LTB 673/18 – OPENREACH – Fibre Network Delivery Pole Tester Roles

No. 673/2018                

Ref: DB/LES                 

Date: 28 November 2018

TO ALL BRANCHES WITH MEMBERS IN BT

Dear Colleague,

OPENREACH – Fibre Network Delivery Pole Tester Roles

The CWU National Team (NT) met Openreach today and was presented with information relating to the creation of additional Pole Tester roles. Branches and members will be aware that this role is crucial for the safety of our members, customers who may have poles on or outside their properties and of course members of the general public.

The NT was dismayed to learn that the company have reassessed the role (outwith any discussion or agreement with the CWU) and believe that the role should now be graded at TMNE2 from its current C1 banding. In addition, it is their intention to employ individuals externally, give them minimum training and within 12 weeks they will become part of the pole test community. The NT questioned the company on the detail relating to the training programme, learner pathway, pay levels and any safety risk assessments which have been completed ahead of this decision being taken. Unfortunately the company were unable to answer any of the questions or deal with the very serious concerns the CWU has with regard to this approach. In addition, the NT was unable to ascertain whether any discussions had taken place with those responsible for safety and legal matters within Openreach.

Branches and members are more than aware of the grading assessment process which includes consideration of skill levels, complexity, impact on company, expertise, proficiency, decision making, etc. all of which, in the NT’s view, have been ignored. The decision appears to have been made on purely financial grounds, in order to boost the numbers available to deal with the current workstack position, by driving the pay rate down. The CWU do not believe, and will not accept, that a role with the safety responsibilities associated with pole testing that potentially impacts the lives of all our members, customers and members of the public should be resourced in this way.

Finally, the CWU has worked hard to create a career pathway within Openreach that allows people to progress through different roles and extend their experience as well as earning potential by carrying out specialist roles. The pole test role is a specialist role and should command the remuneration associated with those crucial responsibilities.

The NT intends to pursue this issue within Openreach (and externally if required) with the aim of getting the company to see sense and take the health and safety of their employees (and others) seriously by reversing the decision and fill the roles internally at the C1 grade.

The irony of the situation is that the title of the meeting we attended was ‘Ensuring a safe future on our network’. Openreach continuing down its current path will not deliver that aim.

Branches are requested to make all Openreach members aware of the contents of this letter and the very clear concerns the CWU have for their safety now and in the future. We would also request that existing pole testers contact their line manager and ask why this decision has been taken and why their role has been devalued. The CWU NT would welcome members sharing those responses with us.

Branches and members will be kept up to date with any progress made and any further action the CWU NT believes will be required in order to get Openreach to see sense.

Any enquiries regarding this LTB should be sent to my office in the first instance.

Yours sincerely,

DAVIE BOWMAN

Assistant Secretary

28.11.18 – LTB 673 – OPENREACH – Fibre Network Delivery Pole Tester Roles