We have now formally concluded a Review at National Level of the progress of Phase 2 Flexibility Plans and the payment dates for the £400 to be received by those Units that have jointly agreed plans in place.

Phase 2 Flexibility Plans

Although initially progress was slow and the original target dates for completion were not achieved out of the 1500 plus Units there are now less than 150 that have not concluded agreement.

Payment Dates

It has been confirmed that all of the Units that had signed plans in place by 27th March 2008, have started implementation and given a commitment that their plan would be fully implemented to time will receive the £400 payment on the 25th April 2008 (Part-timers receiving a payment pro-rata to their conditioned hours).

To ensure the outstanding Units also still have the opportunity to receive the £400 an additional payment date has been jointly agreed against the following criteria:

Qualifying Criteria

Providing Units/offices have agreed plans in place by no later than Friday 2nd May 2008 they will receive the £400 payment on 23rd May 2008.

Phase 3 Trials

It was jointly agreed that we would not proceed with the Phase 3 Trials in any of the nominated Offices until they had completed their Phase 2 Flexibility Plans.

Now that the great majority have plans in place we have discussed and agreed Joint Guidance for the trial process with revised timescales to secure the 1.5% pay increase backdated to the 7th April 2008.