UNISON Growing a Stronger Union in Energy
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UNISON growing a stronger union in Energy Annual Report 2019 Energy Energy Annual Report 2019 Contents Foreword from Jenny Middleton, Chair of the Energy Service Group Executive 3 Objective 1 Recruiting, organising, representing and retaining members 4 Objective 2 Negotiating and bargaining on behalf of members and promoting equality 8 Objective 3 Campaigning and promoting UNISON on behalf of members 22 Objective 4 Developing an efficient and effective union 26 Action on motions passed at the 2018 Energy Service Group conference 28 2 Foreword We are pleased to present you with this year’s Energy With the transformation of the energy market UNISON Service Group Executive annual report for 2018-2019. The has been at the forefront of tackling issues such as Just report has been compiled based on the work that is done by transition. This is where the move to a low carbon economy our stewards, reps and members nationwide and reminds us needs to be dealt with in conjunction with helping workers how important being part of a union specifically being part of and communities adapt to the change. Our own National UNISON is. Officer Matt Lay has been instrumental in pushing this agenda forward and at a very well attended conference that I have continued in my role as Chair of the Energy Service was held in September 2018, colleagues in conjunction group for the last twelve months and again it has proved with reps from Unite, GMB and Prospect put forward ideas an interesting and challenging year. I would personally like that will help colleagues and workers deal with the change to thank everyone involved with the Energy Service Group that the situation brings. These include investment in executive especially my vice chair Angie and the staff who infrastructure and protecting and creating high quality jobs support the work we do throughout the year. I would also and employment. like to thank all the members of the executive who represent energy branches and regions in UNISON through the year The challenges that we face as an industry are something as well of those who have stepped down or retired for their that UNISON will deal with head on, whether it is working hard work and dedication to the role. with the Labour Party to ensure that the policies that they have on Energy benefit all members as well as consumers 12 months ago I said in my opening speech to the Energy to helping members are facing the threat of redundancies, conference of 2018 that the energy sector were facing job so thank you all for the support you provide to your losses and attacks on our terms and conditions and still the members as the front line of UNISON and thank you for the energy industry does not ever seem to have been out of contributions of all the representatives on the Service Group the news. The Energy Price Cap has resulted in the current Executive who helped put this report together. And to Matt, government via OFGEM trying to help consumers by limiting Mary, Dave and Sandra and the other staff at UNISON the price an energy supplier can charge their customers Centre who keep us all together for all their hard work thank each year. This has not had the benefit that perhaps the you. government has hoped with a survey carried out at the start of January showing 23% of respondents saying they had never heard of the price cap and another 37% feeling the cap would not affect them. Whilst regulation of the energy Jenny Middleton, market is something that we as a union have supported for Chair of the Energy Service Group Executive many years this should not be at the cost of our members’ jobs. The changes that our industry have felt in the last couple of years still have repercussions across our businesses with the choice of companies to offshore work to outsourcing companies has again lead to a slew of job losses across the sector with the big six energy companies still losing jobs at an alarming rate. The growth of smaller energy companies who have entered the market and promised cheaper prices to customers has not benefited everyone with 10 small energy companies going bust in 2018 and the start of 2019. There are the loss of jobs caused by the failings of these companies and the cost to the householder with an average of £6 being added to each consumer’s dual fuel energy bill because of the costs of appointing new suppliers and spreading out the cost of the firms missing renewable energy payments. 3 Energy Annual Report 2019 Objective One: Recruiting, organising, representing and retaining members 1.1 Membership profile and recruitment years ago, has worked hard to improve matters assisted by the region and has seen consistent and positive recruitment It has been a difficult 12 months for members working in activity. The winners of these awards were all highlighted in the energy sector. We have seen the twin pressures of the Energy Service Group magazine. competition and the price cap introduction impacting on the profitability of the main big six energy retailers who employ The Scottish Gas Branch is now the biggest energy branch a significant proportion of our energy membership. These in the Service Group closely followed by the United Utilities pressures in turn have caused a reduction in employment branch. We have 7 branches with more than 1000 members numbers with further reductions in the pipeline. The net spread across the UK and a total of 28 branches in the impact is not only reductions in member’s jobs but also Service Group. often the freezing of recruitment and an ability to increase membership in an already highly unionised workplace. At the Energy Service Group Executive (ESGE) level we continue to focus on the need to have an effective Regardless of these pressures though, hard work and organising strategy within all the key energy employers dedication by activists and branches has seen continued and we have looked to support this activity through our recruitment activity taking place throughout the year. This various engagements with lay members and branches. culminated in the success of the national recruitment This has included ensuring that organising and recruitment campaign ‘Grovember’ which ran through November and activities feature heavily in our annual energy branch seminar saw total membership in a month grow in the sector for and in ensuring that these issues are on the agendas for the first time in 2018. Many of our key branches showed all functioning national sector committees, with support positive net growth through the campaign period which was provided for both activities via the national strategic a highlight for the year. The response from many energy organising unit. branches has been fantastic and overall is a credit to all the hard work that UNISON activists carry out day in and day We continue to produce simple leaflets to support out. recruitment activity amongst key employers. These have gradually been rolled out to support organising activity In some areas we have seen net membership growth when led by national sector committees. The leaflets seek which in the present climate of job losses is a significant to present a clear energy branding for members so that achievement. We actually saw a number of branches UNISON is seen as the union for respective groupings within increase total membership during the past year. The energy employers. We now have leaflets in stock for the Mike Jeram Trophy award for the most improved branch following national employers; British Gas, EDF, Eon, npower, membership (net) figures during the year between Energy SGN, Cadent, SSE and National Grid. We also produced seminars was presented to the Cadent Gas Branch. This is last year a general energy recruitment poster which can be a newly formed branch organising within a new employer used in any energy workplace to promote UNISON. (Cadent Gas) spun out of National Grid. The new branch has had a strong organising and representation focus with an overall objective to increase further the density of staff membership. It has also put efforts into getting more reps 1.2 Sector Committees and Branch Organisation trained and building the profile of the union. As part of the renewed focus on organising activity, the The second annual membership award made for the ESGE retains as its key priority the need to take forward a branch which has seen the biggest percentage increase requirement for national sector committees to operate with in membership went for the second year running to the all key national energy employers. Eastern Energy branch. This award ensures that smaller branches can be better recognised for recruitment efforts. The ESGE agreed that National Sector Committees Eastern Energy branch mostly organise within E.ON in the should exist with the clear purpose of bringing together Bedford office. This branch which was struggling just a few representatives within national employers where the 4 following exists: for a first meeting scheduled. We have a limited capacity at a national level to support further expansion of these • A common bargaining machinery with direct or indirect committees and this will be a future consideration in any powers; or further development. • Shared bargaining characteristics and general approaches to pay bargaining. The sector committees are also all developing specific • Geographical spread over more than two UNISON employer based organising strategies. Resources dictate regions that progress will be prioritised to meet identified needs and also to complement existing activity. These new Sectors Where national sector committees should exist within the are also reliant on commitments from UNISON regions Energy Service Group, they should also have the following to ensure staff time is made available to ensure they are functions: effective bodies.