The PUN - October 2010

The PUN - PCS Union News

We are less than a fortnight from the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review on 20^th October. I know that many of you are concerned about what will be announced and how it will affect our department. There are rumours of the privatisation of DWP work, of permanent staff being made redundant and our pensions being cut.  But it isn’t just staff in our department who are threatened. Everyone in the public sector is in the firing line. That is why we have to work together.

Earlier this year the three largest PCS branches in Northamptonshire came together to forge stronger ties. Since we are faced with the same threats, it is only logical that we work closer together. So every month, reps from DWP meet with reps from the Ministry of Justice and HM Revenue and Customs to agree how we can best protect our members against these unnecessary, ideological cuts.

A few months ago we wrote to every member and asked them to email their MP with any concerns that they had about the coalition government’s plans.

As a committee we have also written to every MP in the county, outlining how the proposed cuts would impact upon everyone in Northants, not just our members.

But we plan to do much more. We are working with other local public sector unions and are looking to co-ordinate our actions.

I attended the demonstration at the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool, alongside 4000 other public sector workers. We ask Nick Clegg to stick to the promises he made in his manifesto earlier this year.

It was pouring with rain, but the knowledge that we are not alone in this struggle made it worthwhile.

On the 19^th October several local reps will be taking a day’s leaving and going to the House of Commons to lobby our parliamentary representatives. We will be making the argument that large scale cuts threaten our fragile economy and could cause a “double-dip”, exactly as has happened in Ireland.

I am doubly embarrassed by using the phrase “all in this together.” Partially because it is a phrase used by the government to justify their plans. But also because it was used in High School Musical!

But we are in this together. And if we do stick together, if we believe that we can win the battle for jobs and services, then we can be successful.

Perhaps I should have simply said, unity is strength and together we will win.

But what can I do?

               The simple answer is LOADS!

Here are five simple things which, if every member does them, will help the union in its fight to save your job, your pension and your rights.

1. If you are not a member of PCS, join us now.

The more members of staff that are in PCS, the more influential the union’s voice becomes.

If you are worried about job security, your pension, your pay or your working conditions, then you need to be in PCS.

It is very easy to join. You can go to the PCS website and download a membership form. Or you can approach one of your local PCS reps and ask them for a form.

2. Lobby your local politicians

If an MP gets more than ten emails or letters on the same subject, they consider it to be a major issue to their local constituency.

PCS has made it very simple to contact your MP. If you simply go to http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/email-your-mp/ there are a series of prepared emails, which you can amend if you wish. You can contact your MP on a variety of issues, including FTA staff and protecting DWP jobs and services.

All you need to do is enter your name and address and it will send the email to your MP. And the feedback from the PCS Group in Parliament is that this has already caused many MPs to argue against some of the proposals.

3. Keep yourself informed

I know that we all struggle for time and that we often feel like we are drowning in emails, but it is important that you keep yourself up to date with what is going on.

• Emails – our branch organiser, Bob Carrington, sends out regular emails to update members. If you are a member and you currently do not receive these emails, let Bob know so he can add you to his distribution list.
• Look at www.pcs.org.uk – There is also a page dedicated specifically to DWP & CMEC staff http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/ which includes an update from the DWP Group President on a Friday
• Check out the branch updates – There are certain things which the Electronic Media Policy prevents reps from emailing out to you. Therefore we have set up a branch blog http://pcsnorthants.blogspot.com and a facebook group http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=356513356967, so you can have a fuller picture of what is happening. Remember you can’t access facebook from work.

4. Keep your reps up to date with local issues.

Although we have reps on most sites, it is difficult to know everything that is going on. So if there are issues you think the union could help with, let us know. Reps can’t help resolve an issue that they are unaware exists.

5. Attend union meetings

All members are allowed paid time off to attend certain PCS meetings. The most obvious example is the Annual General Meeting, which the General Secretary Mark Serwotka spoke at this year.

But when there are discussions on issues like pay, members are sometimes given time to attend meetings and give their opinion. These meetings are important because it helps reps to gauge the membership’s  feelings on an issue.

Thank you to Andrew Prowse for producing this cartoon.

Young Members Help To Raise Nearly Five Hundred Pounds For Local Hospice!

As part of Young Workers Week, the branch Young Members Officer Sarah Burroughs, organised a dress down day in aid of Cransley Hospice in Wellingborough.

 Thanks to Sarah’s hard work and the efforts of the other young reps, staff in DWP raised £469.20 for this local charity!

Cransley Hospice provides hospice and palliative care services for the population of Northamptonshire. The team of specialist nurses, doctors and therapists based within the Hospice provide a comprehensive service of care to the patient for whose illness cure may no longer be an option, be they in the Hospice itself, the local hospitals or in their own homes.

Young Workers Week was a national event, organised to highlight the issues that many young people face in the work place. Young workers are often disproportionally effected by poor pay and employment opportunities.

The work carried out by our young members shows that it doesn’t matter how old you are, if you are good enough to do the job.

·       John Andrews – Branch Chair, H&S Chair for CSD. Based at Frances House

·       Kevin Doherty – Vice Chair, H&S Rep. Based at Corby JCP

·       Mark Edwards – Branch Secretary, H&S Rep, Union Learning Rep & Regional Treasurer. Based at Frances House

·       Bob Carrington – Branch Organiser. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Jill Hilton – Branch Treasurer and H&S rep. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Rachael Watts – Fraud rep and Equality Officer. Based at Frances House

·       Sarah Burroughs – Young Members Rep. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Paul Hegarty – Branch Rep and BDC H&S Chair. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Lucy Stanbra – Branch Rep. Based at Corby Debt Centre

·       Pete Handley – Branch Rep. Based at Corby Debt Centre

·       Joy Lyman – Branch Rep. Based at Corby JCP 

·       Dave Gardiner – Branch Rep and H&S rep. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Corinna Nelson – Branch Rep and delegate to Regional Committee. Based at Lothersdale House

·       Franklin Siafa – Branch Rep. Based at Frances House

·       Joy Capstick – Branch Rep. Based at Frances House

·       Steve Savage – H&S rep. Based at Kettering JCP

·       Kay Evans – Branch Rep. Based at Daventry JCP

·       Ady Cicceri -  Branch Rep. Based at Kettering JCP

·       John White – Branch Rep and H&S rep. Based at Frances House

Remember, if you want to keep up to date with everything going on across PCS, keep an eye on the national website www.pcs.org.uk.

The branch is planning on organising a free music event for members before Christmas. We are looking at inviting some local bands to perform at a venue in either Northampton or Wellingborough at the end of November.

If you are interested in this or have any suggestions, please contact Bob Carrington in Wellingborough.

DWP Pay 2010 - PCS demands a fairer offer for all

11 October 2010

Detailed pay talks in DWP have now ended. The DWP PCS Group Executive Committee has considered the offer management want to make and has unanimously agreed to reject the offer and seek much needed improvements to it.

Updated statement on the civil service compensation scheme - 8 October

Union opposes Government's divide and rule tactics

The national executive committee met on 7 October to consider an offer from the Cabinet Office on changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS).
The NEC decided that, in its present form, the offer does not protect the accrued rights of sufficient numbers of our members and is not acceptable. We have called on the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude MP, to enter into further talks in order to find an agreement with the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU). We believe an agreement is possible.

Disgracefully, some other unions representing a minority of staff have collaborated with the Government in attempting to divide the CCSU at a time when we are faced with the prospect of massive job cuts. These unions have entered into a separate agreement with the Government, even whilst CCSU discussions were taking place. The government’s planned cuts make this a vital issue concerning members’ livelihoods, and the minority unions’ actions are a matter of the utmost seriousness. We have demanded that the Minister returns to talks to find an agreement with the CCSU.

Check www.pcs.org.uk for more information