Item

Notes

Action by

Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from:

Barry Allibone, Kate Brown, Jim Anderson (Shetland), Alison Yule, Steven Gordon. Richard Mould, Gareth Lithgow, Kevin O’Hare, Fred Gibson, Miranda Jacques Turner.

Minutes of previous meeting (January 2006)

Alterations: attendees - remove Elaine Noble and add Jim Anderson (Edinburgh).

Additions: STUC -  Industrial Action Meeting on 16^th March: Branch Reps. to be :

S. Scott & W. Fortune

With above amendments;

Minutes of previous Meeting were:

Proposed by:  Andy Nisbet,

Seconded by:  Paul Hyles.

Matters Arising

 
Branch Website; ‘Members Forum’ and ‘Link’s to be updated. To include Unison/ STUC Industrial Action/ LGPS sites.  To be completed this month

Branch Recruitment Drive: Mary Scott (Unison Recruitment Officer) to be contacted after Branch AGMs completed to provide support/assistance to Branch with deciding strategy etc. (May tie in with H&S  week).

All Branch Shop Stewards to assist support Mary when attending at their Offices/ Depots etc.

Senior Branch Officers Support: All to try and attend where possible, to promote information on; and activities of; Unison SW Branch.

LGPS Dispute: GMB /AMICUS not balloting. T&GWU will be balloting members and SW Branch will liaise with T&G over ‘Action Plan’ etc..

SW Wholesale / Retail Split

Following intimation by DC. Banks SW Director of plans to TUPE Transfer SW Employees into SW Stream. Branch to seek clarification over this as all SW Staff were originally to be ‘Seconded’. And as new TUPE Regulations are

 due out shortly Branch to pursue information on this as a priority.

AGMs’ (Lack of some Br. Officers Reports) Following this matter being raised by some members at the recent quartile AGM’s,  additional reports are now requested from all Officers who did not provide them for inclusion in Br. Secretaries 2005 Report.

Mileage: Corroborating information on ‘Mileage Rates’ used by SWC to determine staff car rates requested at last meeting, still to be passed to JSA

 Branch Finance: Confirmation that Branch Budget proposals and Branch Accounts submitted for Year 2005 have been accepted by Unison Central.

One Step Ahead: BR will cover this item today under the main ‘Agenda’.

Branch/ Unison Travel Policy: All Branch Officers were reminded once again that the Unions policy on travel, was that the mode of travel used, was to be undertaken at the lowest cost practicable and that wherever possible ‘Public Transport’ was to be utilised.

Long car journeys require prior approval of Branch Sec./ Depute Sec or Chair before being undertaken.

Pensions

Ballot papers now out to all members in respect of possible I.A to protect existing LGPS Rules. Unison advising all members to vote ‘Yes’

UK Govt. at present very quiet on alleged EU ‘Age Discrimination’ reasons for changes. Branch

 
Branch Newsletter to members on this dispute and on how we would action with SW  to be issued shortly

Scottish Waters recent ‘press release’ on ‘Maintaining Critical Cover’ not approved by Branch. Any ‘exemptions’ during strike action must be requested by employer and agreed with Branch. DW to take up issue with Andrew Walker to ensure no re-occurrence.

Branches Industrial action Committee to meet next week to put in place Branch Strategy, Letters to Third Parties (agencies etc.) and to agree deployment of Pickets, Campaign Posters, Documentation  etc.

Scottish Water Retail

 
‘TUPE Transfer’ of employees from 1^st April 2006 now seems a very real possibility. The Branch will seek to challenge this action, due to non –consultation by employer. -  Non Compliance with EU law.

DW and BA to seek clarification at next SW Council Meeting on this matter.

Branch Officers Reports

 
Branch Secretary

AGMs – Confirmed that last AGM held today 7/03/06 in accordance with previous intimation. Members raised a number of questions on Pay, Rewards, and Pensions during the meetings

As previously advised all Branch Officers should provide information for inclusion within the Br. Secretaries ‘Annual Report’ and some members raised the matter of missing reports on Education, Retired Members and Welfare.

 
Exec. Officers to provide missing reports for Branch to circulate within next Branch Newsletter.

Scottish Water Council

 
Pay Award

DW and BA confirmed that they had been unable do to the bad weather to attend at the last ‘Rewards’ Sub-Group. However Tom Findlayson (T&G Shop Stewards Convenor) had laid out the Joint TU position.

Management’s stance was still that any payment had to be driven by business ‘efficiencies’ and that no ‘cost of living award’ was appropriate due to ‘Partnering’. They also advised that they still wished to use the 5% staff pay increase already earmarked in their ‘Business Plan’ to fund, Salary Harmonisation, Pay Progression, and Bonus payments and the residual to be the ‘COL’ award. This position was totally unacceptable to the Branch and to all the JTUG members.

The JTUG position remained the same a 5% across the Board Col Award and all ‘Salary Harmonisation’ payments made on 1^st April 2006 ,everything else to be funded from the overall SW Budget.

The Rewards Sub- Group will meet again on 14/03/06 and again on 24/03/06 and is to report its recommendations to the SWC on 30/03/06.

 
SW new VR Scheme:

Details on new scheme close to finalisation. New scheme seen as broadly similar to previous. No changes to ‘VR Payments’ although probable reduction on ‘added pension years’ for over 50’s 10 year enhancement may not be available but 6 and 2/3 years to stay. 3K bonus to remain.

 Finalised proposals to be presented to SWC on 30/03/06 and Branch to confirm at next meeting

 
SW Revised ‘Secondment’ Policy:

New ‘Short’ and Long Term (JV) Secondment Policy tabled and accepted by SWC at their last meeting.

 
SW Bonus:

SW Staff Bonus Targets confirmed as:  – Corporate 90% of 100% payable, Local 100% of 20% payable. Probable cash figure payable:  £650.00 / employee.

Scottish Water Contracting T’s & C’s

New T’s & C’s survey results, show reluctance on SW Staff’s part to change to new offer (due to notional detriment) . J. McLean to return to employees to try and seek a new way forward in getting agreement by employees on new Ts & C’s required to make SW Contracting competitive with other contractors. SWC endorsed this approach. Branch Stewards to take an active part in this reworking

BUC Reports

 Assets:

NSO ‘Out of Hours Supplement ‘the present agreement is subject to revision/alteration on 01/04/06. Too many local agreements in place. Managers pressurising staff to accept reductions in payment. S. Fraser has set up a review group without formal Unison Representation.

Branch Secretary to write to SW HR Dept. to advise: That Branch will not be bound by any decisions arrived at by any Group or Sub- Group of any BUC where the Branch has not been formally represented. ALL UNISON NOMINATIONS must be sent to the Branch Secretary in the first instance and approved by the Branch Executive.

SW Branch will not be bound by any decisions made by Staff Reps.

A. Nisbet nominated (and Approved) to represent Unison on this BUC Sub –Group.

S. Fraser and HR to be advised accordingly by Branch Secretary.

Cross Functional working:

This issue has been referred back to the B. U. C.’s (having been debated at the SW Council) and had on the original sub-group  non TU reps ( such as Mr J. Woods), a situation which the Branch should not support. There was also to have been a new Sub –Group convened within Assets to look at this matter and this has not taken place to date. John Moist (FTO GMB) has been involved in discussions with SW Management on this matter and on ‘Role Profiles ’to reflect CF working. It needs to be pointed out to SW Managers that Mr. Moist has no standing unless invited by his own Shop Stewards to participate.

N.E. and N.W. BUC’s already agreed to CF Working.

Questions arising are: what happens if BUC decides that members must undertake CF as part of their duties and our member refuse?

Where does the Branch stand if we do not have accredited reps on the BUC and it takes a decision which affects our members?

Solutions Forum:

New SW ‘Secondment Policy’ (prepared jointly by SW Solutions HR and TU Reps from Unison and Amicus) now ‘on hold’ until SW signs up Solutions to Q&SIIII Contract before roll out to staff.

Labs:

BUC has proposed (with Managers agreement) has developed an accelerated Salary Progression scheme for Assistant Scientists / Trainees.

This programme to be a ‘Quick Fix’ solution to assisting in SW retaining staff. This new Policy to be presented to SWC at next meeting.

 
Treasurer

ID confirmed that the Branches monthly ‘dues’ from Unison Central were somehow delayed, however the Branch was still solvent and he would be pursing these with the person responsible at Mabeldon place.

ID recommended that we leave 5K in the High Interest account with the Dunfermline B.S., but if needed this money can be transferred back to the Branches ‘General, account very quickly.

Honoraria:

2005 ‘assistance with expenses’ will be paid to those eligible and in line with the agreed SW Branch Policy when the all the AGM’s have been completed and all the Branch Members have had the opportunity to ratify the Executives proposals.

Branch  Bank Accounts - Internet access:

Now in place for all Branch ‘Cheque signatories’ and Senior Branch Officers.

Service & Conditions

Five Members ‘cases’ still being dealt with at present. One of which is serious and could lead to a dismissal if proven .  Outcomes to be reported at next Branch Executive.

Health & Safety

PH/AN have undertaken a Joint ‘Workplace Inspection’ with the management  at ‘Fairmilehead Office’ and a number of DSE Issues were noted and required action by the Managers. Local Stewards are to advise PH/AN as workplace issues highlighted are resolved.

AN informed that Branch that some Facilities issues are still taking a long time to be acted upon, mainly due to SW resource problems.

SW are still not following correctly the Working time directive and both AN / PH will pursue this to get a correct resolution.

NB : Next SW H&S Meeting  - 19/04/06

Publicity

No report.

Welfare

FA advised that there were no outstanding welfare matters.

Recruitment

 
Mary Scott is to be contacted by Branch Secretary after AGMs as previously agreed to arrange Recruitment Programme.

 

Young Members:

No Report.  However AN advised that he may have someone who wishes to take on this role. He will advise at next Exec. Meeting

Equal Opportunities;

No Report.

 
 
Education Officer.

BR advised that he was pushing ahead with trying to get in place refresher training for the Branches experienced shop stewards. He was also looking at the funding aspect of the One Step ahead course and would liaise with the Branch Treasurer when the information come to hand.

Retired Members:

BR advised that as previously agreed he would shortly be attending at the Retired Members conference and will report back to the Branch Executive after the event.

 
 
Partnership:

General discussion took place on the recent ‘Partnership’ event in Dundee.

More and more members were becoming disillusioned with this and a fair number felt that they were being placed under undue pressure by Managers in the BUC’s.

In addition to this some Shop Stewards were concerned that certain Unions FTO’s were turning up at SW Council ‘unbidden’ by their own activists. This practice (in accordance with the JTUG agreement) must stop forthwith. The Branch Secretary to write to SW HR to confirm this is the case.

‘Flexible working’ was brought up, as being used by Managers to try and stop Members claiming Overtime. In addition Managers keep reminding staff that they can have TOIL instead of payment , but due to lack of numbers our members are being restricted as to when they can have ‘time off in lieu’.

This matter to be looked at by all stewards and to advise on their findings at the next Branch Executive Meeting

Date of next meeting

It was agreed that the next Branch meeting will be held in ‘Kingshill House’ Aberdeen on 18^thApril 2006.