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Waterstone's denies pay freeze

08.06.07 Graeme Neill

Thirty members of Waterstone's staff have approached a retail trade union over concerns that the chain's harmonisation of terms and conditions will result in a pay freeze.

Paul Lee, national officer at the Retail Book Association, said that about 30 Waterstone's staff have contacted the trade union over fears that the harmonisation, which will unify Waterstone's and Ottakar's staff contracts, could result in staff being worse off in real terms.

"Some of the career booksellers who do not wish to become managers will keep what they have," he said. "However, they are afraid that their pay will be held at that level. The staff will be entitled to a pay review but not a pay rise . . . therefore their pay could go down in real terms." One Waterstone's member of staff said: "A wage freeze has been foisted upon the most senior bookselling staff, some of whom will be on the same pay rate for a number of years."

But a Waterstone's spokesperson was adamant that the chain is not implementing a pay freeze. "The company is budgeting for a pay increase," she said. "There are a small number of individuals who will not get a pay review because of the wider harmonisation. Everyone will be brought in line with them. We believe these existing rates are very competitive."

She added that there are other opportunities for increasing salaries within the business, such as taking a management role or secondment.

Among the proposals put to staff two weeks ago was that some pay grades would be removed, with the existing five grades streamlined into a four-grade structure. Another Waterstone's staffer claimed that this could lead to discord among senior booksellers. "Booksellers who have been at the company for years will be put onto the same grade as someone who may not have worked there as long," he said. "That usually isn't good for morale, particularly in stores with a lot of senior booksellers."

But he conceded that the harmonisation of contracts, an issue that has been facing Waterstone's since it took over Ottakar's last year, was inevitable. "It is a good idea for the company to finally deal with this issue, but unfortunately not everyone is going to be pleased with it," he said.

The Waterstone's spokesperson reiterated that the proposals are still under consultation, with the consultation period due to close by end-June. Any changes agreed would then be implemented in July. "We are still dealing with their feedback," she said. "We are harmonising the business to encourage the most experienced people [to move] through our business. We want experienced booksellers in management roles."

waterstone's Graeme Neill

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