Minutes of the Scottish Water Branch Meeting held on Tuesday 13^th June 2006, Belford Road, Edinburgh.

Present:        

 David Wilkinson in the chair

JA refers to Jim Anderson (Shetland); and JSA refers to Jim Anderson (Edinburgh))

Apologies for absence

 
No apologies received.

 
Minutes of previous meeting (May  2006)

 Minutes of previous meeting were approved. Proposer – PH, Seconder – AN.

 Matters Arising

 
3.0 - Recruitment - SS has spoken to Mary Scott and dates are to be agreed

after conference.

 
3.0d - Graeme Ferguson has not responded with regard facility arrangements

for shift workers. SS to pursue.

 
5.1 – Officers added to list.

 
5.2 – Delegates to meet on Sunday night to discuss motions.

 
5.4 – PH to be included in mileage discussions.

 
Email list – all stewards to forward their email distribution lists to DW

 
EN is to give details of the successful Lab payment case for inclusion in the

next newsletter.

 
EN to chase HR on the consultation for the new Equal Opps Policy.

 
DW to check if Branch gift was sent to Balmore Rd member who is off long

term sick.

 
SW Council Update

Cost of Living award is likely to be paid in July though we are still waiting for

Exec approval.

 
Differentials payments will be in June salaries and appeals against

exclusion will be heard very soon.

 
Need for consultation to start with members in SW Retail. DW to write

requesting list of affected staff. DW to get TUPE Protocol put on Policy

Group agenda. DW also to seek clarification on the positions of those not

going via TUPE i.e. VR available?

 
Negotiations are underway on SW Bonus for 06/07. main parameters

have been set by Board but there is scope to improve the payment and the

percentage paid for achievement levels.

Branch Officers Reports

Branch Secretary

Pensions – Very little movement over the last month. The LGA in England have made a 

minor improvement to the package but it is not enough. Tom McCabe is sticking to the 

English line at the moment. SS confirmed that if we decide to take further strike action a 

new ballot will be required. SS to report on the conference debate on pensions.

The Branch have been invited to attend a meeting with Bolivian activist, Oscar Olivera. 

Oscar was the leader of a popular movement in Bolivia that chased profiteers Bechtel 

out of the country after they had taken over the privatised water system in Cochabamba. 

DW/SS and 3 other to attend. JA to arrange for a small gift to be made for presentation to Oscar.

 
 
Treasurer

 
ID has now left Scottish Water and it was agreed that FA should take over

the Treasurer position. The Branch agreed that a small gift and vote of thanks 

should be sent to ID for his sterling work.

 
Education

 
BR has submitted an FDO bid for funding for 2 development weekends. The group have 

met but no info on success yet.

 
A member has asked for funding for an H&S post grad course (£2600). The Branch 

view was that we cannot afford this amount but could contribute a small share of the 

costs if the member took on H&S rep duties. BR has asked UNISON HQ to look at 

awarding a bursary for the course.

 
H&S

 
AN asked for info on welfare provision problems at offices and depots after SW were 

criticised for poor conditions at Shieldhall WWTW.

AN/PH have set up a workplace inspection register and want all H&S reps to commit 

to at least one inspection.

 
AN confirmed that the Standby review group have not yet met.

 
Service Conditions

 
JA reported on recent successes in disciplinary hearings where UNISON representation 

has resulted in reducing or avoiding punishment.

 
It was noted that SW are moving to a situation where HR reps will not attend disciplinary 

hearings. DW to clarify how this will work at the Policy Group.

 
JA also stated that he was happy to see stewards taking more responsibility for issues 

in their own patch.

 
The Elgin / Aviemore cross functional working issue is to go back to SWC at the next meeting. 

Clarification on working practice change or Ts & Cs change to be sought.

BUC Reports

 
Assets SE – AN reported on discussions on savings made by Telematics and the proposed 

BUC restructure. DW to circulate the proposed BUC structure to stewards.

 
Labs – EN is to sit on the Lab BUC temporarily while KH is on maternity leave.

 
Date of next meeting