Board report

The Joint Industry Board (JIB) was set up in the 1960s by the electrical union (the ETU) and employers’ association (NFEA) to provide a forum to regulate and enhance industrial relations to benefit the industry. As such, the JIB provides a recognised vehicle where the trade union, now Amicus, and employers’ representative body, now the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), can discuss employment and industry issues. It can also agree and develop initiatives to address these issues. It is based on 50% representation from each party.

Traditionally, the JIB has been the forum to agree upon employment conditions, benefits and rates of pay, as well as acting as an industry conciliator. It also provides a pension scheme and the National Agreement that affords a framework for employment conditions. In addition, there is a range of benefits including welfare and holiday schemes for employers and employees to take advantage of available National Insurance exemption. These are managed by the Electrical Contracting Industry Benefits Association (ECIBA).

However, as the electrical industry faces new challenges, the JIB is evolving its role accordingly. In addition to providing practical and impartial advice to help resolve employee relations issues, it is involved in the development and provision of new industry agreements, increased health and safety awareness and support for industry training and apprenticeship schemes.

A prime example of its changing role is its administration of the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS). The JIB introduced the scheme in 1999 to replace the UK Register of Electricians and the JIB Grade Card. The scheme is now a pan-industry leader and recognised as proof of technical competence and health and safety awareness in building services and other industries requiring electrotechnical skills.

ECS is affiliated to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and meets the requirements of the Major Contractors Group that all on-site personnel carry a recognised health and safety competence card. The expansion of the ECS means that the JIB is increasing its presence in other related industry sectors.

The latest sectors to sign up to ECS are those of fire and security. Both the British Fire Protection Systems Association (BFPSA) and British Security Industry Association (BSIA) have adopted the ECS and the JIB recently awarded the 2000th ECS fire and security card. In all, over 70 000 operatives now carry the ECS card. Other ECS sector cards include datacomms and Qualified Supervisors under Part P of the Building Regulations.

Health and safety is also a major concern of the JIB. It is closely involved with the ECA’s development of the Zero Accident Potential (ZAP) health and safety initiative. This aims to reduce the level of accidents throughout the industry by increasing levels of health and safety awareness.

In addition, the JIB collates and analyses statistics on the industry’s safety performance. The figures cover over 1100 contracting firms and over 30 000 electrical operatives and agency workers. Figures for the first half of 2004, based on the returns from the largest JIB companies, encouragingly show a 30% decrease in accidents compared to 2003.

Also concerned with the need to increase the number of electrical apprentices, last year the JIB launched a training scheme that takes account of the new City and Guilds Technical Certificate. Based on the NVQ Level 3, the new scheme includes other electrical disciplines such as panel building, motor rewind and repair, maintenance, public street lighting and instrumentation. The JIB continues to work closely with JTL, the premier training agent responsible for a large share of training within the electrical industry.

Future issues for the JIB include lobbying of Government for adequate adult training funding and the determination and provision of a mechanism that ensures all college-trained electricians are given practical training to obtain NVQ Level 3.

The JIB’s success is proven by the facts that the electrical contracting industry has a highly trained and qualified workforce, an outstanding record of apprentice training, an admired industrial agreement, one of the best industry safety records and an enviable industrial relations record.

Without the JIB, the industry would not have any of the above. It provides a forum for communication and an agreed infrastructure to move forward and address the issues facing employees and employers.

However, there is no room for complacency. The JIB must and will continue to change and adapt to meet the new challenges faced by the electrical contracting and associated industries. It has recently restructured its Regional Joint Industry Boards and its main committees. New committees have been formed for specific projects. This will enable the JIB to address new issues, such as the need to increase the number of apprentices and adult trainees, and the provision of new industry agreements to meet the ever-changing requirements of industry. The establishment of the JIB was a big idea that has stood the test of time. It will continue to do so.