To: Branches with Members in Openreach

Dear Colleague,

Skills Enhancement and Grading in Openreach

You will be aware that Branches were advised on 23 August 2006 that the Executive team had written to Openreach seeking a review of B2 grading in that line of business.

Around that time, we also submitted a claim for C3 grading for Network Assessors.

I attach, for your information, the initial response from management setting out how it would wish to proceed.  It can be seen that, whilst agreeing to a review of the specific functions mentioned above, this would be within the context of a much wider piece of work.

Of particular concern to the Executive is a potential delay to grading issues already initiated.  The banding of Academy Coaches is one which would fall into this category and I am seeking urgent assurance that the job assessment will continue as previously indicated and a speedy formal response sent to the Union.

Equally, I have questioned whether the commitment to resolving grading anomalies in the Service organisation would be compromised by this wider review.  I have been informed that these issues would be covered by the review but that they will not be unduly delayed.

Separately, I have requested that the position of people on long-term acting in the former Wholesale controls be resolved in line with commitments already given in the Back Office Selection process some years ago “that any team member achieving two years or more cover in the Controls after 1 February 2004 will be promoted to the NewGRID grade they have been covering effective from the 2^nd anniversary of the date their cover began”.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Cuthbert

Assistant Secretary

Encs.