PCS fought long and hard over the closure of the LSA site at Moorland Road. We (as were staff) were told that the site was closing, to be sold off for redevelopment.Many staff would be working outside their conditions of service if relocated to Peel Park as a compulsory transfer, this meant excess fares had to be considered, a bus service had to be provided, hardship grounds considered, people forced to drive to work (or to the old site to get the bus) going against green initiatives....the list goes on, including people re-co-located (if there is such a word) with other members of staff that they have previously had to transfer away from due to hardship or harassment.
How lovely it was to see on the intranet this morning a piece about how successful the move to Peel has been.
I guess if you use the fact that all the DWP staff have relocated and none remain on the LSA site as a measure of 100%, then yes it has been successful. But at what cost to the individuals ?
I guess the long and short of it is both Staff and PCS were lied to. The site isn't closing. The site is on indefinite lease. Just not to DWP. At best, the Department were lied to by their landlord, but that wouldn't happen...surely.
If you have access to the Intranet you can read the article here.
If you can't and are accessing this article from home, the last three paragraphs read like this:
"The relocation is all part of a plan to reduce the number of estate buildings from 35 to 13. Far from being demolished, the old site has had all DWP signage removed and is being leased out indefinitely. Building a better future has rarely been this successful!"
Some people might say there hasn't been as much spin since the USA's reporting on the Vietnam War.
