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Openreach: Aggregated Hours

12 January 2007

In the course of discussions with Openreach around the need for frames resourcing in evenings the concept of Aggregated Hours emerged. It was envisaged that students would work for BT in the evenings in the locality of the university or college. They would subsequently work days in the summer at their home location.

The Executive team indicated a willingness to explore the practical detail. Based on experience the CWU put some caveats on our co-operation. These were essentially:

• the contract of employment must be with BT,
• the grading should be B2,
• NewGRID terms and conditions should apply,
• the contract must offer standard protection.

A formal letter from Openreach (Alan Towers dated 7 December 2006) contained proposals beyond the scope of the discussions held and it became clear that Openreach was considering utilising this type of contract for all new entrants.

The information we have received indicate that the proposal embraces a clear threat to B2 grading for new entrants in both field and frames.

The Executive team is bitterly disappointed that the Company seems to be moving ahead without agreement. What could have been developed into a true 'family friendly' concept has changed to one where the Company has total control of attendance of new recruits without the protections, such as adequate notice of change, current agreements give.

The CWU does wish to encourage diversity in the workplace. Diversity, however, must be accompanied with equality of treatment.

Assistant Secretary Ian Cuthbert has written Openreach pointing out that whilst claiming the contract offers an individual control and flexibility, the control of when someone works would be entirely in the hands of the business and the CWU does not believe that individual's needs will be a priority for managers.

The CWU has indicated willingness to explore the concept on the basis it was originally discussed. On the basis of information from Openreach, the CWU remains to be convinced that the motivation behind this is rooted in achieving diversity rather than having a workforce at the constant beck and call of the business with considerably poorer terms and conditions than their colleagues.

Ian Cuthbert has told Openreach that the CWU does wish to further explore the concept but cannot agree to this proposed contract being applied in the current recruitment campaign.