Our latest pay settlement data represents something of a milestone, marking 25 years from the first electronically collated figures published by IRS. When IRS first began collecting pay settlement data in 1971, it was not uncommon to see pay settlements and wage rates differentiate between employees of different ages and sex.

Pay awards were also driven by much higher levels of inflation and interest rates than we are seeing today. With inflation at 0%, and interest rates at just 0.5%, pay awards are steadily dropping. Our 25-year history of pay awards examines the pattern of pay awards over the past quarter of a century, including its relationship with headline inflation - a key determinant of the level of pay awards.

Other top stories in this issue include:

• Pay for general practice nurses falls behind NHS rates
• Pensions professionals: recession-busting pay rises in prospect
• Equal pay claims account for one-third of employment tribunal claims

Also in this issue we present detailed coverage of three new pay settlements: North West Evening Mail, the flat glass industry and the thermal insulation contracting industry.

IRS and salary survey specialists CELRE are conducting a major survey of benefits and allowances packages. Participating organisations will be able to benchmark their practices and experiences in all areas of benefits, and be entered into a prize draw to win £100.

Sheila Attwood
Editor,
Pay and Benefits Bulletin

Pay reports recently added to the site:

Flat glass industry: 3% basic increase

Thermal insulation contracting industry: 6% increase to minimum rates

North West Evening Mail: 3.25% inflation-linked increase for NUJ grades

Pay review update: 3 April 2009

The latest pay review update table contains pay settlements at the Bank of England, British Sugar, HSBC Bank, Lafarge Cement, the NHS, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Vauxhall Motors and many more.

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Statistics and forecasts

The datafile contains the most recent inflation, earnings and labour market statistics, pay settlement data and inflation and earnings forecasts. Our panel of City and academic forecasters expects retail prices index (RPI) inflation to fall to -3.3% in the third quarter of 2009. Earnings growth is also expected to reach a low point in the third quarter, at 2.6%.

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From the blog

Launched and run by the editorial team that produces XpertHR and the IRS e-journals, the Employment Intelligence blog is regularly updated with news, comment and links to the latest employment developments. Recent posts include:

• Happy birthday to the national minimum wage
  
• Public sector pay 2009/10: 1.5% pay increases for many senior public sector workers
  
• Public sector pay deals will be honoured
• RPI inflation falls to 0% in February 2009
• Pay awards fall to six-year low

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