TTS Staff Receive New Contracts

40 members of States staff have today received new contracts of employment, which change their place of work from the harbour to other States premises.

The men are part of a group of 45 who used to be employed by the Harbour department, but who, since last May, have come under the administration of Transport and Technical Services. They are represented by the Transport and General Workers’ Union.

The change means that they will work in one of two TTS workshops – one at La Collette and one at Bellozanne – from the middle of 2007. Currently they all work in another workshop at La Collette, which is just a few yards away from the TTS base. The Union has claimed that the cost of moving is a waste of money, but this has been refuted by TTS chief executive John Richardson who pointed out that vacating one workshop at La Collette will bring in about £⅓m per annum in rental.

Today, deputy chief executive Mick Pinel, who has responsibility for industrial relations in the public sector said: "The changeover was decided to cut out unnecessary and wasteful duplication. We know that we have to make the public sector more efficient and eliminate waste and in this case we are operating three workshops, when only two will do."

He said: "The men were each given their new contract this morning. This means that like other States employees, the men will be required to work in locations which mean they will be able to provide the best service to the States and the public. Nothing will happen immediately, however, and the moves will not take place until April and July next year."