Approximately 2,500 front-line staff working for utilities provider Anglian Water will receive a 3% pay increase in 2019, following negotiations with trade union Unite.
Due to this pay increase, a typical member of staff at the organisation is predicted to gain £750 in 2019, according to Unite. When combined with the 3% pay rise they received in 2018, this is said to amount to approximately £1,500 over the space of two years.
The latest retail price index (RPI) figure, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in April 2019, showed an increase of 2.4% since 2018; a 3% pay rise therefore outstrips inflation.
Steve Reddin, head of employee relations at Anglian Water, said: “We believe that looking after our employees is at the heart of delivering great customer service, alongside the enthusiasm and dedication our staff already have for their jobs.
“Competitive rates of pay, encouraging employee wellbeing and creating a culture driven by happier, healthier and safer staff are just some of the reasons why Anglian Water was named Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the UK for 2019.”
This pay deal will affect workers across Anglian Water's operations, which treats waste water, supplies drinking water and provides drainage across the east of England.
Adam Oakes, regional officer at Unite, said: “Thousands of workers across the east of England are getting an inflation beating increase this year, on top of a significant pay increase last year. At a time of economic uncertainty it pays to have a trade union in the workplace negotiating pay.
“The deal makes a big difference to workers at Anglian Water by helping them to keep up with the rising cost of living. Unite’s representatives at the company have done a great job to have negotiated a good pay deal in difficult circumstances.”