18 May 2001 Volume 6 Issue 19 Paragraphs 217 - 225
WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY
TELECOMS
217 BIS Issues
218 Project Find
219 BT Vehicles in Ignite Solutions
POSTAL
220 Service Delivery Pay
2000 "Added Years" Non Pensionable Lump Sum
221 Annual Conference 2001
— Postal Industry and Section Conferences (1)
222 Annual Conference 2001
— Postal Industry Conferences (2)
223 Annual Conference 2001
— Postal Industry and Section Conferences (3)
224 Enabling Agreement
between Logistics & Contract Distribution and the Union for the Use
of Scanning Equipment
225 Annual Conference 2001
Postal Industry Conference: Section 5
SPECIAL BRIEFINGS
SB/201 Officerial Changes (Jeannie Drake, DGS{T))
SB/202 Marks & Spencer Demonstration (Derek Hodgson, G.S.)
SB/203 Six month Programme (Dave Ward, Alvescot)
SB/204 Independent Enquiry: Royal Mail (John Keggie, DGS{P})
SB/205 Independent Enquiry: Royal Mail (John Keggie, DGS{P})
SB/206 Way Forward: Admin. Grades (Tony Kearns)
SB/207 BT Facilities 2001 /2002 (Nigel Cotgrove)
SB/208 Individual Performance Standards (John Keggie, DGS(P})
SB/209 SPDO Work Time Learning Mail (John Keggie, DGS{P})
SB/210 RoMEC Cleaning Services Pay Review (Billy Hayes)
SB/211 Marks & Spencer Demonstration (Derek Hodgson, G.S.)
SB/212 PBS Recovery (John Keggie, DGS{P})
SB/213 Cable & Wireless Pay Petition (Donald McDonald)
TELECOMS
217 BIS Issues
A team from CWU head office met with Iris Goodwin, BIS HR Manager and
John McGee, BT Retail Employee Relations on 3 May to try and progress
a number of outstanding BIS issues. What follows is a summary of the discussion:
1 .Identification of Redeployees
Following the attempt by BIS to identify 250 redeployees earlier this year, the current status on these individuals is as follows:
Resigned, retired, transferred 31
Left under Newstart 27
Redeployed within BIS 20
Transferred to CS 24
Redeployed elsewhere in BT 12
This leaves a balance of 136 people declared surplus of which 71 are in MCS and 65 in ECS. The figure of 65 includes 50 posts dedicated to simple shift and change activity, which is the subject of discussions between BIS and customer service about who should carry out this work. BIS have now undertaken an assessment of these 136 individuals and believe that 100 of them are unsuitable to be considered for posts in customer service. These 100 will be managed by 2 particular project managers, 1 allocated to MCS and 1 to ECS in order to continue to try and find them appropriate alternative employment within the BT Group of Companies.
The remaining 36 are deemed as suitable for being considered for transfer to customer service. There are twenty- four B2 grades, one Cl grade and eleven C3 grades. The key criteria apart from health has been location. All the posts that CS have available to be filled are to the south of Oxford and east of Bournemouth. All vacancies are at the B2 grade.
In response to submissions from the CWU, BIS will look at possible control vacancies to minimise the number of people who are on PPP.
BIS will write to all 136 individuals affected and will be looking to effect moves to customer service on 24 May. These moves will be under the Newgrid displaced persons procedure, which does of course have an appeal mechanism built in if one is deemed to be necessary. CWU raised the point that non-customer paid overtime is being worked in both MCS and ECS and that this should lead to a review of the resourcing model. BIS undertook to investigate and respond.
2.Future resourcing needs
BIS have committed to a formal presentation of their QPB either in late May or early June.
3.Attendance Patterns
BIS are mindful of their need to open early discussions with the Union on how to further Newgrid reductions in the length of the working week would be accommodated into that business unit. Management have not yet decided on their own strategy for dealing with this but expect to do so in time to have a joint meeting with us during June.
4.On-Call Standby
CWU raised concerns that there was no consistent or coherent approach to the use of on-call standby in MCS and also in parts of ECS. BT confirmed that they would continue to abide by the national agreements for daily, monthly and contractual on-call arrangements. BT indicated they would be willing to offer clarification and arrange a further joint meeting specifically on this subject if the need existed.
5.ECS Regrading
CWU raised concern that there had been no feedback from the recent regrading exercise and in particular no visibility for B2s who had been unsuccessful in seeking a regrading insitue to C2. The Union also raised concerns about a number of anomalies relating to the criteria that had been used to differentiate those regraded to C2 from those who remained at the B2 grade. BT undertook to provide detailed feedback to the Union and to progress particular cases of concern as necessary. An overview of the numbers and locations of the successful 03 applicants will also be provided.
6.SSOs
The Union expressed strong concern about the apparent inability of BT to provide any information relating to SSOs. BT committed themselves to remedying this apparent deficiency. The Union in particular raised 3 concerns:
•The removal of SSOs' day subsistence entitlement, unilaterally, from 1 October 2000. So far only the ETG day subsistence buy-out has been paid whereas SSO day subsistence is calculated on a different basis. BT undertook to investigate and respond and remedy any financial deficiencies as soon as possible.
•CWU also expressed concern that a job description for the SSOs was not being provided; again it was agreed that this deficiency would be made good.
•Finally, CWU expressed concern at apparent lapses in BT's duty of care to SSOs, particularly with regards to accommodation when they were on site visits. The Union argued that there needed to be a critical evaluation on what is being booked for SSOs travelling on work purposes. BT agreed in principle and agreed to investigate the matter and respond to us.
7.APR's and Standards
It was agreed the interim APRs will be done as and when necessary to ensure that everyone has a reasonably up-to-date APR when/if they need one. The company noted concerns raised by the Union in correspondence to MCS regarding standards that appeared in guidance to MCS managers for conducting APRs. It was agreed to review the position once the company had responded to the Union's correspondence of 25 April.
8.Phoenix in DDS
The Union indicated it was generally in support of the Phoenix system but was critical of the way in which DDS had sought to circumscribe the process by misquoting the summer leave period. A copy of the Southeast ITBU briefing document, 11/01 was handed to management who agreed to consider its contents and respond. An updating meeting would be offered to the Union.
9.Product Launch Meetings
The Union expressed concern that the commitment to product launch meetings was not being honoured. BT indicated that they would ensure that it was.
10.DDS Job Descriptions
The company and the Union reviewed problems associated with the dialogue on DDS Job Descriptions and some misinformation that appeared to be circulating in the fields. It was agreed that a date would be arranged for an early future meeting.
11.Meridian Business Club Job Descriptions — JEDI
The Union expressed concerns that this Dl job description had been issued without consultation and this caused needless tension in the relationship between the company and the Union. BT agreed to investigate and expressed concern if the normal consultative process was being by-passed.
12.ECS Business Club
The company was able to confirm to the Union that the recent Business Club regrading exercise had resulted in 41 posts at C2 and 34 at C3 with a further 9 co-ordinators also at C2. The Union noted that this exceeded the 60/40 expected split between the two grades.
13.Officerial Responsibility for BIS
With effect from Monday 7 May, Officerial responsibility for BIS (engineering) has moved from myself to Ian Cuthbert. I would like to thank Zonal and Branch Representatives for their support during my recent, second, tenureship of responsibility for our members in this area.
Simon Sapper
Assistant Secretary
Branches have sought information relating to the above initiative as a result of the Network Access Return to Profit Programme. The following is a summary of the initiative which has been taken out of the business case, as well as a report on work undertaken so far.
1 .This programme seeks to recover network capacity lost through imperfect inventory information held on CSS. By improving the quality of information used in Customer Service provision and repair activity, coupled with returning capacity back to stock for re-use, efficiency gains will be achieved.
2.Focused Improvement of Network Data (Project FIND) will seek to cleanse the local network records and frame records held on CSS by physical verification and then clash with existing database held information. Exceptions will be tasked out for interrogation. This work is currently being done under the auspices of the BT Wholesale CAN DO programme, but will be targeted at the worst performing 204 exchanges over the next two financial years. Work undertaken this year has recovered 108K pairs, at a unit cost of £12.50.
The actual work consists of MDF verification using test equipment and compares MDF terminations to customer telephone numbers. This is then repeated at the POP and DR The analysis is then fed back into the office where updates are made on CSS both manually and automatically depending on the complexity of the update.
Most of the people used so far have experience in the access network. Management state that this is desirable but not essential as full training is given. A knowledge of CSS is also an advantage. As the programme moves into the network and work in the field then NRSWA qualifications for signing and guarding will be required and the ability to drive a vehicle. Where safety training is required this will also be provided.
The testing at present is manual, i.e. pulling jumpers on the MDF using a NETMAN ouput from CSS. This is slowly being replaced by EML test equipment. The processes are well developed and to date in London, those employed have been CS restricted duties people, Firstcall and newly formed asset management people to carry out the work. Network Access have not undertaken any DP verification yet and the intention is to use CS engineers in this process.
Brian Healy
Assistant Secretary
219 BT Vehicles in Ignite Solutions
Last year BT Fleet decided to withdraw the Fiesta Van from its portfolio. The van was and is the preferred choice of engineers.
Following negotiations, some 500 new Fiestas have been purchased and a change-out programme of older vehicles initiated.
The preferred vehicle for BT Ignite Solutions engineers will be the Fiesta, however by exception, engineers will have the choice of an un-racked Escort.
Ignite Solutions has also clarified the position regarding private use of the vehicle. The Union has been notified that, under guidance from BT Fleet, all permission for private use has been withdrawn. This is due to the potential for engineers to incur additional and hefty personal tax liability.
Ian Cuthbert
Assistant Secretary
220 Service Delivery Pay 2000 "Added Years" Non Pensionable Lump Sum
Branches will recall that, included in the Royal Mail Service Delivery 2000 pay agreement, lump sums are payable to eligible staff contributing towards the POSSS Added Years arrangement. The payments were due to be made in April 2001. A number of branches have contacted CWU Headquarters expressing concerns that some staff had not received the payments and some Pay Units did not seem to be aware of the necessary operational arrangements.
In the light of these concerns, the Union contacted Royal Mail Service Delivery with a view to gaining confirmation that the necessary arrangements had in fact been made for payment of the lump sums in question. The following response has now been received from the Head of Pay & Productivity, from which it will be seen that several hundred payments have been made in April, but there have been difficulties in relation to certain categories of staff.
With that in mind, Branches who believe that payments may not have been made, should advise the Deputy General Secretary (Postal) Department as soon as possible.
"Dear John
"Added years" Non pensionable lump sum
David Camp has passed me your letter of 30 April and asked me to reply. Firstly in relation to Transaction Services staff, I can reassure you that those units that need to know about the instructions and authority for the lump sum payment in order to make the payments have been briefed. I gather that a CWU representative telephoned the London TS unit and was surprised to find they knew nothing about the arrangements for the lump sum payment. The reason is that Almeida Street is no longer a pay unit (but simply a docket input point) and therefore is not involved with arranging these payments.
In relation to the payments, we know that several hundred were made in April, almost all of them of £500. This suggests that the majority of fixed shift employees have been identified and paid. You mention in your letter that there are some branches who believe payments have not been made — it would be helpful for lan McLeod to have the details of the employees and/or locations concerned, if you want us to follow this up. Alternatively the employees or their representatives should contact Transaction Services directly.
The delay arises from employees in rotations, for whom eligibility cannot be confirmed from the information held in payroll. This simply shows a "mixed shift" but without details of how this was made up. In such cases the Resourcing Unit of the local office needs to confirm that the job meets the agreed criteria, before payment can be arranged. You will appreciate that in some cases this may take a little time, particularly where rotation arrangements are complex. Also it is important to remember that our agreement based payment on the actual job formally held by each employee. Where (despite our best efforts) staffing commonly varies from what is actually scheduled because of multiple rotations, swaps or other ad hoc changes, there may be a perception that some employees have been missed, when in fact they are ineligible.
I guess this is why comparatively few payments of £100 have yet been made. This work is in hand and I would hope that the majority of such payments will be made this month. However because the information is not accessible centrally, we cannot monitor or control this, and where employees or representatives believe that a payment has been overlooked for an employee working a night/late rotation, this must be taken up with the Resourcing Unit for the office concerned.
Yours sincerely
Ian Bond
Head of Pay & Productivity"
Any Branch comments regarding this paragraph should be addressed to John Keggie, Deputy General Secretaiy (Postal) quoting reference number 60100.
221 Annual Conference 2001 — Postal Industry and Section Conferences (1)
Would Branches please note that as from Friday, 25th May 2001, all correspondence for the Standing Orders Committee (Postal) should be directed as follows: Chair, SOC (Postal), c/o Deputy General Secretary (Postal), OWU, Elstead Hotel, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3QP. Phil Duffy Chair Standing Orders Committee (Postal)
222 Annual Conference 2001 — Postal Industry Conferences (2) Emergency special report: Post Office pay arrangments
As a consequence of the publication of the above Emergency Special Report, the following agenda alterations are as follows: All amendments submitted against recommendations associated with the Annual Report Paragraphs 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 5.12, 5.16 FALL as the Officer has withdrawn the paragraphs. Motions 5.2, 5.3, 5.10, 9.5, 9.6 FALL. The following amendments submitted against Paragraph 5.14 FALL. Composite 5D, Composite 5E, Cheshire No. 1 — North Lancs & Cumbria (Two taken as one), Composite 5F, Northamptonshire Amal, Mount Pleasant, North West Kent Amal. Composite Amendment 9WW against Paragraph 9.55 also FALLS. Additionally Motion 9.3 also FALLS. Phil Duffy Chair Standing Orders Committee (Postal)
223 Annual Conference 2001 — Postal Industry and Section Conferences (3
In order to assist Postal Branches and Co ordinating Committees, the
following statutory dates are applicable to the above conferences:
Tuesday, 29th May Emergency Motions close.
Rule 6.29.2 Thereafter Rule 6.29.3 applies.
Tuesday, 29th May (5.00 p.m.)
A.Amendments to Motions close.
B.Amendments to the priority category lists close;
C.Appeals close.
Rule 6.28.5
Rule 6.31.2
Rule 6.44.1
Wednesday, 30th May (5.00 p.m.)
Amendments to vary the Programme of Business (SOR 1) close.
Rule 6.42.7(a)
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph should be addressed to: Phil
Duffy, Chair, Standing Orders Committee (Postal)
224 Enabling Agreement between Logistics & Contract Distribution and the Union for the Use of Scanning Equipment
Reproduced as an attachment, is a copy of an agreement between Logistics and Contract Distribution and CWU for the use of Scanning equipment in the Branch Direct Network. Any comments should be addressed to Phil Browne, Acting Assistant Secretaiy, quoting reference number LCD2000(b). Att: PE24
225 Annual Conference 2001 Postal Industry Conference: Section 5
Would branches please note that following an appeal the Standing Orders Committee (Postal) has agreed to admit the following two motions on to the conference agenda: The following two Motions to be taken as one (SOC)
Category A
5.22 Conference agrees that those members who were employed on a six-
month trial and informed that they would advance to full pay after
successfully completing that trial should be paid from that date. The
Postal Executive is instructed to secure full pay for those members
whom the employer has withheld maximum pay from until completion of
12 months employment. The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.
South East No.5
Category A
5.23Conference agrees that those members who were employed on a six-
month trial and informed that they would advance to full pay after
successfully completing that trial should be paid from that date. The
Postal Executive is instructed to secure full pay for those members
whom the employer has withheld maxium pay from until completion of 12
months employment. The Postal Executive is instructed accordingly.
HP Amal.
Phil Duffy Chair, Standing Orders Committee (Postal)