Changes to the recognition agreement - Unite update - FAQs
Updated: Nov 13
Unite the union in LBG - recognition agreement follow up comms - FAQs
Q 1. How has this happened?
It’s important to recognise that these changes have not come about because Unite the union wanted to alter the recognition agreement and who it covered - Unite above all values the importance and benefit of collective bargaining for ALL workers. It’s through collective bargaining and our campaigns that we have secured the Covid pay protections, cost of living payments, secured a colleague mortgage benefit for all staff (the only one left in the sector), secured a two year pay deal with next year's pay projected to be above inflation (likely being the best in the sector) and mounted the push back on compressed hours with our collective grievance securing the fact (outlined in management guidance) that you can SAY NO when asked to give up your compressed working arrangements.
2023 recap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiCDDO2hTAQ
2022 recap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyGMG7PjAY
The changes to the RA with the unions have happened because the bank instigated recognition agreements talks with the unions and they were only willing to recognise the unions at grades where we had membership of 50% (levels required for statutory recognition). Even if we took further action, we would not have satisfied this requirement to have 50% of D-G colleagues as union members and thus force statutory recognition. Recognition was at the gift of the employer for colleagues at D-G and LBG has decided a people’s forum is the way to go - this is not our decision - it’s the banks.
Q 2. Why didn’t Unite warn us ahead of this happening and why wasn’t I consulted?
Talks with the bank were embargoed and due to the nature of the banks embargo the unions were unable to communicate to members during negotiations. The negotiations with LBG were led by Unite National Officers and agreement/consultation was sought via the Unite in LBG National Company Committee (LBG workers who are elected workplace representatives across the bank) following advice and guidance from Unite the union. The position is not one we are happy with, but as referenced above, we did not have the relevant membership in the D+ grades to secure or force recognition for the entire workforce. In order for us to resecure recognition within the D+ grades we need to grow. This requires all members encouraging fellow workers to sign up to Unite so we can strengthen our position and push back against the banks decision. If you would like to get involved with this effort then please get in touch via LBG.Support@unitetheunion.org
Q 3. What does this mean for the redundancy terms, pay and other terms and conditions, can the bank change them without agreement for D+?
The bank have decided to remove the unions as the voice of workers in the D+ grades. The People’s forum will now be the body responsible for consultative matters and engagements on terms and conditions. This includes future organisation change, restructures, job losses, pay and terms and conditions. Unite believe it is only through unions that you have an independent voice and years of experience and insight from the finance sector to secure the best possible pay, terms and conditions and to protect jobs. Unite is not going anywhere and if the bank try and water down existing Unite secured protections and terms then we will not hesitate, with impacted member support, to campaign against it. Unite is also here to support you during individual impacts when it comes to organisational change.
Q 4. Will the people forums actually be able to have an impact on the consultations or will the bank just implement the changes regardless?
Unite issued a statement about the People’s forum on the 30th October, covering what the forum can and cannot do, this can found here - https://www.uniteinlbg.org/post/unite-statement-regarding-the-lbg-people-forum-and-why-unions-matter As mentioned, Unite is not going anywhere and if the bank try and water down existing Unite secured protections and terms then we will not hesitate, with impacted member support, to campaign against it. But we should not be complacent and wait for attacks on current protections. We need to grow in the D+ grades so we can push back should the need arise.
Q 5. What can Unite do for me now?
Unite is still here for you and can support you with :-
Individual free legal representation and support
Campaign on the issues that matter to you in the workplace
Provide advice and support from local and nationally trained Unite workplace representatives with years of experience representing and winning for LBG workers
Unite are encouraging D+ members to come forward and become workplace reps so we can kick start campaigns that matter to you and your fellow colleagues. This is vital in our mission to resecure recognition within the D+ grades and to grow. This requires all members encouraging fellow workers to sign up to Unite so we can strengthen our position and push back against the banks decision. Get in touch if you need help and assistance or if you’d like to become a workplace representative by emailing :- LBG.Support@unitetheunion.org
Q 6. Will my fees be reduced given the removal of collective bargaining?
Membership rates are decided by the Unite Executive Council and the new enhanced rate of membership applies to all members (unless you are retired, low earnings, unwaged) and the rate of membership fee is based on the totality of the benefits you can receive, such as:-
Free legal support
Access to trained and experienced workplace reps to support you in the workplace
Fatal Accident Benefit up to £50,000/€55,000
Permanent Disability Benefit up to £25,000/€30,000
Loss of Limb/Eye/Digit Benefits up to £10,000/€12,500
Sickness benefit up to £1,275/€1,530
Maternity/Adoption/Shared Parental Benefit up to £390/€468
Paternity Benefit up to £30/€36
Convalescent Benefit: Up to two weeks stay at the View Hotel Eastbourne
Reduced Income Benefit
Unite education bursary
Additional member benefits information can be found on the Unite the union website - www.unitetheunion.org You can contact the Unite executive council if you wish to raise further questions about membership rates and benefits, contact emails below:
Q 7. Has my personal data (membership data) been shared with LBG?
Unite has not shared detailed membership data about our members. We want to make this abundantly clear. No personal data such as name, job title, location, address, age etc. have been shared with Lloyds Banking Group. Unite policy is clear on how we handle member data - we will not share or breach GDPR when it comes to membership data. As part of the recognition talks with the bank it was incumbent on Unite to provide high level membership figures (not personal membership data) in order to be part of the new recognition talks and subsequent agreement (to satisfy recognition thresholds - 50%) Threshold we would have needed to meet in order to obtain statutory recognition via the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC)
Q 8. What’s the plan now to fight back and next steps?
We would urge you to stick with Unite so we can grow in the D, E, F and beyond grades so we can secure the necessary thresholds to get collective bargaining back for you. We will be looking to hold further dialogue with our D+ members in the coming weeks to discuss the changes further and how we can together campaign on issues such as the skills agreement so we can extend this to all grades. This will require both growth in membership in these grades as well as member involvement in any campaign activity. We will be issuing invites to D+ member meetings in the coming weeks so we can talk through the changes and plan our way forward together.
Please continue to send in your questions and concerns and we will update the FAQ document which will be housed on the Unite in LBG website under the news section - www.uniteinlbg.org
Invites for the D+ member meetings will be issued in the coming weeks.
In solidarity
Your Unite in LBG team
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