Scottish Council Reports
UNISON Scotland: Scottish Council: 9 April 2005
Utilities Report
Joint Utilities
The Energy and Water service groups continue to meet together with
many common elements to their objectives.
2. Branches are now fully engaged in the 2005 bargaining round.
Scottish & Southern have been the first to settle with a good
deal for members. A complex range of pay restructuring proposals
continues to be a feature of the bargaining environment in utilities
and an opportunity to address equal pay issues. Outwith pay and
conditions attendance management, stress and drugs and alcohol polices
remain key issues.
3. Recruitment in 2005 has started well, particularly in Scottish
Electricity. A new UK recruitment campaign has been launched.
4. Further utilities news can be read in the latest edition of
Scottish Utilities on the UNISON Scotland web site.
Water
1. The Water Services (Scotland) Bill has completed the parliamentary
process. The Bill will establish a licensing regime for non-domestic
customers, prohibit common carriage and other suppliers supplying
domestic customers and restructure the regulatory arrangements.
We welcome the restriction to competition but retain strong reservations
over non-domestic competition and aspects of the regulatory arrangements.
2. The Scottish Executive has announced its guidance on financing
the industry for the period 2006-10. In essence the Executive will
require Scottish Water to deliver at least a £1bn per annum investment
programme with no real increase in charges. A 'magic circle' that
cannot be squared without further job cuts. There is a welcome introduction
of development charges, something UNISON argued for.
3. The STUC water campaign continues to coordinate the trade union
response to the challenges facing the industry. The service group
has also published a leaflet setting out our position that has been
circulated to MSPs and other opinion formers.
Energy
1. Ofgem have announced new charging mechanisms that discriminate
disproportionately against northern electricity generators. These
are almost six times the average charge on generators in England
and Wales. Needless to say this puts Scottish generators at a great
disadvantage in the UK market and could have medium term consequences
for jobs.
2. The key long term issue remains future energy supply. The service
group publication 'A Scottish Energy Strategy' has been widely circulated
it to parliamentarians and opinion formers. Research continues to
show that renewable energy, whilst desirable, is unlikely to plug
the gap in capacity as coal and nuclear stations close. Scotland
will increasingly rely on gas imports from insecure supply sources.
3. Negotiations continue on the staffing issues arising over the
transfer of staff to SSE following the sale of NGT'S gas distribution
zone in Scotland to Scottish and Southern
Energy
4. UNISON Scotland continues to work with Energy Action Scotland
and others to promote a fuel poverty action plan for government
under the 'Keeping Scotland Warm' banner. A fringe reception was
held at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Dundee.
Dave Watson
Scottish Organiser (Utilities) 11 March 2005
top
UNISON Scotland: Scottish Council: 19 February 2004
UTILITIES REPORT
Joint Utilities
1. The Energy and Water service groups continue to meet together
with many common elements to their objectives.
2. Branches are preparing for the 2005 bargaining round. A complex
range of pay restructuring proposals continues to be a feature of
the bargaining environment in utilities and an opportunity to address
equal pay issues.
Outwith pay and conditions attendance management, stress and drugs
and alcohol polices are likely to remain key issues.
3. Recruitment in 2004 was behind target and the service groups
will identify further target areas as a follow on from the national
recruitment campaign.
The Energy service group has produced a recruitment leaflet in
support of the campaign. This reflects the issues facing members
in a private sector environment.
4. Further utilities news can be read in the latest edition of
Scottish Utilities on the UNISON Scotland web site.
Water
1. The Water Services (Scotland) Bill is at the second stage of
the parliamentary process. The Bill establishes a licensing regime
for non- domestic customers and prohibit common carriage and other
suppliers supplying domestic customers. Much of this change has
been driven by the UK government's Competition Act. Whilst we welcome
the prohibition of common carriage and supply to domestic customers
the non-household competition will cause further disruption and
expense to the industry. The major change from the draft bill is
a restructuring of the regulatory arrangements following criticism
from the Parliament's Finance Committee.
The written evidence is on the water section of the website.
2. The Scottish Executive has published two important consultations
on investing and paying for water services. The scale of investment
required just to meet mandatory standards is around £1bn per annum
for the next eight years. The problem is how to pay for it and find
the construction industry capacity. A P&I Briefing has been
circulated to branches and the UNISON response to the consultation
is on the felsite. We are now awaiting ministerial guidance on the
financing of the industry.
3. The STUC water campaign continues to coordinate the trade union
response to the challenges facing the industry. The service group
has also published a leaflet setting out our position that has been
circulated to MSPs and other opinion formers.
Energy
l. The UK government and Ofgem are considering a number of charging
issues that could be crucial to the generation side following the
introduction of new trading arrangements called BETTA 2. The key
long term issue is future energy supply. The service group has updated
its publication 'A Scottish Energy Strategy' and circulated it to
parliamentarians and opinion formers. The STUC held a successful
energy conference on 13 December 2004 to promote the industry unions
concerns.
3. The Scottish Parliament Environment Committee is conducting
an inquiry into climate change policy and the Scottish Executive
has issued a separate consultation.
4. Ofgem have now approved the sale of NGT'S gas distribution zone
in Scotland to Scottish and Southern Energy. Negotiations are underway
on the staffing issues arising over the transfer of staff to SSE.
5. UNISON Scotland continues to work with Energy Action Scotland
and others to promote a fuel poverty action plan for government
under the keeping Scotland Warm' banner. A fringe reception is being
organised at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Dundee.
Dave Watson
Scottish Organiser (Utilities) 21 January 2004
 top
|
Scotland's
public service union
|
