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16/09/09 - ASSETS / CUSTOMER SERVICE DELIVERY/ CID RESTRUCTURES

Scottish Water has briefed out the next tier of restructure in Asset Management and Customer Service Delivery showing a significant reduction in Assets Team Leaders and Team Managers and in CSD Team Leaders and Team Managers. A month long consultation process on Assets and CSD changes has just been completed.

Unison has expressed to SW management our members’ deep concerns about these cuts and we have challenged management’s proposals on the restructures, albeit with limited success.

Issues raised on the working groups include:- Recruitment process – extent of ring fencing; Extension of ESP and VR beyond next April / new VR Scheme; Location of posts – perceived centralisation to Central Belt; Level of reductions below TL; Evaluation of TL roles and degree of matching

While strong challenges were made to management plans on the above, managers have not significantly changed their position, particularly regarding ring fencing of roles and the degree of job matching. This is clearly disappointing to Unison and raises questions about SW’s commitment to meaningful consultation. SW intends to open up all non-matched roles for competition, which is a new approach given the consistent application of ring fencing in previous restructures.

SW will also not accept the need for an appeals process for job matching, meaning that employees will have to raise a grievance if they feel that they have been unfairly displaced. Members should contact their local steward if they feel that this applies to them. If there are enough cases in one area we may take this on as a collective grievance.

The proposals for CID have caused particular anxiety in the north where the cuts appear to be deeper, causing members to question whether there is a future for capital investment in Inverness, Dundee and Aberdeen. The formal consultation process for CID kicked off on 15th September.

Clearly there are many other important considerations that need to be discussed and the Branch will communicate directly with members over the next month to ensure all relevant views are fed into the various processes.

If there are particular issues associated with these restructures that you want the Branch to act on please pass these on to Andy Nisbet or Dave Wilkinson.

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