Memorandum 3
Submission from the Science and Technology
Facilities Council
STFC NOTICE: 03/2009 (JAN)—SRS DECOMMISSIONING
PROJECT—CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR EARLY RELEASE AT DARESBURY
at 31 MARCH 2010
SRS DECOMMISSIONING PROJECT—CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS FOR EARLY RELEASE AT DARESBURY AT 31 MARCH 2010
BACKGROUND
1. Phase II of the SRS Decommissioning project
is scheduled to complete on 31 March 2010 and we are now looking
at the staffing requirements for financial year 2010-11.
2. Regrettably, current projections show
that not all of the staff effort which will become free when SRS
decommissioning ends, can be absorbed into other funded activities
or lost through natural wastage. Following consultation with the
Trade Unions we are, therefore, introducing at DL with immediate
effect formal pre-redundancy measures as defined in the STFC Redundancy
Procedures Agreement (Appendix A to CEM 18C). As one of a range
of actions that will be taken, this Notice invites staff at DL
to consider whether they might wish to volunteer for early release
on standard CES/CER terms (or PNISS equivalent if relevant). Other
pre-redundancy measures include provision of enhanced relocation
terms where an appropriate transfer from to DL to another STFC
site is agreed (see DL Information Notice 2006/13) and also consideration
of transfers of staff into suitable opportunities in the Civil
Service or CS-related bodies as set out in CCLRC Notice 2006/40.
3. As stated above we are working closely
with the Trade Unions on this matter and discussions have included
lessons learned from the previous exercise and how we can take
these forward.
CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS
4. The reduction sought is up to a maximum
of 27 posts mostly in the Technology Department at DL. The disciplines
involved are shown in the table with numbers assuming the worst
case scenario in which no redeployment is possible.
| Discipline/Category
| Bands | Approximate Numbers
|
| Engineering management | F
| 1 |
| Mechanical/Vacuum Technician | E-D-C
| 14 |
| Electrical Technician | E-D-C
| 3 |
| Controls/Electronics Technician | E-D-C
| 2 |
| Assets Managers | E | 2
|
| Riggers/Estates | D-C-B |
5 |
| |
|
5. Applications will be considered from staff in the
above disciplines if their departure would allow the redeployment
of a person from those areas where reductions are needed. If you
are unsure whether one of the above categories applies to you
then please speak to your line manager or to Joanne Cleveland
in HR.
6. Early release would be at 31 March 2010 though there
may be scope to agree an alternative date in a few individual
cases.
7. It is entirely a matter for individuals to decide
whether to apply for early release and no pressure will be put
on individuals to apply. Nor will there be any impact on the future
career of any member of staff who applies for early release, but
who later withdraws their application or where the application
cannot be agreed for operational reasons.
8. Staff may find it helpful to discuss their situation
with their line management before submitting an application. The
appropriate Department and Project management team will be consulted
in deciding which applications are accepted. Decisions will be
informed by the latest projections for skills requirements related
to work load after decommissioning is completed in April 2010.
9. Applications should be submitted by 27 February 2009
to Joanne Cleveland and it is expected that decisions will made
by no later than 31 March. The application form is attached.
10. Outplacement services will be available to staff
who have their application for early release agreed. DL Information
Notice 01/06 has full details of the services provided.
POSSIBLE FURTHER
ACTION
11. On 1 April the Engineering Technology Centre (ETC)
will be formed, based on the Project Engineering Groups in Technology
Department. The ETC will offer greater integration of engineering
activities and a more programme-focussed approach, and represents
an important step in developing a sustainable project portfolio.
12. We very much hope that a healthy future work portfolio
and the actions being taken including this call for volunteers
will deliver the staff reduction necessary. Running a voluntary
exercise in good time will give us the scope to avoid compulsory
redundancies if this is possible. If it is not, formal, compulsory
redundancy measures would be targeted at 31 March 2010 with redundancy
notices, if required, being served by 1 October 2009.
13. A formal announcement on whether compulsory measures
will be needed will be made as soon as possible during April 2009.
Staff who will be at risk of redundancy will be informed during
May 2009.
The content of this Notice has been agreed with the TU Side.
If you have any queries about it please contact Joanne Cleveland
in the first instance.
February 2009
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