Connect at Adastral Park

Old News

10/6Cool ways to stay warm in an old house ...

Monday 29^th June, 12:30 - 13:30, Crucible Studio

Next in the series of environment related talks and discussions brought to you by the award winning Connect @Adastral Park carbon club.

Most of Britain's housing stock was built before recent regulations around energy efficiency were introduced. Indeed studies of energy use and age of housing stock in Ipswich have shown that wards dominated with Victorian (solid walled) homes have the highest energy consumption per household in the borough. Some of these are also in a conservation area which restricts what can be done to improve these types of homes.

In this talk John Taylor from Ipswich Borough Council talks about his studies into energy use in the borough, and the actions that owners of older properties can take to improve energy efficiency, save money on fuel bills, create a more comfortable home environment and help combat global warming.

To find out more about the club or to get involved visit our website: http://www.apconnectuk.org/carbonclub/calendar.html

10/6Two weeks to conference ...

Monday 22^nd June - Connect BT Conference starts
Now is your opportunity to let your branch officers know what your thoughts are for raising at Connect's BT and Biennial Conferences in Blackpool including your comments on the proposed merger with Prospect.

1/6Past Events ...

Thursday 4^th 19:00 for 19:30:

A Delicate Balance: The Truth - http://adelicatebalance.com.au/
@7pm for 7.30pm showing, followed by Q&A with the Director and finishing around 9.30pm
Thursday 4 June - an opportunity to take your mind off the elections
BT Adastral Park - free entry but pass required, register online (details below)

We have been very fortunate to get the Director (Aaron Scheibner - http://aaronscheibner.com/) of this film to agree to attend and take Q&A session afterwards, after his tour of America and Australia. Plus there will be some free veggie nibbles too.

A Delicate Balance documents the latest discoveries of some of the most prominent experts on nutrition in the world. Over 50 years of research is skilfully woven into what feels like a detective unravelling the mysteries behind the disease epidemic which has struck affluent countries with a vengeance - disease has been escalating over the last 50 years resulting in 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women being diagnosed with cancer.

Watching this film will help you make informed choices about your health and the environment around you and how to reduce your personal impact

To register to attend (pass needed to get on to site) please complete the online form:
- cut and paste this link in to your browser: http://www2.formwize.com/1721

Any questions or queries beforehand please call Manooch on 07843 352919

Thanks for reading this far...

Andrew Cassy

25/5Past Events ...

Wednesday 27^th May, 12:30pm Crucible Studio - Environment Discussion on the "Future of Farming"
Inspirational 50mins BBC programme followed by short discussion:
Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking investigates how to transform her family's farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future, and discovers that nature holds the key.
With her father close to retirement, Rebecca returns to her family's wildlife-friendly farm in Devon, to become the next generation to farm the land. But last year's high fuel prices were a wake-up call for Rebecca. Realising that all food production in the UK is completely dependent on abundant cheap fossil fuel, particularly oil, she sets out to discover just how secure this oil supply is.
Alarmed by the answers, she explores ways of farming without using fossil fuel. With the help of pioneering farmers and growers, Rebecca learns that it is actually nature that holds the key to farming in a low-energy future
Thursday 4^th June 12:30pm John Bray Lecture Theatre - Future of Connect
A meeting on the proposed merger with Prospect or CWU. Connect President Denise Mcguire will explain the options and answer your questions
Monday 22^nd June - Connect BT Conference starts
Now is your opportunity to let your branch officers know what your thoughts are for raising at Connect's BT and Biennial Conferences in Blackpool

14/4Upcoming Events ...

22^nd April - Environment Event: "Story of Stuff on Earth Day" - short film followed by a general discussion on the environment
12^th May - Mid-Career Financial Planning - aimed at those of you under 50 with some years to go before retirement
19^th May - Financial Planning for Retirement - aimed at the over 50s who are more actively thinking about retirement

For more information contact your local branch.

23/3Nominations open today for elections to Industrial Relations Committees ...

Nominations open today for elections to Industrial Relations Committees for the following Lines of Business:

BT Design
BT Global Services
BT Openreach
BT Operate
BT Retail
BT Wholesale

Information has been sent to members today, inviting them to consider seeking nomination. Nominations must be via branches (not necessarily the candidate's own branch).

Nominations close 6^th April.

22/3Meeting: Transition Towns & The Power Of Community ...

The next event; "Transition Towns & The Power Of Community" is a meeting on Wednesday March 25th starting 12:30 in the Crucible Studio at Adastral Park organized by Connect@Adastral Park carbon club and Transition Woodbridge.

A brief introduction to Transition Towns followed by a film showing how Cuba survived the energy famine of the 1990's. This is a story of the collective mobilisation of an entire society to meet an enormous challenge. Followed by an informal discussion / networking and light refreshments.

26/2Performance Management ...

You should have received an email on "Performace Management" from Connect General Secretary Adrian Askew. Some parts of BT, particularly in BT Design, seem to be having a strong focus on performance management at the moment. Some managers appear to be working to targets for the number of people to mark GS and to put on a PIP. As a result Connect is seeing a large increase in the number of people coming for advice. If you think you have been marked down unfairly or you are likely to be placed on the managing under performance procedure then its important that you contact Connect for advice.

6/2Branch Officers ...

The recent annual meeting voted in this year's committee. Meet the committee.

14/1Connect Adastral Branches Meeting ...

The next meeting will be on Monday 26th January 2009 at 12:30 in the Crucible Studio (Small Lecture Theatre)
The main business will be: Performance Management Workshop

Connect Representatives will explain how the performance management process in BT is meant to work. There will be an opportunity to discuss current issues such as the apparent use of quotas and targets to mark people GS which are being seen in some parts of the business. General advice will be given on how to challenge unfair performance markings.

The workshop will be preceded by the annual meetings of the three branches. As in previous years the meetings will run concurrently but members will only be able to vote in their own branch.

3/12Connect Week Spot the Difference ...

The answers to the spot the difference competition are available here.

Everyone should assess their workstation, annually and whenever there are changes (for EWE this may mean a brief assessment every day!!!). A list of suggested workstation checks is available.

28/11Connect Week Performance Management ...

The slides from the performance management talk are available here.

19/11Connect Week Starts Next Week ...

Connect week at Adastral Park is a collection of themed days with events, meetings and stalls based in the Hub and Antares.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Theme	Careers	Learning	Environment	Health & Safety
Events	PDP Seminar	Financial and Career sessions	Presentations	Body Mapping
Meetings		BT Operate and BT Group	BT Design	O2 and Airwave	Branch Meeting
Stalls	HSA, HBOS, Diversity, Mortgage Force	Union Learning, Opus 2, Mortgage Force	Various environment stalls	H&S, HSA

For full details see the programme timetable at the Hub concourse and Antares foyer.

14/11Connect Week Starts 24th November ...

In support of Connect Week at Adastral Park Lighthouse Temple will be offering individual financial advice sessons to members on Tuesday 25th November.
Connect Adastral Park branch invites you to an individual CV review by Opus2 Careers on 25th or 26th November

Please contact your branch rep for more details.

14/11BT Pension Review ...

BT's consultation process has started and due to conclude in early January. Connect are holding a number of meetings around the country to give members the opportunity to ask questions about BT's proposals.

The Adastral Park meeting is on Monday 17th November 11:30 and 13:00 in the John Bray lecture theatre.

14/11Proposed Pensions Changes ...

By now you should have received emails from Connect and BT regarding the proposed pensions changes and you may also have received your consultation pack in the post. You can read more information on the Connect Web site.

This page also contains links to other documents and to other sites such as the BT pensions review site.

There is a lot of information to take in but please make an effort to read it and participate in the consultation.

1/10Industrial Action Suspended ...

Connect have e-mailed members today:

"We have now established a basis with BT to negotiate a potential settlement of the pay dispute. As a result, we have agreed with BT to SUSPEND the industrial action for a period of 28 days with effect from midnight tonight, 1st October 2008."

For more details see the Pay Fair website.

30/8Environment Day at Adastral Park ...

Connect @ Adastral Park Carbon Club are holding the "Down to Earth" Environment Day on Thursday 4th September.

See the flyer for more details.

23/8After your holiday ...

We hope you enjoyed your holiday, now you are back ...

Only work your contractual hours
Don't exceed your 36 hours when covering colleagues on holiday or in the periods before or after your holiday
Don't offer to be flexible
Don't take part in informal on-call arrangements
Switch off your mobile, BlackBerry and PC out of hours
Don't work weekends
Don't travel outside your working hours

31/7Send in your stories

How is the industrial action affecting your area. How are you finding it and are there any problems?
We'd love to hear your stories, examples of how effective it is being or any problems you are having.

Just drop us an e-mail.

25/7BBC: No time to think

The BBC have written an interesting article No time to think

"The most common advice boils down to something that might seem obvious: only work when you're being paid to work. The rest of the day is yours to do with as you wish - and you may wish to devote it to thought."

20/7Connect Annual Pay Survey...

9th July, Connect launched the annual survey on terms and conditions of employment in BT.

As you may know, this survey plays an important part in the development of our bargaining agenda for the rest of the year and contains all the usual questions on your DPR score and views on performance management, the 2008 pay and bonus review, and hours, work and stress. Of course, given the union's campaign of industrial action, we are particularly interested in gaining a perspective on how BT has implemented its pay matrix this year. We should be very grateful if you would spend a few moments filling in the questionnaire; as always, it is entirely anonymous and will not be reported in a way which subsequently allows participants to be identified.

Check your e-mail and complete the survey. (If you are missing the survey then please send us an e-mail)

17/7Local News of a meeting...

We have opted to hold regular meetings at the Douglas Bader every Friday lunchtime starting at 12:00. Please show your support for YOUR Union by coming along and adding your input.

14/7Some recent Action...

We were leafleting outside Adastral Park last week and had very positive response from everyone driving into work. See the photos...

13/7 Don't work past 36 hours!

In this first stage of industrial action, we are hearing reports of widespread action across all parts of BT and all round the country. Visit the Payfair website to see a small selection of the action that's taking place.

At Adastral the car parks are looking empty by 17:30. Make the most of your newly aquired free time.

4/7 BT reminds managers about 36 hours

In a recent briefing "Connect industrial action - guidance for managers", BT has restated the following:

"Individuals are entitled to refuse to work in excess of 36 hours net and cannot be required to be available beyond these hours."

26/6 Local Pay Meeting - Thursday 26th June

Ben Marshall, Connect's Head of Industrial Relations, addressed a meeting for members to discuss pay and the industrial action after work at 5:00pm upstairs in Kingpin (opposite Adastral Park).

More ...

24/6 Adastral Branches highlight action

From 8am on the 24th a team of Connect volunteers handed out leaflets to people arriving at BT's research and development site, Adastral Park, highlighting the first day of industrial action.

More ...

24/6 Local Pay Meeting

There will be a meeting for members to discuss pay and the industrial action on Thursday 26th June at 5:00pm upstairs in Kingpin (opposite Adastral Park). Branch representatives will be available from 4:30pm and after the meeting if you have any individual questions.

24/6 Industrial Action starts today

From 24th June BT's managers and professionals have started industrial action short of a strike. More information on the industrial action can be found at the Connect Pay Fair website.

24/6 Website Update

New style website created. Previous infomation can be found here.

17/6 Industrial action to start in BT

Delegates at Connect's recent conference have voted to reject BT's latest proposals for an agreement designed to avert an industrial dispute. Connect has now given notice that industrial action will start on 24 June 2008.

17/6 Stay Connected

At Adastral Park we are keen to remain in contact with our members. We will be providing an e-mail newsletter during the industrial action. Members should ensure that they have registered a private e-mail address via http://www.connectuk.org/homeemail.