CWU: no to "SMT" sellout

Submitted by martin on 16 May, 2003 - 8:12

By a CWU member
The Executive of the telecoms section of the post and telecom union CWU has re-entered negotiations on incentive bonus schemes in the BT Customer Service division.
Rather than re-ballot members, after the use by BT of the anti union laws to stop industrial action on the issue last month, the executive has conceded that the current SMT ("Self Motivated Teams") scheme will continue. Meanwhile SMT Version 2 is being hammered out in "hothouse" discussions with management under the guise of an "alternative".
Branch activists and members are unhappy that the union has begun negotiations without demanding BT cease the current scheme.
The union has backed down from the strong position it was in when a series of one day strikes were called in April.
There is no legal reason for the CWU not to re-ballot, as the spurious grounds for the injunction granted to BT can be circumvented by the provision of more details of the members taking action. The real reason there has been no re-ballot is because the executive and chief telecom negotiator Jeannie Drake are, and always have been, prepared to do a deal on a bonus scheme.
Their political problem is that the CWU members have to have the final say - in a ballot - and they keep rejecting it! The executive is banking on a watered down scheme being agreed in time for CWU Conference, forced through on the basis that it is the only alternative on offer, and then voted through because after two months of inaction members will have lost faith in the union to fight back on their behalf.
CWU Branches who are opposed to SMT need to ensure that at CWU Conference the executive is told to call industrial action again to stop the current scheme, to withdraw from further negotiations on any incentive scheme, and make a claim for upgrading of CS field engineers.
This would ensure a platform for negotiations, and industrial action, that would be positive and in line with members' aspirations.

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