This agreement is a framework agreement.  It puts in place the processes which will be applied to test each proposal for global sourcing.  Therefore, the proposed draft agreement does not of itself allow global sourcing to take place.  Rather it provides a framework within which proposals for global sourcing will be considered by the Union.

The TFSE believes that this agreement is one of the best of its kind anywhere in British industry and provides long-term employment security for the Union’s members in Global Services. It contains assurances about the Global Services Team Member grade mix and resourcing profile.

Consultative Process 

The consultative process outlined within the framework agreement provides for;

Early consultation before decisions are made or communicated; ensures that the Union is provided with the rationale, operation and financial, for each global sourcing proposal; will enable a breakdown by activity and summary of the functional tasks performed; provides breakdown by grade and location of the people affected, Global Services is committed to providing timescales and a summary of the transition plan; a people plan, outlining where people will be moved, growth opportunity, displacement of contractor/agency resource, re-training, re-skilling etc. will be provided to the Union.

I can confirm that once the union at national level receives proposals to globally source work, the Branches concerned will be advised and their views sought on the proposals before any agreement is given.

Employment Security

The provisions on employment security state that;

GS will work with CWU to ensure that the overall number of Team Members will not reduce as a direct result of global sourcing; that the work identified for global sourcing will be replaced by work of at least equivalent value; the Team Member grading profile will remain relatively stable; the objective is to ensure that replacement work will be available to enable a seamless transfer to alternative work; there will be visibility of the availability of training and reskilling opportunities.

Robust Governance

The governance process will ensure that;

The criteria for global sourcing and the operation of the framework agreement itself will be applied consistently across Global Services; there will be consistent application of performance levels; the Union will be given visibility of customer contracts that include global sourcing; any work which is returned to the UK will be discussed with the CWU.  Importantly and crucially as far as the Union’s members are concerned the agreement confirms that the FULL NewGRID terms and conditions will apply and there will be no compulsory redundancy. 

Membership Consultative Exercise

The TFSE has agreed that members in Global Services should be asked to vote to accept the draft framework agreement in a consultative exercise.  Ballot papers will be sent to members at their home addresses to be dispatched no later than Friday 23 March 2007 and to be returned to the Scrutineer by 12 noon on Tuesday 10 April 2007.  The result will be announced on Wednesday 11 April 2007. 

The TFSE believes that this is a crucial agreement for the Union’s members employed in BT Global Services.  At present the Union is limited in its ability to influence the Global Services approach to global sourcing because of the absence of such an agreement.  This agreement therefore will provide the opportunity for the Union to have a significant influence on global sourcing and to exercise that influence in defence of members’ career and employment security in the long-term. 

The T&FSE has no hesitation in urging members to vote to accept the agreement in the consultative exercise.

Yours sincerely                                                                           

W McClory                                                     Glynis Winestein

Assistant Secretary                               Assistant Secretary

Lawrie Mc Menamin 

Communication Workers Union

Glasgow & Motherwell Branch

Telephone 0141 552 1066

e-mail :- cwuglasgow@btconnect.com