SCOTTISH WATER BRANCH

Minutes of the Scottish Water Branch Meeting held at Scottish Water Offices, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh on 8th November 2005 at 11am

Present:   

David Wilkinson    Steve Scott        Elaine Noble        Kirsten Helms
Andy Nisbet        Willie Fortune        Gareth Lithgow    Paul Hyles
Bill Rintoul        Fergus Allan        Barry Allibone       
Jim Anderson (E)    Jim Anderson (S)    Fred Gibson   
       
David Wilkinson in the Chair

(Note: in abbreviation SW refers to Scottish Water; JA refers to Jim Anderson (Shetland); and JSA refers to Jim Anderson (Edinburgh))

Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from: Iain Diamond, Steven Gordon, Craig Christie, Kevin O’Hare & Richard Mould.

Minutes of previous meeting

JA (E) to pull together the two sets of minutes from previous branch meeting into one document. DSE risk assessment item also to be included.

Matters Arising

Item 3.1 – PH confirmed that retired membership was paid for this member

Item 3.2 – AN to take SJIB issue to H&S Committee.

Item 3.2 - CC to take DW’s place on the Pay Progression Rewards Group.

Item 5.1 - SS taking Prestwick compensation issue to grievance.

Item 5.1 – SS/JA to arrange accommodation for 2006 conference.

Item 5.1 - DW gave Stephan Walker a £20 voucher as a way of saying thanks on behalf of the branch.

Item 5.6 – SW Contracting update to be given at next SW Council meeting.

Pensions

SS attending Scottish Pensions meeting to be held in Glasgow on 18 November 2005.

JA/DW to prepare material for a pensions page on the Branch website.

Reports

Secretary: SS reported that John Kidd, Chair of National Water Service Group, had a heart attack last week. SS & JA (E) sent card on behalf of branch.

SS & ID met to work on a draft budget for the branch (handout):

WF raised point that the branch was under the impression that UNISON central paid for the branch development weekend at the Stirling Highland Hotel in September this year – SS advised they may make a contribution – SS, ID & DW to pursue UNISON central regarding this matter.

AN raised point where does recruitment appear in budget. Also added how much is required to provide training requirements for stewards that have yet to under take any method of training. All stewards to look at draft budget and forward comments to SS/ID.

SS raised issue regarding next AGM approx March 2006, suggestions on venues are as follows:

Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Shetlands. Other venues to be considered.

SWC: Big issues and concerns from members and stewards over STAR reviews. Main point is that the targets which are set are often impossible to be influenced by the individual therefore the overall score is unjustified.  There was speculation that the overall scores are averaged across the business and that budgetary pressure is making line managers give lower scores than they should.

Internal Skills Group set up by HR. UNISON concerned that there is no employee representative on this group.  The Skills Group will input to the PP/Skills & Comp Group - CC will attend group on behalf of branch and will provide feedback.

Policy Group now set up - issues raised at 1st meeting were disciplinary, issues resolution, compensation and mileage policies.

AN raised concern over HR handing paperwork out for disciplinary meetings at the actual meeting and telling stewards they can have 5 minutes to read over the case. DW says HR should be providing paperwork minimum of 5 working days prior to the meeting in order to give stewards time to prepare and should this occur, stewards have the right to cancel meeting and re-arrange.

JA (E) raised point that branch has an agreement with SW regarding mileage and HR has issued these standard letters to members without consulting the branch.  DW will request HR to put mileage rates back to how they were meantime.

BUC: PH raised concerns over BUC champion at STAR reviews proposal over flat rate allowance. PH also raised concerns over BUC pre meetings.
 
Treasurer: No Report

Service Conditions: Utility strike disciplinary was not upheld.  JA (E) to write to Andrew Walker (HR) regarding approach to pre investigation questions. Also HR failing to send information to UNISON and we have to depend on receiving this from the member.

WF raised point that HR are ignoring the rights which safety reps have.

Health & Safety: Quiet month overall however there has been a fair amount of safety inspections carried out.

Publicity: Next newsletter will be due out in December 2005.

Young Members: No Report

Equal Opps: SS to chase up HR regarding Equal Opps group possibly being set up by HR - issue raised by EN

Education: No information received for courses in 2006 to date but as soon as BR receives this, he will distribute to branch. JA (E) mentioned the possibility of running steward induction courses internally amongst the branch.

Welfare: FA confirmed that stewards should contact him timeously if they hear of members falling ill long term as it would be good for the branch to keep contact with the member and tender best wishes.

Labour Link: No Report

Telematics

AN raised issue that any information obtained from Telematics can not be used in any disciplinary cases as agreed at the SWC and BUCs.

JA (E) raised issue that any information taken from Telematics in the first 6 months of the system being introduced should have only went to the SWC but this does not seem to the case.  Telematics was first introduced as a trial and to reduce transport costs significantly.

Recruitment

DW confirmed that recruitment packs are now starting to be sent out. DW to arrange for sample packs to go out to each steward.

EN queried if agency staff are entitled to join UNISON - DW confirmed that they are.

Correspondence

SS addressed to branch regarding donating to the Earthquake appeal, branch has agreed to send £250.

AOCB

Assets Ops staff being asked to carry out cross-functional duties. This is being resisted in a number of locations and members are being supported by UNISON.

WF provided a written report from Croyde Bay seminar (handout).

WF dates of safety reps meetings. PH/AN to confirm date of next meeting.


Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 13 December 2005
11am
UNISON offices
West Campbell Street, Glasgow