Posted by Maggie Holland at 8:35AM, Saturday 12th January 2008
NOA and Unite are concerned about Shell’s IT plans, specifically the redundancy packages on offer and the wider impact the move will have on technology’s status in the business.
Rumours of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell outsourcing more than 3,000 tech jobs have been met with anger and caution by key industry bodies who are concerned about the impact the decision may have on both IT staff and IT itself. Industry union Unite (formerly Amicus) is believed to be considering legal action over Shell’s redundancy packages, which offer IT staff up to £50,000 – a sum that is somewhat overshadowed by the £200,000 up for grabs when oil rig workers are made redundant.While – in a warning that has wider industry implications for other companies keen to embrace the cost savings and other benefits on offer from outsourcing – National Outsourcing Association (NOA) is concerned that the move could potentially devalue the perceived role of IT in the company.
Outsourcing best practice is key, with the need for companies like Shell to involve unions right from the start at the top of the list, according to Martyn Hart, the NOA’s chairman.
“What is of interest here is how Shell seems to treat its IT workers, in comparison to their oil rig workers. Shaving 75 per cent off their redundancy package looks like a fiscal kick in the teeth. And it’s not just a monetary issue. This action could undermine the importance of IT’s role within the company. IT is fundamental to the functioning of all organisations and Shell – and other companies – would do well to remember that,” he said.
HR and procedures need to be “watertight” with communication and transparency being critical when it comes to outsourcing, according to Hart.
Furthermore, he said, when companies outsource they often experience issues with staff that remain.
“Shell would also be wise to remember that it hasn’t offshored all IT jobs – the company is bound to retain an element of its IT personnel in the UK,” he said. “How will the remaining staff be feeling? Not only will they feel undervalued, they could also feel a sense of uncertainty towards their future with Shell. Morale will be low.”
News of Shell’s outsourcing plans, which put AT&T, EDS and T-Systems in the frame, came to light via an internal company email forwarded to an unofficial site dedicated to providing news and insider information about Shell.
Shell hasn’t yet put out an official announcement about its final IT outsourcing plans, but Michiel Brandjes, the company’s secretary has responded to an email he received from the site where the rumours surfaced.
“The email is authentic,” he said in an email. “It is not a matter of a leak though. Shell is currently in the midst of finalising contract negotiations with selected suppliers to outsource IT Infrastructure. This has been public knowledge since the announcement of a study to outsource a substantial part of IT Infrastructure to a few selected suppliers in Oct 2005. This decision has been the outcome of a transparent process involving employees and relevant works council.”
IT PRO contacted Shell regarding the issue and a spokeswoman reiterated the areas outlined in Brandjes’ email.
However, she was unable to officially confirm the number of employees that may be affected or provide any additional specific details or respond to the NOA’s comments and proposed action by Unite.
http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/154929/shells-it-outsourcing-plans-lambasted.html
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
