CWU Midlands & Wales Branches    
OUTSOURCING OF OPENREACH (POLING) WORK TO CONTRACT – MIDLANDS & WALES

The CWU has received notification from the Openreach IR Manager that the Midlands and Wales management intend to proceed to issue a “preference exercise” to members employed on Poling activities commencing 2nd January 2008 – in direct conflict with the CWU negotiating team who have given good reason why it is inappropriate to undertake this exercise until the outcome of our joint negotiations is known.

The negotiations between Openreach management and the CWU are governed by National Agreement.  This “Agreement” applies to the resourcing of ALL workstreams within Openreach.

The outcome of these discussions about Poling work are thus of vital interest to ALL Openreach CWU Members because it represents a basis for determining resourcing across all workstreams within the business. 

Management’s argument is simply that the cost of labour offered by external contractors is significantly cheaper than Openreach’s own labour and therefore presents a more cost effective resourcing solution for the business.  This principle can apply to all work undertaken by CWU members fro Openreach.

Your CWU representatives have been attempting to jointly negotiate with Openreach management for Midlands & Wales to reach an agreed outcome to this difficult issue.  We will not agree a “Preference Exercise” until we reach an agreed outcome to this issue - such that CWU members can make an informed choice about their future employment within Openreach.  This is entirely logical and reasonable and you would expect nothing less from us.  The intention to undertake this now will completely undermine the CWU’s efforts to negotiate a solution for you and in these circumstances we have to advise you not to take part in this.

We are formally advising management of our DISAGREEMENT to this preference exercise and demanding this does not proceed.  It is in breach of our ongoing negotiations and the national agreement.

The National Agreement is there to provide the Union with the ability to represent CWU members’ interests.  If this is ignored it not only demonstrates a lack of respect for your representatives - and you - it also removes our ability to influence management’s decisions to take account of your wishes and needs.  This presents a fundamental challenge to all members in Openreach.

We do not want this conflict and will do all we reasonably can to persuade Openreach to withdraw from unilateral action in issuing this preference exercise and return to our agreed negotiating position - but - if this fails it will inevitably lead to a serious escalation and a position of dispute.