Crucial safeguards secured in disputed Fleet sale
Telecoms & Financial Services, BT Fleet August 22 2019Intensive lobbying by the union has secured important guarantees from BT Group that members in BT Fleet Solutions will not be negatively impacted by the division’s sale to Aurelius.
Despite vigorously opposing the entire pretext of the sell-off, both before and after persistent rumours of the division’s divestment were confirmed at the start of the month, the CWU has focused heavily on securing practical safeguards for members – conscious of the fact that the divestment, with its exceptionally tight time-frame, was effectively unstoppable.
Talks have focused on four key ‘danger’ areas identified by the union at the outset, with the CWU intent on ensuring that:
- When the transaction completes on September 1, all current contractual terms & conditions are transferred to the new company intact and unchanged
- Non-contractual terms and benefits are similarly protected – either transferring over unchanged or, where that is impossible, replicated or compensated for in such a way that no detriment is suffered by transferring members
- Pension arrangement for BTRSS members are effectively replicated – members will join the new Fleet Solutions Retirement Saving Scheme, on the same contribution structure. Those who joined the Hybrid scheme will also join the Fleet Solutions Retirement Scheme, with additional transitional payments for up to ten years in compensation.
- Members continue to benefit from full CWU collective bargaining and representation rights by way of a comprehensive union recognition agreement with Fleet Solutions.
Members across BT Fleet have this evening (Wednesday) received a special communication from deputy general secretary Andy Kerr confirming that an agreement has now been reached which delivers the safeguards the union was seeking in all four areas.
(Details of the agreement are set out in the emailed letter, which can be viewed here.
Andy explains: “Despite our resolute opposition to this sell-off – and our undiminished anger that BT has pursued a course of action that has caused considerable stress and anguish to our members across the division – the CWU’s national negotiating team is convinced the agreement we’ve reached with BT provides the reassurance that members need on their future employment and Ts&Cs going forward.
“The CWU has not budged one iota in its belief that this sale of a profitable division is wrong in principle and did not need to happen. Other ways of funding Fleet’s future investment needs could and should have been explored – and it’s nothing short of disgraceful that the BT Board instead took the easy route of dispensing with around 950 loyal employees.
“However, given the fact that the ink was already dry on the transaction when BT confirmed its intention – combined with the fact that the ‘share purchase’ sale mechanism sidestepped TUPE legislation – the CWU has moved mountains to secure crucial practical protections for the members that are impacted within an exceptionally tight timeframe.
“No-one wanted this sell-off to occur less than the CWU, and I hope our members in Fleet Solutions recognise that, in an extremely difficult situation, the agreement we’ve secured provides for a level of stability and continuity that would not otherwise have existed.”
Prior to the agreement being concluded, the CWU’s Fleet National Team’s negotiating position was explained in detail to reps attending a special branch forum last Thursday (August 15).
National officer for BT Fleet Solutions, Brendan O’Brien, said: “Branches supported the position we’d taken over the four key areas, and posed many questions seeking clarity on a wide range of issues including contracts of employment, pensions, pay & pension protection, safety, family friendly policies, apprentices, recognition and the structure of the union within Fleet Solutions going forward.
“Up to now the CWU has had a good relationship with the company and we very much hope that will continue into the future.”