The purpose of this circular is to provide an update of the current Staffing Position in the DCPUs and how it relates to the recent activity that has been going on to resolve the potential Turrets dispute. Members will have seen the recent circular from Dean Rhodes (DCS TU Industrial Relations lead) regarding the discussion on the rollout out of the Turrets working pilot as set out in the Agreed Joint Statements.
However, central to any tangible improvements on the number of hours that the employer desires for members to work on the Turrets and the pressures on the staffing at Warbreck, per se is the need for the commitment from Senior Management to move towards more acceptable staffing levels in Helpline to reduce the reliance on turrets working to be honoured. Frankly a lot of the issues and our concerns could be allayed if there was a meaningful improvement in the staffing levels in the DCPU.
As part of the review of the Turrets Working there have been discussions on the staffing questions and the need for the movement on this aspect of the Joint Statements.
The following response is from Senior DCPU Management:
“Briefly, we have asked HR to start another recruitment exercise for Helpline. We are hoping for a list of 90 successful applicants. This is as a result of not getting sufficient successful applicants from the advert we ran in May, to create a list that will be available into 09/10 (to cover normal attrition) and also to increase the numbers in Helpline by year end to 515 from the currently profiled 492. Barry Cox (Senior PDCS Manager) has agreed this increase in headcount.”
Conclusion
No one underestimates the difficulties there will be in securing staffing levels given the Ministerial pressures to cut jobs. However the above does appear to be the first steps towards a potential resolution. PCS remains committed to campaigning for proper staffing in the DCPU in order that members terms and conditions can be defended and improved.
