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Answers to your questions
What happens to my job now?
Employees in the water and sewerage sector are a key priority and we are working to ensure that you will not be disadvantaged as a result of this strategic and important reform. Significant employment and career progression opportunities and a greater investment in training and development is expected.
As a part of the transition process you will be transferred to the new businesses. This will occur on a progressive basis, in accordance with timeframes agreed between councils and the new businesses. The details on transfers are expected to be worked out by the end of 2008. It is intended that all employees will transfer by 1 July-2009.
Will there be redundancies?
Redundancies are not seen to be necessary or an option.
The new companies are expected to need all current water and sewerage staff
Will I have to move for my job?
It is not anticipated that
employees directly involved in water and sewerage service delivery will need to move from where they currently live. The location of the depot or office you work from could change. These issues will be worked through between employees and the new businesses in the first half of 2009. Sub lease of council depots is an option the new businesses are expected to consider.
Will performance–based contracts be honoured?
In relation to the remuneration of employees that transfer to the new corporations, it is expected that all performance-based or other salary increments that would otherwise have become payable, between now and the transfer in the normal course of events, will be honoured by the new corporations.
What does the transfer mean for my current conditions and entitlements?
You will not be any worse off overall in terms of your pay and leave and associated conditions. After the first twelve months as staff and management settle into their new roles, opportunities for you to improve your working terms and conditions are likely to emerge.
When will current water and sewerage employees know if they are to be transferred to the new corporations?
All existing water and sewerage staff directly involved in providing water and sewerage services will be offered a position in one of the four new corporations and transferred effective from 1 July 2009. Staff can either accept the offer or choose to resign from their current position. For staff indirectly supporting water and sewerage services who may be impacted by the common services corporation, the exact date of advising staff before 1 July 2009 is unknown at this stage and it will be up to councils and the new corporations as to which support staff will be needed. The CSC constitution will stipulate the functions that the Common Services Corporation will deliver, which are corporate support services (such as payroll and IT services) and customer services (such as billing and customer enquiries). The due diligence process will be the first step in identifying the required staffing levels as it will benchmark the FTE levels required against these functions. The due diligence process will be finalised by the end of 2008.
The decision on which employees will transfer will be a matter for the new corporations and each council to determine on a mutually-agreed basis.
I only support water and sewerage services – what does this reform mean to me?
For those staff indirectly supporting water and sewerage services that may be needed by the Common Service Corporation, it will be up to your council and the new corporations to discuss this with each other and with you.
If you are going to be transferred, you will be advised some time following the finalisation of the due diligence process, which is anticipated to be at the end of December 2008. It is expected that transfers to the Common Service Corporation will be announced by the end of the first quarter in 2009
The proclamation of the Water and Sewerage Acts does not mean that there will be a freeze on the renewal of these contracts or agreements. Up until 1 July 2009, it will be business-as-usual for councils and the bulk water authorities regarding the renewal of wage agreements and contracts.
What will be my employment and career opportunities?
As a result of the changes, additional funds will flow into the sector to improve the operation of water and sewerage assets and to provide reticulated services more widely. This means there is going to be significantly more work to do in the future than there is now. The new regional corporations will have a greater capacity to provide staff who transfer with better employment and career opportunities than may currently exist.
What if two people doing the same job are transferred to the same organisation on different conditions?
The new corporations will work through issues such as addressing the situation where two people transferred from different councils may be doing the same job but be getting paid differently and having different working arrangements. We expect this to happen in the first 12 months post transfer.
Who do I talk to if I have any concerns?
Prior to transfer, concerns that you may have should be directed to your council General Manager. |
