Regional pay is not new concept, it has been tried and seen to fail in many private companies in the distant past. In fact I would be surprised if any of the FTSE 100 companies practise this form of demarcation. For example what happens when one is working in a high pay region and the company wishes to fill a promotion post in a low pay region, what's the incentive? Large national companies such as Banks, British Telecom etc. need staff to be flexible in where they work and they do not get that by changing the pay rate each time staff move. The issue is that this coalition of public schoolboys hate the public sector and try to rubbish their employees but due to the public sector having good terms and conditions (fought for and defended by strong union support) they can attract the best motivated and qualified employees and leave the private sector at a disadvantage where they have always traditionally paid low wages.
For example, if you are a teacher, what incentive will there be to teach in a low pay area? The motivated and most qualified will move to a high pay area (of course) thus perpetuating the disadvantages that low pay areas have always suffered.
I'm pleased to read in the post above that Michael Foot wore a duffel coat rather than the donkey jacket that our truth seeking press (wrongly) liked to report at the time..
Last edited by Barney; 28/03/12 10:52 AM.
