Members will recall from the DWP 3 Year Business Plan that management plan to close upwards of 200 offices by 2011. PCS has been pressing management for fuller details of these proposed closures since its publication. To date, detailed information on the location of office closures has not been shared with PCS, except for those currently under local consultation.
PCS are currently awaiting a meeting on Estates with management and have a meeting scheduled with Works and Pensions Minister, James Purnell at the end of October to pursue our position that further office closures at a time of rising unemployment is not the answer.
Increasing Need for Services
The Office for National Statistics recently announced figures showing that the benefit claimant count for August has increased by 32,500 to reach 904,900. This figure is the largest jump in people claiming JSA since 1992 – a sixteen year high. The same report also shows that joblessness rose by 81,000 to 1.72 million between May and July, which is the largest increase since 1999. It was also reported that the jobless rate in Britain rose by 0.2% to 5.5% in the three months to July, again the worst level since 1992.
PCS are currently awaiting a meeting on Estates with management and have a meeting scheduled with Works and Pensions Minister, James Purnell at the end of October to pursue our position that further office closures at a time of rising unemployment is not the answer.
Increasing Need for Services
The Office for National Statistics recently announced figures showing that the benefit claimant count for August has increased by 32,500 to reach 904,900. This figure is the largest jump in people claiming JSA since 1992 – a sixteen year high. The same report also shows that joblessness rose by 81,000 to 1.72 million between May and July, which is the largest increase since 1999. It was also reported that the jobless rate in Britain rose by 0.2% to 5.5% in the three months to July, again the worst level since 1992.
With more companies announcing redundancies on an almost daily basis PCS believes, as the economy worsens it is likely that these figures will continue to rise, which will require a far greater need for locally delivered services from DWP.
Advice to Branches
PCS is campaigning vigorously to protect offices from closure. A variety of campaigning materials are already available from PCS for use by Branches dealing with proposed office closures. Any Branch requiring these should contact Group office.
PCS are pressing for DWP to share details with DTUS and/or Business Unit TUS’ of all office closures. In the meantime, reps are encouraged to advise Group office of all public consultations beginning on potential closures.
Advice to Branches
PCS is campaigning vigorously to protect offices from closure. A variety of campaigning materials are already available from PCS for use by Branches dealing with proposed office closures. Any Branch requiring these should contact Group office.
PCS are pressing for DWP to share details with DTUS and/or Business Unit TUS’ of all office closures. In the meantime, reps are encouraged to advise Group office of all public consultations beginning on potential closures.
