National Lobby of Parliament against the Welfare Reform Bill

Together with other unions, the TUC, and campaign groups like Unemployed Workers Centres and the Child Poverty Action Group, PCS is organising a lobby of Parliament and public meeting on 3rd of March.

James Purnell's proposals for reform of the welfare state represent an attack on much that our movement holds dear.

The bill if implemented will allow cuts of up to 40% of benefit payments for vulnerable people including lone parents with children. People with disabilities and long-term illnesses are already finding themselves on reduced benefits, and face increased pressure to seek work - even though many employers will not take on such workers. They will oblige the long-term unemployed to work for their benefits, something that even Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet rejected. They will get an effective hourly rate of pay of only £1.74, massively undercutting the minimum wage.

They plan to put the Social Fund, last port of call for the desperately poor; in private or charitable hands, taking us back to the Victorian era and they will privatise more of the functions currently performed by our members in Jobcentres, forcing many of the most vulnerable into the hands of private companies interested only in how much they can milk from the state.

I am proud of the role that PCS has already played in campaigning against these proposals, but now we must step up the fight. The Welfare Reform Bill is making rapid progress through parliament, and we are determined to make sure that MPs understand how backward the proposals are - especially when so many jobs are being lost, and people need assistance, not bullying.

We are organising a lobby of parliament on the 3rd of March, beginning with a rally at 12.30 pm in Room 14 at the House of Commons, Westminster.

This is not only a struggle to defend jobs and public services, it is a defence of the welfare state upon which any of us, or our friends, or our families may rely on in the future.

Please make every effort to attend and lobby your local or workplace MP.

Please contact our campaigns staff by email or on 0207 801 2820
or 020 7801 2773 to let us know who will be attending and which MPs you have contacted prior to the event. Travel and subsistence will be paid for one attendee per constituency.

Further details, including leaflets and a briefing will be made available on the PCS website here.

Put People First

March For jobs, Justice and Climate

Join the national Put People First march for jobs, justice and climate and call for decent jobs and public services for all, an end to global poverty and inequality, and a green economy.
Thousands of people will march through London on 28 March, as the leaders of 20 of the world's economic powers prepare to meet on 2 April for a G20 Summit in an attempt to tackle the recession and global financial crisis.

Global problems, public solutions
The last year has made us appreciate even more so than before that crises in one part of the world impact on other areas of the globe. Solutions must therefore be truly global and not just designed to protect the interests of the most economically developed countries and the wealthy elites within them. The leaders of the G20 countries must not be allowed to just tinker with a global economic system that has failed people across the world and continues to endanger our environment.

To get this message across, PCS has joined a broad 'Put People First' (PPF) coalition, including the TUC and many others who were part of Make Poverty History. This also fits in with PCS and War on Want's 'Global Problems, Public Solutions' campaign, calling for a clampdown on the overseas tax­dodging activities of UK multinational companies.

March for jobs, justice and climate
PPF is organising a mobilisation on 28 March in advance of the G20 summit; a march will start at 11 am from Victoria Embankment to Hyde Park.

The campaign has three key messages:

- decent jobs and public services for all
- end global poverty and inequality
- build a green economy

There can be no going back to business as usual, with poor regulation encouraging shoddy business practices, short-term profits, and an inadequate commitment to protecting our environment. The only sustainable way to build a truly global economy is through fair distribution of wealth that provides decent jobs and public services for all, ends global inequality and builds a low-carbon future.

Get involved
Materials to promote the march will be sent to branches and regional offices. More information, including downloadable flyers and posters, are available at the Put People First Website here.

We need volunteer stewards - contact Hannah Charnock in the PCS campaigns unit to volunteer by email or on 0207 801 2749.

Lean Roll Out in DCPU

This is the latest post to update members with feedback from a meeting between PCS and DCPU Management on 19th February 2009.

Senior Management informed us that the roll out was commencing as planned and the roll out was still on track. They were in the process of restructuring the core Lean Team so they could assess the impact of Lean by looking back at various ways of working introduced such as trays etc.

PCS raised a number of issues that arose from the most recent members meetings including lack of staffing, pressures to hit targets, work piling up and staff being labelled as negative or troublemakers if they raise concerns. Senior Management agreed to look at the issues they had control over but would not take away the points we raised over staffing. It is probably Managements view that they have enough staff – we do not agree and this is reflected time and time again when we ask members what they think of Lean.

Senior Management did say they welcome all views and they were concerned to hear that staff were not able to give their views freely. If you have any concerns that you are not able to raise your concerns then let us know.

We again raised the issue of the 10 Minute Meetings arguing most members found them a waste of time. Senior Management did not agree with this point of view and said that staff could choose not to attend if they did not find them useful.

We will continue to meet Senior Management on Lean and raise the issues you raise with us.

PCS will continue to speak to members in the areas that have rolled out to establish your views.

Please let Dean Rhodes, Jim Marsh or Grant McClure have any concerns if any arise.

Turrets Update – Results of The Desk Top Members’ Ballot

The purpose of this post is to provide an update from the desk top ballot of the members on Friday 20th February 2009 to re-measure the outcome of the roll out of the Turrets pilot and any recent changes (due to the LEAN job cuts at AO level or other factors). Thanks to all the members who gave their views.

The question put to the members in the ballot on 20th February 2009 was whether or not members were (at present) able to state their preference as to starting/ finishing times and availability to work the Turrets without coercion.

214 people said yes they were able to state preference as to starting/ finishing times and availability to work the Turrets without coercion.

• 64 said no they weren’t.
• 10 replied by saying sometimes (or something similar).

There were two notable rooms, B309 and C222 where the room response was in the negative and we will ensure that we pick up these with the employer and also any other areas of concern.

We will also continue the ongoing negotiations to try and reduce to a minimum (if not eliminate) the 4 Pm to 5 Pm Turret slot; to ensure that there is a reasonable maximum numbers of hours that someone can work on the Turrets (pro rata for part time staff) and to ensure that the commitment to increase Helpline staffing levels is honoured.

As ever; if you are aware of any breaches to the agreed Joint statements (in word and spirit) then please do not hesitate to contact Dean Rhodes, Emma Haslehurst or Duncan Griffiths.

Register to vote: Make your vote count

The European Parliament is the only multinational parliamentary assembly in the world that is elected by universal suffrage and the next election to decide who will govern Europe will take place in the UK on Thursday 4 June 2009.

All in all, 27 member states will take part in these elections and some 500 million EU citizens will choose 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The UK is divided into twelve regions for the European elections. This election will also include some unitary and county elections in different parts of the UK meaning that everyone has at least one vote on election day. The first task we face is to encourage every member of our union, as well as our friends and families, to register to vote and to take part. This is the only way we can stop the growth in electoral support for the far right.

The British National Party (BNP) and other far right parties already have an unprecedented number of elected representatives across the UK. Now their sights are set on winning a seat in Europe.

The BNP want to push forward their own politics of hate and they pose a real threat to all of us.
Our movement should always be proud to have taken part in defeating the fascists in the past and we are still committed and able to defeat them again now. But to be successful – people have to vote against the BNP and we all have to play our part in organising the campaign to mobilise the majority who agree that fascism is wrong and should have no place in our society.

Register to vote so we can defeat the BNP at the ballot box. The voter registration deadline is 19 May.

If you need to register or want to apply for a postal vote visit: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

For more information about our campaign visit: www.pcs.org.uk/myvc

Unacceptable Workplace Behaviour Survey

PCS has issued information and a request for members to assist in completing an on-line violence and bullying in the workplace survey.

The survey can be found here: Violence Survey Phase 2 and should take about 20 minutes to complete.

The closing date for the survey is Sunday 14th of March 2009.

Please ensure you spread the word of the survey to all members so they can consider completing it – the more input there is, the better the picture that will be gained of our members’ experiences of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace.

Please note you can start the survey and go back to it at any time, but only if you do not close the survey screen.

Any questions about the survey can be directed to Phil Madelin, PCS National H&S Officer, by email or telephone on: 020 7801 2683.

Turret Pilot Update – Results of the Members Ballot

The purpose of this post is to provide an update from the members’ meetings on Thursday 12th February 2009 to discuss the outcome of the roll out of the Turret pilot and the staffing levels at Warbreck.

Thanks to all the members who attended the meeting and gave their views.

As ballots of the members had taken place at the start and during the Turret pilot it was considered to be best practise if one did so at the conclusion of the roll out of the pilot stage to ascertain membership feedback.

The results of the questions put to the members at the meeting on 12th February 2009 were close (however there was a majority in favour) on the question of whether or not members were (at present) able to state their preference as to starting/ finishing times and availability to work the Turrets without coercion. This was explained in the meetings that in certain areas people being asked and then re-asked repeatedly if they could undertake additional turrets slots even though they had not stated that slot within their preferences (although the slots were within their availability). We Agreed to re-iterate to the employer that the word coercion is very important in the agreed joint statements i.e. members are not to be subjected to coercion when it comes to covering the turrets slots.

As far as the second question was concerned members overwhelmingly agreed that PCS should continue negotiations, to reduce the amount of time spent on Turrets, and secure additional resources in the DCPU. This is particularly pertinent due to the latest agreed Joint statement.

The next stage is to continue the ongoing negotiations to try and reduce to a minimum (if not eliminate) the 4 Pm to 5 Pm Turret slot; to ensure that there is a reasonable maximum numbers of hours that someone can work on the Turrets (pro rata for part time staff) and to ensure that the commitment to increase Helpline staffing levels is honoured.

As ever; if you are aware of any breaches to the agreed Joint statements (in word and spirit) then please do not hesitate to contact Dean Rhodes, Emma Haslehurst or Duncan Griffiths.

Election for the Posts of Delegates to DWP and National Conference

The purpose of this post is to advise members of the details of procedures under Rules 8 and 9 to elect conference delegates for the 2009/2010 period.

The following valid nominations were received by the cut-off point on 29th January 2009:

Clare Bat Or, Emma Haslehurst, Gloria Hodgkinson (Group Conference only), Martin Jones (National Conference only), Dave Kearsley, Michelle Kenyon, Grant McClure, Chris Wade.

The ballot will be held at the Annual General Meeting on 26th February 2009.

In order to vote you need to attend the AGM as the ballot papers will ONLY be available at the meeting on Thursday, 26th February 2009, commencing at 10:15am at The Cliffs Hotel, Blackpool.

The election address received for the candidates can be found here. It would be beneficial if members read them before the AGM.

If you require any further details do not hesitate to contact the Branch Secretary.

Election for the Posts of BEC Members At Warbreck

The purpose of this post is to advise of the details of procedures under Rules 27 and 28 to elect BEC members at Warbreck for the 2009/2010 period.

The following valid nominations were received by the cut-off point on 4th February 2009:

Craig Barrett, Bridget Bottomley, Victor Carman, Mick Daniels, Julie Dare, Carl Erwin, Deborah Jones, Dave Kearsley, Katya Lawder, Graham Lyndhurst, Denise MacCullum, Grant McClure, Alistair Mitchell, Clark Nuttall, Malcolm Phair, Tracey Pierce, Dave Ray, Sally Taylor-Hughes, Peter Windle.

The election addresses submitted by the candidates can be found here.

The ballot opens on 18th February 2009 and closes at a specified time at the Annual General Meeting on 26th February 2009.

There are several ways to vote in the election:

• ballot papers will be available at the AGM on Thursday, 26th February 2009, commencing at 10:15 am at The Cliffs Hotel;
• by a postal vote; please complete the request form found here and return it as specified.

If you require any further details do not hesitate to contact the Branch Secretary, Duncan Griffiths on Ext: 63484.

Thank you.

Work Your Proper Hours Day

More than five million people worked unpaid overtime in 2008, bringing its total value across the UK to a record £26.9 billion, according to a new analysis of official statistics published by the TUC.

The union body warned a recent trend to shorter hours has been reversed and says the economic downturn could increase the pressure to work for free.

TUC has calculated that 5.24 million people worked unpaid overtime in 2008 - the highest number since records began in 1992. The previous record was five million in 2001. Employees who work unpaid would receive an extra £5,139 a year if they were paid for the additional hours they are putting in, the TUC calculated.

The average amount of unpaid overtime is seven hours and six minutes - the same amount as last year. TUC's figures show if everyone who works unpaid overtime did all their unpaid work at the start of the year, the first day they would get paid would be Friday 27 February.

The TUC traditionally declares this 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' and makes a light-hearted call for staff to work their proper hours for at least one day a year and for employers to thank their staff for regularly putting in the extra hours at work.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'After years of progress, the numbers doing unpaid overtime has increased for the second year in a row. This is disappointing. But while some of this is due to the longs-hours culture that still dogs too many British workplaces, the recession will now be making many people scared of losing their job in the year ahead and joining the ever-growing dole queue.

Inevitably people will be putting in extra hours if they think it can help protect against redundancy or keep their employer in business.' He added: 'This is not the year therefore for our usual light-hearted 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'.

But this does not mean people should ignore excessive working. Friday 27 February should still be used to think through working hours. Long hours are bad for people's health, and employers should never forget that each extra hour worked makes people less productive once they are over a sensible working week. The recession should instead provide a spur to make workplaces more productive, and for managers to get staff to work together, not compete for who can stay the latest.'

There is more information and some interactive applications available on the worksmart website here.

This information has been supplied by the TUC.

Adult Learning

The BBC have just launched a new website designed to assist adults to learn skills for everyday life.

The site can be found here.

Update from Meeting between Senior DCPU Management and PCS

The purpose of this post is to provide a brief update on some of the issues discussed at a meeting held with Senior DCPU Management on 21st January 2009.

Firstly we welcomed the new (old) managers and congratulated them on their promotions. We asked when promotions would be available for the many, many staff rather than the few. Senior Management declined to answer.

Staffing and Workloads
We asked the employer for their intentions with regard to the shortfalls of staff in terms of headcount across Operations and Helpline, particularly whether those shortfalls would be replaced by any further recruitment to address what we see as increasing workloads and pressures on members. We called upon the employer to look to recruitment and promotion for staff. The response was that there were no recruitment exercises planned but that this may change as a result of the new financial allocations expected shortly.

We reiterated our desire for an increase in staff across the units to address what we see as a lack of capacity and an ongoing reliance on overtime, hit squads and moving work around to address work build up combined with the longstanding closed career paths where promotion boards and advancement appear to be a thing of the past for almost all but a few.

Exportability
The update so far is that there is no further update but one is expected soon, as we have reported previously. Senior Management say there is potential for the creation of a dedicated section with up to 40 to 50 members of staff depending upon how the changes to the law (as to entitlement for those living abroad) is interpreted and implemented. Our concern is that there is a potential for these staff to come from existing units across the unit without being replaced and further stretching an already pressured membership unrealistically which means, again, more work with less staff.

LEAN
We continue to closely monitor Lean and have issued several circulars already. PCS’s view is that Lean means Job Cuts and continues to do so. Anyone who says otherwise should remember that a Team going into Lean with 70 staff will come out with 63 – a 10% cut. Whilst there may be “other” work for these to do at the moment there is no indication just what that work will be.

Attendance Management
In a recent circular we informed members of our success in forcing ex DCS Management to recognise they had been incorrectly implementing important parts of the DWP Attendance Management policy, specifically with regard to the Attendance Management Consideration point and adjustments under the Disability Discrimination act (DDA).

We requested that they should now review all Attendance Management warnings and dismissals between the end of 2007 and the start of this year where there has been an underlying Health issue or where it falls under the DDA criteria due to incorrect guidance that line managers had been given during this period. They declined to do this. This is disappointing as not only will members have been disadvantaged by the incorrect advice given, Senior Management accept no responsibility for putting their errors right.

However, we were given assurances that where we have cases where this may have occurred they will review the cases on an individual basis. PCS invites anyone with an underlying condition or who met the DDA criteria who has been given an Attendance Management warning without an adjustment of their consideration point to contact the Branch Office. Likewise anyone who has had their DDA adjustment to the consideration point removed by their line managers should ask for them to be reinstated.

Finally
We hope you have found this update useful. The Branch is committed to, not only taking your views forward, ensuring you are kept up to date with local issues that affect you in the workplace. It is clear to us, and probably to yourselves, that the DCPUs are straining under the weight of work around and continuing to come in. Our view remains that there are not enough staff to do the job. If you would like further details please let us know.

If you are not a member please consider joining your colleagues protecting your conditions of service.

If you have not yet joined PCS then please consider completing the application form here.

BEC and Local Representative Elections 2009

The purpose of this post is to inform members of the details of the nominations received by the closing date of 4th February 2009 in the Norcross, Peel Park and Warbreck House Constituencies.

As you can see the number of vacancies in ome areas has outweighed the number of BEC members and/or local representatives needed. All those nominated without opposition have now been duly elected under Rule 28 of the Branch Constitution.

We will attempt to fill any vacancies at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 26th February 2009 at the Cliffs Hotel, Blackpool commencing at 10.15 am.

The details of the nominations for BEC members and local representatives are as follows:

Norcross Constituency
BEC Members
Sub Constituencies Reservations, where possible, DCS (2), Departmental Directorates (2), Float (1).

Potential maximum number = 5

Those Nominated: Scott Burrows, Duncan Griffiths, Paul King, Martin Jones.

Vacancies = 1

Local representatives
Potential maximum number = 5

Those Nominated: nil

Vacancies = 5

Peel Park Constituency
BEC Members

Shared Services (1), Corporate Centre (1), Job Centre Plus (1), Child Support Agency (5), Float (2)

Potential maximum number = 10

Those Nominated: Clare Bat Or, Andy Bates, Peter Hitchen, Ian Powell.

Vacancies = 6

Local representatives
Potential maximum number = 10

Those Nominated: nil

Vacancies = 10

Warbreck House Constituency
BEC Members

Potential maximum number = 12

Those Nominated: Craig Barrett, Bridget Bottomley, Victor Carman, Mick Daniels, Julie Dare, Carl Erwin, Deborah Jones, Dave Kearsley, Katya Lawder, Graham Lyndhurst, Denise MacCallum, Grant McClure, Alistair Mitchell, Clark Nuttall, Malcolm Phair, Tracey Pierce, Dave Ray, Sally Taylor–Hughes, Peter Windle.

Vacancies = 0

Local representatives
Potential maximum number = 12

Those Nominated: Craig Barrett, Bridget Bottomley, Victor Carman, Simon Clapham, Julie Dare, Carl Erwin, Greg Fothergill, Deborah Jones, Katya Lawder, Graham Lyndhurst, Denise MacCallum, Tony Manning, Jim Marsh, Joyce Mellor, Alistair Mitchell, Clark Nuttall, David Nutter, Malcolm Phair, Tracey Pierce, Dave Ray, Margaret Sykes, Sally Taylor-Hughes.

Vacancies = 1*

*this could increase dependant upon the outcome of the Officer elections

Election for Officers Posts

Election for the posts of chair, deputy chair, secretary, deputy organiser, membership officer and equal opportunities officer.

The purpose of this post is to advise of the details of procedures under Rules 7 and 15 to elect for the 2009/2010 period.

The following valid nominations were received by the cut-off point on 29th January 2009.

• Chair: Martin Jones, Dave Kearsley
• Deputy Chair: Victor Carman, Grant McClure
• Secretary: Julie Dare, Duncan Griffiths
• Deputy Organiser: Katya Lawder, Malcolm Phair Membership Officer: Mick Daniels, Denise MacCallum
• Equal Opportunities Officer: Julie Dare, Gloria Hodgkinson

The election addresses submitted by the candidates can be found here.

The ballot opens on 5th February 2009 and closes at a specified time at the Annual General Meeting on 26th February 2009.

In order to vote in the election there are two ways to do so:

1. ballot papers will be available at the AGM on Thursday, 26th February 2009, commencing at 10:15 am at The Cliffs Hotel;
2. by a postal vote by completing and returning the tear-off found here, or email us and we'll send you one.

If you require any further details do not hesitate to contact me (Duncan Griffiths).

Yours sincerely

DUNCAN GRIFFITHS
Branch Secretary