Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk

FCTU Wales

The FCTU Wales Committee is one of the FCTU's six area teams and is responsible for leading on the FCTU's work in Wales.

Andy Phillips

After 47 years service, Andy intends to retire from the Forestry Commission at the end of February. After starting in Somerset and then having a spell in Scotland, Andy moved to north Wales where he spent the lions share of his time in the FC.

Throughout his time with the Commission, Andy has been an enthusiastic and tireless supporter of the trade unions, initially with the Agricultural Workers Union, then TGWU and finally Unite, representing his members on the ITC, FCTU Wales and Staff Council, GB Staff Council and the FCTU Council. Over the years he has gained a reputation as an honest and straightforward guy who earned the respect of all who came into contact with him.

Over his long and eventful career as a senior trade union rep, Andy has gathered enough stories and experiences to fill volumes, running from the sublime to the ridiculous. As with most TU reps, Andy had his fair share of dodgy overnights, none more than the mid winter stay in a B&B where he and his roommate had to get up in the early hours to move the beds as far away from the window (which was failing miserably to keep out the arctic gale) as possible, in an attempt to avoid hypothermia. However his high was truly sublime, when he was awarded the MBE for services to Forestry a very proud moment for Andy and his family.

A few years ago Andy and his wife Elizabeth were involved in a serious road accident which left them both requiring hospital treatment, Elizabeth’s injuries being the more serious. Fortunately they have both fully recovered now and enjoying life to the full, which we hope will continue through a long and fruitful retirement.

News and Issues – April 2008

NOC Member changes

There have been a couple of staff member changes on the NOC recently. The NOC would like to thank Matthew Park, PCS Rep, for his contribution over the last couple of years following his decision to step down. Taking Matthew’s place is StJohn Ashworth, a PCS member working in Coed y Gororau Forest District in the Planning Team, so the NOC would like to welcome him to the committee. As you will know Kath McNulty left FCW earlier this year on a secondment to ConFor. Rhian Evans has agreed to step into Kath’s shoes and in doing so also takes on the role of NOC Secretary. Again the NOC would also like to welcome Rhian to the committee.

Wales Staff Council Meeting

The next meeting is on the 14th April in Aberystwyth. We are grateful to Ed Shephard, FCTU Secretary, who is attending this meeting who will be able to give a wider outlook to Union and Management issues across FC GB. The next Wales NOC meeting is on the 22nd May in Coed y Gororau Forest District Offices, Welshpool.

Trefor Owen, confirmed Director FCW

The NOC wish to formally congratulate Trefor on his successful appointment as Director FCW. The NOC looks forward to a continued good working relationship with both the Director and the Management Board.

GIS in FCW

There has been concern now for a long time in Wales that roles connected with the use of GIS are not being appropriately reflected by the correct pay band. The vast majority of GIS roles are carried out at PB 6B grade. If you have been keeping any tags on this you will have noticed that almost all the equivalent GIS posts that have recently been trawled in England and Scotland are graded at PB 6A. It is considered that these job/roles are all but identical to those carried out by Members in Wales. The NOC is, therefore, discussing with Management to get an agreement to reassess the roles where GIS is the main element, especially those with a pay band grade of 6B. The recent successful JEGS results of the G&L Clawdd Newydd posts (recommending an upgrade from 6B to 6A) has certainly been the catalyst to keep pushing Management for a review.

FC Wales Recruitment & Selection (Post Filling) Process

A revision has recently been made to the post-filling document in FCW. The main amendments relate to managing those ‘permanent’ staff, whom have been on ‘Project’ work or secondments that are time-bounded, back into core FCW business. It also takes into consideration the status of ‘Key’ and ‘non-Key’ posts and states when a is business case is required, or not, to fill a vacant post in-line with the agreed staffing structures for the 3 year (2008-2011) financial period.

FC Wales Staffing Plan – Key and non-Key posts

The NOC is in discussions with Management over the release of identifying which posts in Wales are ‘Key’ or ‘non-Key‘. The NOC believes that Members should be able to know whether the role they are in is ‘Key’ or not. It is felt, if for no other reason, that Members interested in career development and progress need to know if the role they are currently holding, or wish to move into, is ‘Key’ or not so that they can make sensible pragmatic decisions about their career. At present Management are not prepared to release this information, stating that this is sensitive information. The NOC disagrees with this and is, therefore, seeking to change Management’s standing on this.

News and Issues - Sept 2007

Interim Director  25th Sept 2007

Following the very sad death of Ian Forshaw, Trefor Owen has been appointed as Interim Director for Wales.  Antony Griffiths (Wales NOC Chair) met with Trefor and briefed him on issues that were going to be raised at the forthcoming Wales Staff Council meeting.

Wales Staff Council Meeting  25th Sept 2007

The Staff Council was scheduled for 24th September but unfortunately had to be cancelled.  The next Wales NOC meeting therefore will be on 20th November followed by a Wales Staff Council meeting on 7th December.  Please raise any issues you would like discussed with your local union rep.

New active members  22nd Sept 2007

John Williams has been elected to the NOC as a Unite rep. Steve Pocock is also keen to become involved, he is a member of PCS.

Post filling  20th Sept 2007

Many of you have contacted us to say you are disappointed with the way posts are being filled. Kath McNulty (Wales NOC Secretary) has drafted a discussion paper which will be presented at the next NOC meeting. The issue will also be raised at the forthcoming Staff Council meeting.

Chirk Workshop  14th Sept 2007

Several weeks ago Joint Union members and MES staff based in Wales met with MES Managers to discuss the suggestion of relocating the Chirk workshop to a renovated facility at Clawdd Newydd—about 40 miles away.  We remain unconvinced by the business case for the relocation and concerned about the disproportionate impact the proposals will have on staff. 

Another meeting is planned with MES Managers to look further at the business case, once we have more feedback from FC Wales Managers about the future deployment of the FC Wales harvesting fleet we will let you know via this page.  For further information contact Chris Tucker.

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