I am the union rep for all my colleagues and it is up to me to negotiate annual pay increases. I would be in deep trouble if I didn't negotiate something that everyone was pleased with - no-one would talk to me!
I keep an eye (sometimes both eyes) on job advertisements and what salaries are being offered. I'm fairly confident that my salary is competitive, as are the salaries of my colleagues. As union rep, I have access to salary surveys and can contact my fellow union reps in other organisations for information. My employer is very good, on the whole, and I think it is important to look at the whole package - job security, prospects, holidays, pension, sick leave allowance, family-friendly policies, working environment etc - when assessing "pay". I also encourage my members to take on extra responsibilities or develop their posts in some way, perhaps by learning new skills, to give "added value" to the post and thus make a case for extra remuneration.
Raindance
