Virgin Media O2 employees have accepted a pay deal that includes consolidated rises in excess of 7, 8 or 9% this year, as well as a £400 cash lump sum to be paid in June.
A total of 86.5% of staff, who are represented by trade union Communication Workers Union (CWU), voted in agreement of the offer, which is largely aimed at those earning up to £50,000 per annum.
At the eleventh hour, management agreed to pay an additional 0.5% consolidated award to workers who do not have automatic pay progression arrangements in place and those either at or below the middle of their pay range.
The deal also includes a 2% consolidated increase for 2023/24 that Virgin Media O2 planned to implement last year, and an additional £1,500 consolidated rise on annual basic salaries for all employees earning under £50,000 and pro-rated for part-time staff from 1 August.
In addition, management has made a firm commitment to review pay progression arrangements for those who do not currently have them prior to the 2024 salary review in order to understand how this could be harmonised with the rest of the organisation.
Tracey Fussey, CWU national officer, said: “We’re very pleased that the scale of the yes vote shows members share our view that that this year’s settlement will go a long way to restoring the value of base salaries before the next pay review date, while simultaneously addressing the immediate cost-of-living challenges that we know our members are facing.”
A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson added: “Following constructive dialogue with our unions and employee representation groups, we are pleased to have reached agreement on our 2023 pay deal which includes a base increase and a one-off payment of £400 for employees.
“This package, which was recommended by the CWU and all employee representation groups, is on top of the targeted cost-of-living payment of £1,400 we introduced last year to employees earning £35,000 and under, which is being paid until the summer.”
