action lightly. They are loyal and committed to their work but they believe
that the current pay policy is damaging the Met Office and its ability to
serve its customers."

Stevens pointed out that government talks the talk on fair and equal pay,
but does not walk the walk.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, urged successful business to pay their
employees more in a speech to the British Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
[https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...rce-pm-speech]

Earlier this month, the women and equalities minister, Nicky Morgan,
announced government plans to get rid of the equal pay gap
[https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...gap-reporting].

"The Met Office modernised its pay system in 2009, but the system has never
been allowed to work. The impact is that women are being discriminated
against and the Met Office is unable to recruit specialist staff.

"The Met Office needs these people to maintain the public weather service
and realise the considerable benefits of the investment in the Met Office's
new super computer.

"The pay problems at the Met Office would not cost the taxpayer a penny
extra to resolve. Prospect is simply calling on the government to give the
Met Office the freedom to manage its own paybill," added Stevens.

Why Prospect members are taking action

"More than five years of pay restraint is taking its toll on our lives, our
families and our morale at home and at work. We are demonstrably undervalued
compared to private sector scientists, but still we slave away on meagre
wages on one of the most important issues of our age."

"To have a vocation is fine - but you need fair pay to keep your family
well."

"When we work hard to make our employer efficient and world-class, why can
we not get a fair part of the reward? Is that not what this government says
is fair and essential?"

"British pride in meteorological science is at risk due to government's
insufficient investment in human resources."

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

The trouble is I am not sure what support they have from the general public.
As a local lady in my village said to me yesterday:

'I don't why they are asking for more pay . They never get the forecast right.'

;-)

Len
Wembury

-------------------------------------------------

On Mon, 22 Feb 2016 08:22:40 -0800 (PST), Len Wood wrote:

On Monday, 22 February 2016 15:17:14 UTC, wrote:
This is a recent Press release

Managers and specialists at the Met Office will be taking strike action on
Wednesday 24 February 2016. The Prospect members will be lobbying
parliament, putting their case to their MPs and mounting picket lines in a
bid to get the government to grant the Met Office more freedom in how it
rewards its staff.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The union says that government pay policy is restricting the Met Office's
ability to:

a.. close the equal pay gap
b.. recruit and retain the specialist staff it needs
c.. match pay rates in the private sector (the Met Office is 20-30%
behind).
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average national pay
gap is 9.4%. The Met Office carried out an equal pay audit in 2014-2015
which showed the gap at 10.7%.

Prospect says the Met Office is a successful, efficient and growing
business, returning profit to the government. It provides a benefit
multiplier on public spending rarely equalled elsewhere. It can afford to
reward people properly but is not permitted that freedom.

Prospect negotiator Helen Stevens said: "Prospect members do not take this
action lightly. They are loyal and committed to their work but they believe
that the current pay policy is damaging the Met Office and its ability to
serve its customers."

Stevens pointed out that government talks the talk on fair and equal pay,
but does not walk the walk.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, urged successful business to pay their
employees more in a speech to the British Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
[https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...rce-pm-speech]

Earlier this month, the women and equalities minister, Nicky Morgan,
announced government plans to get rid of the equal pay gap
[https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...gap-reporting].

"The Met Office modernised its pay system in 2009, but the system has never
been allowed to work. The impact is that women are being discriminated
against and the Met Office is unable to recruit specialist staff.

"The Met Office needs these people to maintain the public weather service
and realise the considerable benefits of the investment in the Met Office's
new super computer.

"The pay problems at the Met Office would not cost the taxpayer a penny
extra to resolve. Prospect is simply calling on the government to give the
Met Office the freedom to manage its own paybill," added Stevens.

Why Prospect members are taking action

"More than five years of pay restraint is taking its toll on our lives, our
families and our morale at home and at work. We are demonstrably undervalued
compared to private sector scientists, but still we slave away on meagre
wages on one of the most important issues of our age."

"To have a vocation is fine - but you need fair pay to keep your family
well."

"When we work hard to make our employer efficient and world-class, why can
we not get a fair part of the reward? Is that not what this government says
is fair and essential?"

"British pride in meteorological science is at risk due to government's
insufficient investment in human resources."

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

The trouble is I am not sure what support they have from the general public.
As a local lady in my village said to me yesterday:

'I don't why they are asking for more pay . They never get the forecast right.'

;-)

Len
Wembury

-------------------------------------------------

The rumour mill at the golf club today was saying that 52,000 weathermen will be
striking on Wednesday! Apparently 'it was in the newspapers'. I wonder where
they have all been hiding!

The same rumour mill says that the Met Office has forecasters stationed all
across the Peak District telephoning regular reports to Manchester Airport to
aid the safety of aircraft on descent across the Peak District. Apparently, says
the rumour, it is important for the controllers to know whether or not it is
foggy in Buxton as that affects the flight path of the aircraft!

These rumours are being bandied about by people of good intelligence who have
held down responsible jobs in their lifetime. I despair :-(

There was little support for the strike from the golfers. The general view was
that the forcasts for Buxton were usually wrong and they wouldn't be missed.

I wonder how the union has worked out that Met Office pay is 20-30% below that
in the private sector? Is that basic salary scales or total salary and benefits?
It makes a difference. I doubt if private sector organisations would be willing
to disclose that sort of information anyway. No-one has asked me what I earn and
if they did they would be told it was none of their business.

IMHO one result of the strike is that it is likely to alienate customers.
Striking by staff in a single organisation is seldom a good idea when there are
alternative suppliers of the services.

--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.
http://peakdistrictweather.org

match pay rates in the private sector (the Met Office is 20-30%*
behind).*


Are you really serious! Were we not told a few years back that we were ahead of the private sector, which was why role pay was brought in. This was management's view supported by Prospect. Are you now saying that you got it wrong?

On Monday, February 22, 2016 at 12:15:59 PM UTC-5, Norman Lynagh wrote:

snip

I wonder how the union has worked out that Met Office pay is 20-30% below that
in the private sector? Is that basic salary scales or total salary and benefits?
It makes a difference. I doubt if private sector organisations would be willing
to disclose that sort of information anyway. No-one has asked me what I earn and
if they did they would be told it was none of their business.

========

That interests me, too. Is the union comparing with what they might deem "equivalent" positions in private sector science or strictly with private sector meteorology? If the latter then I would be very surprised indeed at that 20-30%. And as you say it would make quite a difference if that were basic pay or with benefits.

Stephen.

In message , Len
Wood writes
The trouble is I am not sure what support they have from the general
public. As a local lady in my village said to me yesterday:

'I don't why they are asking for more pay . They never get the forecast
right.'

I wonder how much she was going by the spate of scare stories in the
press, not realising that most of them have no Met Office input at all.
--
John Hall
"Honest criticism is hard to take,
particularly from a relative, a friend,
an acquaintance, or a stranger." Franklin P Jones

On 22/02/2016 16:22, Len Wood wrote:


'I don't why they are asking for more pay . They never get the forecast right.'

;-)

Performance related pay anyone?

--
Col

Bolton, Lancashire
160m asl
Snow videos:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3QvmL4UWBmHFMKWiwYm_gg

"Stephen Davenport" wrote in message
...
On Monday, February 22, 2016 at 12:15:59 PM UTC-5, Norman Lynagh wrote:

snip

I wonder how the union has worked out that Met Office pay is 20-30% below
that
in the private sector? Is that basic salary scales or total salary and
benefits?
It makes a difference. I doubt if private sector organisations would be
willing
to disclose that sort of information anyway. No-one has asked me what I
earn and
if they did they would be told it was none of their business.

========

That interests me, too. Is the union comparing with what they might deem
"equivalent" positions in private sector science or strictly with private
sector meteorology? If the latter then I would be very surprised indeed at
that 20-30%. And as you say it would make quite a difference if that were
basic pay or with benefits.
===============

Most people in the MetO are not forecasters. Many are in IT, research
(climate etc) or human resources/marketing/business etc. So the comparison
is not with meteorology sector only.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

"Col" wrote in message
...
On 22/02/2016 16:22, Len Wood wrote:


'I don't why they are asking for more pay . They never get the forecast
right.'

;-)

Performance related pay anyone?


All Met Office staff have performance related pay. And yes at some stations
forecast performance will affect pay indirectly. But I repeat *most* staff
in the MetO are not forecasters or indeed work in that area.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

On Monday, February 22, 2016 at 1:49:12 PM UTC-5, wrote:
"Stephen Davenport" wrote in message
...
On Monday, February 22, 2016 at 12:15:59 PM UTC-5, Norman Lynagh wrote:

snip

I wonder how the union has worked out that Met Office pay is 20-30% below
that
in the private sector? Is that basic salary scales or total salary and
benefits?
It makes a difference. I doubt if private sector organisations would be
willing
to disclose that sort of information anyway. No-one has asked me what I
earn and
if they did they would be told it was none of their business.

========

That interests me, too. Is the union comparing with what they might deem
"equivalent" positions in private sector science or strictly with private
sector meteorology? If the latter then I would be very surprised indeed at
that 20-30%. And as you say it would make quite a difference if that were
basic pay or with benefits.
===============

Most people in the MetO are not forecasters. Many are in IT, research
(climate etc) or human resources/marketing/business etc. So the comparison
is not with meteorology sector only.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
---------------------------------------------

Right. Thanks.

However, that is also true of the private sector. I wasn't assuming only forecasters. Private sector meteorological service companies also have IT, research, HR, marketing and sales departments.

Stephen.