Notes from the Beachhead V

PCS National Conference - Final Day
The third and final day of the ADC started with Emma Haslehurst giving an interview to the PCS Voice magazine who were eager to get her views as a first time delegate.

Emma was horrified as she was also asked to pose for a photograph and had she known she was to be asked she said she would have had her hair done and made sure she had her lippy at the ready!

Then it was into the business of the day with the Personnel Policy section where motions A114 on discounting of disability related absences in attendance management procedures. This motion was carried and like all such motions is now PCS policy, but not Departmental policy, we still have to get the management to change their policies so don't think the battle is over! There were also motions carried, A115 relating to recovery of overpayments and A116 on the negotiation of a National Call Centre Framework Agreement. A117 fell as the moving branch were not in the hall to move it and A118 calling for negotiations to be opened on paid leave for those undergoing fertility treatment was carried before the guillotine fell.

The conference then debated the largest section of the day, the Social & Economic – General section. A129 calling for an end to Child Poverty was carried along with A130 calling for opposition to the Government's Welfare Reforms agenda. A131 was a motion opposing the privatisation of Royal Mail/Post Offices and for the Post Offices to be used to maintain a Government-run savings and banking system and was carried. It was then that the expenses scandal again raised its head and it was decided to carry motion A625 calling for the union to cut ties with any MP who was part of the PCS Parliamentary Group who was found to have abused the expenses system.

The section ended, and indeed over-ran with a debate on A585 which dealt with the terrible waste of young life with the increase in recent months of knife crime. Unfortunately the motion called for education and action to overcome the problem paired with a call to establish whether an alternative to a custodial sentence or stiffer penalties including a "life sentence" meaning "life". It caused a huge debate amongst delegates as to the direction this policy could go and although the moving branch were clear in their right of reply that it did not mean a return to stiffer penalties such as the death penalty it was still seen to have the potential to be seen that way.

In addition the NEC were concerned that a "life sentence" meaning "life" could tie the hands of the judiciary in setting appropriate penalties and another speaker felt it could mean that person who had become aware of the enormity of their actions and had been re-habilitated would remain in prison. The conference heeded calls for the motion to be remitted (though this was opposed by the NEC who despite their reservations still believed the motion should succeed) but not before a card vote was called to decide. 117,049 were in favour of remission with 80,692 against.

Because the section and the card vote took so long only one motion was debated in the guillotine section, where those motions not heard in their own section had the chance to be heard again. This was X502 which as a result of a successful reference back at the start of the ADC had been re-classified as A502. The motion dealt with the unions own policies for dealing with Harassment and Bullying and a review of these policies was agreed when the motion was carried.

The conference ended with a vote of thanks where the highlights of the conference were noted, the success of the debates celebrated and a reminder was given about the upcoming European and local elections where we were all asked to remind everyone to "Make Your Vote Count!" The mover of the vote of thanks herself being descended from a holocaust survivor.

Then it was all over and time to collect bags and go home until next time.

As you can see in the picture, some delegates from the Isle of Wight managed to hitch a lift from some passing MPs...

Now where's the train station?

Chris Wade

Notes from the Beachhead IV.

PCS National conference - Day 2

The second day of the ADC started with motions on Equality on what looked to be a quieter day in prospect for the delegation after yesterday's flurry of activity, how wrong we were! A46, A47, A48 and A49 on equality proofing of pay, equality impact assessments, LGBT issues and judicial reviews in equality impact assessment cases were all passed before the Union's financial report was presented by Chris Baugh, Assistant General Secretary. Some debate did ensue about the Union's owning of shares in firms questioned by a delegate as being unethical. However Chris, asking if any aspect of Capitalism was ethical, was able to assuage the concerns of the conference by confirming the Union's commitment to ethical investments and confirmed all investments were continually re-assessed. In the financial section the first motion A54 on increasing the union overnight allowances for hotel costs stirred a great debate. Delegates from all sides of the Union opposed the motion as, in light of the MPs expenses debacle, they did not wish to be tarred with the same brush as the MPs themselves. One delegate related how his room had been obtained for £19 a night before the motion was remitted (referred to the NEC for those useful parts of the motion to be taken forward, in this case a review of allowances), though general opinion was he must be sleeping under the pier! John McDonnell MP, the chair of the PCS Parliamentary group was due to address the conference after this but was delayed and so we had to wait until the afternoon to hear him and his condemnation of some of his colleagues, more of this later. Instead the Union General Secretary Mark Serwotka presented the Unions Communication awards. Which led to the section on Pensions, where Martin Jones was due to move the Branch's motion, A63. Unfortunately, of the three motions debated in this section, our motion was the only one lost which was a shame as it called for a return to retirement at aged 60. Before the lunch break affiliations were discussed and it was agreed to affiliate the union to the Anti-Academies allowance and UCAPV (a campaign set up following the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 demonstrations. Lunch was followed by the presentation of the National Organising strategy for 2009 and then the Campaigns and Organisation section. The Unions work (past, present and future) campaigning against far right parties and there members was debated and passed in motions A71 and A72 with some horrific stories relating to bigotry, abuse and victimisation coming out in the debate. A72 was also the start to consultation with members on the question of supporting trade union candidates in elections as a challenge to all the parties who oppose public services and servants. A15 was debated but defeated as it proposed transferring some members to other relevant unions if that union was felt to cover their work, cleaners, messengers and other areas. The message came back though that these members wished to stay with the PCS. John McDonnell arrived just before the debate on rule changes was to start and he took his place as delegates took a short break to prepare for what can be a dry section but generated the first card vote of the ADC...on one of our motions! Motion A79 was debated relating to Death benefits, Motion A80 on the seconding of motions and A81 and A82 together dealing with transfer of motions between group and national conferences were also debated in this section either being lost or remitted. Our Motion on how branches can spend rebates and the role of the NEC and finance committee on deciding what is or isn't permissible was moved by Chris Wade and opposed by the NEC. The motion required a two thirds majority to change the rule and when the hands went up it appeared clear to the delegation that that had not been achieved, it seemed more 50/50. Bizarrely the President called for a card vote which when completed and counted showed 86,833 in favour and 139, 657 against and 10,878 abstentions. Clearly lost but an exciting interlude in what our guest speaker described as a "fascinating debate" and one which he contrasted with the House of Commons which he reported had voted not to vote on a debate... The speech from John Mc Donnell was as usual a fascinating insight into the actions of MPs with the expenses scandal providing some juicy content as he rounded on those of his colleagues who had abused the public purse Conference then moved onto the final section of the day, Services and Structures, where support for our Commercial Services colleagues was passed in motion A87 and A94. Motion A92 which called for increased access to counselling services (those provided by the Union) for members and representatives was remitted to enable the NEC to take forward those parts that could be. Conference closed for the day and delegates were free to relax after another busy day of debate and decision making. Now then who's for a stroll on the pier and a stick of Brighton Rock? Chris Wade

Notes from the Beachhead III

PCS National Conference - Day 1

Following yesterday's late finish the business today got off to an early start and the Annual Delegate's Conference (ADC) started on time with the Branch almost immediately in action with a "reference back" designed to remove the general debate tag but leave the felling tags on the first motions in the Pay section (A627, 21, and 22).

The Branch delegation believed that the proposing, seconding and then debate on all these motions together would take half of the entire pay section and that by simply leaving the tag that meant A21 and A22 would fall if A627 were carried then time would be saved and more motions would be debated. However despite the branch's efforts and Chris Wade's speech, the reference back was unsuccessful and the Conference moved to the sections to debate.

In the Social & Economic section the recession was debated in Motions A601 and subsequent motions. The section largely centred on the excesses of recent years in the banking and business sector and the negative impact on the public, not surprisingly many of the motions were carried.

Then the debate shifted to Protecting Public Services where Grant McClure was to move motion A17 discussing the closure of sites such as Lytham St Anne's, unfortunately this debate was guillotined before being reached, but not before several motions on opposing privatisation were passed, re-affirming the Union's commitment to protecting Public Services.

After lunch in the Pay section we were surprised by the speed of debate and our motion A29 on pay progression was heard even though it was a long way down the section. Martin Jones, now part of the delegation after Group Conference concluded (he sits on the GEC) moved the motion and it was accepted by conference without dissent and finally becomes policy.

Our motion on Annual Leave (calling for 35 days a year for everyone) was guillotined and will have to be brought back to the conference another year.

In the Health and Safety section Emma and Martin both spoke to motions.

Emma, in her National Conference debut spoke supporting motion A33 on acoustic shock the motion was passed and Emma later received praise from the DWP group president for her efforts.

Martin seconded the motion on lighting A34 and this motion was also passed.

After two guest speakers from Palestinian trade unionists the Conference went on to debate Motion A39 on the situation in Gaza and Israel, but not before the Conference was moved upon hearing the words of one of the speakers who described her joy at seeing the sea in Brighton having been unable to see the see since she was 15.

She told of her sadness that her children had never seen the sea because of the troubles in Israel and her hope that one day they too would be able to. The debate, as expected, was a long and emotional one but was conducted with respect for the contributors on both sides of the arguments.

Motion A39 was carried and followed by a debate on the practice of extraordinary rendition which was condemned in motion A40, also carried.

Conference ended at 5.30 p.m. and the delegates were able to retire to the beach to make sandcastles....Now where's my bucket and spade....hang on...where's the sand, and has anyone got some cement to stick these pebbles together?

Call this a beach?.....

Chris Wade

Notes from the Beachhead II

DWP Group Conference - Day 2
Day two started with the Sun shining as we set off from the hotel to the Conference hall for the last day of the DWP Group Conference. Nervous tension was high as one of the delegation, Emma Haslehurst, was due to make her maiden speech and in the first debate to boot!

Stepping out of the sunshine and into the Hall the delegation could have been forgiven for thinking that that was the last they had seen of the bright light. How wrong we were, intervening on Motion A235 on LEAN Emma's nerves disappeared and she shone! It may be possible that she will blush as much reading this as she did when she stepped down to applause from the Conference, but probably not quite as much as that...the light was shining again, but this time from Emma's face. The motion was carried unanimously.

In this section a motion, A271, on campaigning for the removal of the use of the AAT in Jobcentre Plus (remember the Work Allocation Tool?) was carried following opposition from supporters of A284 which went further and called for boycotts of the AAT. The card vote (votes counted on the basis of branches membership) was close, 40,851 in favour of A271 with 36,735 against and A271 fell.

However, the delegations work this day was not over. In the next section on Health and Safety issues Michelle Kenyon was to second two motions; A393 on Office Environment (heating) and A395 on voice care, both of which were carried. She was raring to go for three in a section when the guillotine fell on the third motion A402 on e-learning training for fire and bomb wardens.

In the Equality section motions on Equality reps, A126, and LGBT issues were carried and, after lunch in the Working Hours section, motions EM15 and A350 on flexible working were also carried. We then listened to the guest speaker from Sawt el-Amel a Palestinian Workers Union about their efforts to assist workers and unemployed people in Nazareth.

Gloria Hodkinson and Grant McClure's efforts to second motion in the section regarding Attendance Management came to nought as both motions were guillotined with only motion A305 being heard but being carried. However, the branch will have a chance to raise these issues on Friday at the National Conference (starting tomorrow).

The guillotine fell again in the next section on Union Organisation and the branch delegation were unable to get its intervention on closer working with the commercial sector (working with the membership and potential membership). In the Guillotine Section three motions that the branch had an interested in were re-introduced but only Grant McClure managed to be involved, seconding motion A97 (terms and conditions in CMEC) which was passed with Grant reminding conference and CMEC members "that their fight is our fight!"

The DWP conference ended at 5:30 but the work of the Delegation continued with an approach to the Standing Order's Committee for the National Conference for reference back on motions affecting tomorrow's debates....more of that tomorrow.

By the time the day's work ended at 8:00p.m. the delegation finally got to put their feet up.

Now where's the bar stool?

Chris Wade

Notes from the Beachhead.

DWP Group Conference - Day 1
The first day of the conference started with a sodden dash to the Conference Centre and ended with fringe meetings in gloomy corners whilst the sun had finally begun to shine here in Brighton. During the day your delegates to Conference were involved in several of the debates and sections on day one, and here is a summary of the motions and results.

The business of the day was preceded by the President's address to the delegates, appointment of tellers (Chris Wade amongst them and hoping for a quiet day), adoption of Standing Orders (including the inclusion of several Emergency Motions) and Group Secretary's report. The adoption of the Standing Orders led to the debate of several "reference backs" (requests to conference to change or amend to the classification, position or status of motions) and delayed the discussion of motions by a few minutes but nonetheless demonstrated the control over the business of the conference that the delegates have.

The following motions of interest to the branch were carried; A1 on the recession and EM1 on PDCS job cuts (Chris Wade intervened on behalf of the branch and spoke of the recent member's meeting which rejected "more work, less jobs"). Our branch's motion of payment of an honorarium to First Aiders was guillotined and not heard.

Awards of Life memberships, including some made posthumously were then given to several stalwarts of the union before a quick lunch break, which was shortened by the press of the morning's business.

Back to the motions, EM10 and A49 on pay (our branch's motions A60 and A61 were included in this composite motion), EM5 and A79 on recruitment and A80 on the grievance policy and EM14 on the results of strike action were also carried before the guillotine fell again and motion A97 (which we were to second) on CMEC and conditions of service was also not heard though we are to ask for this to be brought back to the Conference in the Guillotine section tomorrow. Motion A14 on the Canteen committee was also not heard and this will need to be brought back (again) next year (better luck next time Martin).

Before the afternoon break we had the chance to listen to the Union's General Secretary, Mark Serwotka, who spoke about the challenges for the next year, on jobs pay and protecting public services and the possibility of the Union standing candidates to oppose those politicians of all parties who seem hell bent on taking our jobs.

Returning to the debates, several rule changes were discussed with the tellers called into action to count votes for the necessary 2/3rd majority. Then, A246 a motion regarding BNP members working in the Civil Service, was passed unanimously following a speech by our Branch Equal Opportunities Officer (Gloria Hodgkinson) and before the conference ended for the day at 5.30 p.m. motions on PDS and people performance, A143 and on benchmarks and H&S KWO, A156 and A157 were all carried along with the important motions on Victimisation of Union representatives, employee relations in CMEC and Equality Officers.

By now the Sun was shining...where's that sun block?

Chris Wade.

European Elections – Use Your Vote

Stop the Fascist BNP!
Four years ago the British National Party came within a whisker of winning a seat in the European Parliament for the North West. Because the vote is on the basis of proportional representation they only need 8% of the vote across the region to achieve this. With the turnout predicted to be as low as 20% they could be elected with a tiny proportion of the potential vote.

Don’t be fooled by their respectable image. The BNP is a Nazi party: it is not just another right wing party with a particular ideology.

Their leader, and candidate in the North West, Nick Griffin was convicted of inciting racial hatred after a BNP magazine denied the Holocaust in which six million Jews and a total of over 15 million trade unionists, socialists, gypsies, Slavs, gay and disabled people were murdered by the Nazis’. During his trial he said “I am aware that the orthodox opinion is that six million Jews were gassed and cremated and turned into lamp shades. I have reached the conclusion that the extermination tale is a mixture of Allied wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lie and latter day witch-hysteria”.

If elected to the European Parliament he will sit in a Parliamentary group that includes the grand daughter of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and with members of Jean Marie Le Pen’s Front National. Le Pen who has been the guest of honour at BNP events is on record as describing the holocaust as a “mere detail of history”.

They don’t believe in democracy. Griffin argued in 1993 “the electors of Millwall backed what they perceived to be a strong, disciplined organisation with the ability to back their slogan of Rights for Whites with well directed boots and fists. When the crunch comes, power is the product of force and not rational debate”.

Although in recent years they have tried to pose as a legitimate political party this has not always been the case. Their founder John Tindall who Griffin replaced was quoted as saying “Many who feel that Hitler was right do not believe it is yet safe to state such views openly – but times will change”.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Griffin dismissed the notion that Black or Asian people could be British as a "politically correct fiction". He was defending the BNP's "Language and Concepts Discipline Manual" which tells the party's activists that Black and Asian Britons "do not exist" and should be referred to as "racial foreigners". The BNP manual also states that the organisation's "ultimate aim" is the "repatriation of the resident foreigners of the UK".

Do any of us really want such people to represent the North West in Europe?

The BNP build support by whipping up hatred against every minority just as Hitler targeted Jewish people in the 1930’s.But, like the Nazis’, if the BNP ever came to power they would strip every person of their rights and freedoms.

As the recession bites, as in the 1930’s, easy solutions and scapegoats will become more attractive to some people. Don’t let this happen!

A low turn out in the European elections could allow the fascist BNP to win a seat. PCS is not affiliated to any political party. We do however urge members to use their votes in the forthcoming European elections and vote for democratic candidates.

The PCS NW Regional Website can be viewed here.

GEC Election Results

DWP Group Executive Committee Elections 2009 - Results:

Election of President
Result (1 to elect)
AITCHISON, Jane 3,293 Elected
BREEN, Diane 2,240
WRIGHT, Annette 1,593

Election of Vice Presidents
Result (5 to elect)
BROWN, Alan 3,113 Elected
CAVANAGH, Martin 2,948 Elected
McINALLY, John 2,912 Elected
WILLIAMS, Katrine 2,785 Elected
MARTIN, Laura 2,685 Elected
BARROWCLOUGH, Rachel 2,454
GALLIGAN, Christine 2,327
COX, Joe 2,215
CAMPBELL, Moira 2,198
FEGAN, Gary 2,156
ROCK, Lee 1,856
BROWNE, Marjorie 1,669
HULME, Christine 1,614
HOWS, Lynne 1,540

Election of Group Executive Committee
Result (21 to elect)
POPE, Ian (SS) 3,417 Elected
ROBINSON, Sarah (DCS) 3,330
ElectedKHALIF, Adam (DD) 3,243
ElectedGODRICH, Janice (JCP) 2,937 Elected
GREEN, Sharon (TPS) 2,888 Elected
JONES, Martin (DCS) 2,883 Elected
HARTLEY, Gavin (DCS) 2,820 Elected
FLANAGAN, Helen (JCP) 2,802 Elected
ALSTON, Dave (JCP) 2,791 Elected
REVELL, Carol (CMEC) 2,790 Elected
CARASS, Alison (JCP) 2,712 Elected
OWENS, Dave (JCP) 2,677 Elected
WEST, Steve (CMEC) 2,659 Elected
THOMSON, Derek (JCP) 2,598 Elected
SAMUEL, Willie (SS) 2,595 Elected
SANDHU, Jagdeep (JCP) 2,568 Elected
RUDDICK, Siân (JCP) 2,521 Elected
WASHBOURNE, Yvonne (JCP) 2,518 Elected
SALT, Lesley (JCP) 2,487 Elected
FERRABY, Jason (JCP) 2,455 Elected
BROWN, Andrew (DD) 2,279 Elected
SHEAHAN, Nigel (JCP) 2,250
CAMPBELL, Moira (CMEC) 2,235
ANDERSON, Elaine (CMEC) 2,231
BARROWCLOUGH, Rachel (TPS) 2,190
COX, Joe (CMEC) 2,153
ANDERSON, Lee (TPS) 2,060
WITHERS, Angela (CMEC) 2,035
KANG, Gurmit (JCP) 2,033
WRIGHT, Annette (TPS) 2,000
BRYSON, Rob (JCP) 1,997
BUCHANAN, Tony (JCP) 1,950
GALLIGAN Peter (JCP) 1,949
HAWTING, Elaine (CMEC) 1,855
CAMPBELL-NIMMO, Alan (CMEC) 1,841
JACKSON, Steven (CMEC) 1,828
WELCH, David (JCP) 1,761
McBRIDE, David (JCP) 1,734
FULLER, Howard (JCP) 1,702
BROWNE, Marjorie (JCP) 1,657
ROCK, Lee (JCP) 1,620
ANDREWS, Trevor (JCP) 1,607
PUTTOCK, John (JCP) 1,604
McGINLEY, Con (JCP) 1,601
LAIDLAW, Bev (JCP) 1,569
HULME, Christine (JCP) 1,495
BIRD, Nick (JCP) 1,478
TUFT, Ann (JCP) 1,443
BISHELL, Tom (JCP) 1,384
CATTEN, Sue (JCP) 1,376
McDONALD, Charlie (JCP) 1,343
ELLIS, Mervyn (JCP) 1,271
LEDERER, Jackie (JCP) 1,258
RAFTERY, Theresa (JCP) 1,243
MAHONEY, John (JCP) 1,231
THOMPSON, George (JCP) 1,225
DIAMANTIS, Nick (JCP) 1,204
GILL, Jimmy (JCP) 1,198
POWER, Declan (JCP) 1,172
COCKROFT, Simon (JCP) 1,155
HOAR, Steve (DCS) 1,143
PRINCE, David (TPS) 811
CUTTS, Ian (JCP) 659
ZAVARE, Muneyi (JCP) 499

Election of Group Assistant Secretaries
Result (7 to elect)
WILLIAMS, Rob 3,332 Elected
PENN, Tom 3,326 Elected
HALL, Sam 3,269 Elected
BARTON, Paul 3,165 Elected
CUTHBERT, Christine 3,058 Elected
BURKE, David 2,978 Elected
RICHARDS, David 2,782 Elected
BRYSON, Rob 2,347
KANG, Gurmit 2,230
LAIDLAW, Beverley 2,162
McGOWAN, John 2,111
FULLER, Howard 1,811
BIRD, Nick 1,782
REAY, Tony 1,640
POWER, Declan 1,585

Election of Treasurer
Result (1 to elect)
CHILWAN, Bashir 2,720 Elected
WITHERS, Angela 2,364
PRENDERGAST, Nigel 1,658

Election of Group Organiser
Result (1 to elect)
HEATHCOTE, Fran 4,140 Elected
THOMPSON, George 2,034

Hope Not Hate

The Branch has recieved the following message from the Hope Not Hate campaign:

"The BNP's campaign launch on Monday showed just how desperate they are to deliver a seat for Nick Griffin - they are willing to freely and openly tell out and out lies.But we can fight back with the truth - and I know that our supporters are more than able to match them leaflet by leaflet, phone call by phone call and pound for pound. We will beat their politics of hate and division. This weekend thousands of anti-racist campaigners will be doing just this - and I need you to stand alongside them. You can help do your bit at a local event near you:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/eventsnearme

The BNP have shown how they plan on running their campaign. At their campaign launch Nick Griffin said that Unison members have been telling residents at old people's homes that they'll be thrown out on the streets if they vote BNP. It's clearly a lie - but it just shows how far they are willing to go to snatch victory in this campaign. We can beat them - we just need to make a concerted effort. Just imagine how you'll feel waking up on June 5th to a BNP victory - in the knowledge that you could have stopped them. I'm giving you the opportunity to do this - you just have to take it.We've got 1.1 million leaflets to deliver this weekend - will you give me two hours of your time to deliver a few hundred? By working together I know that we'll make this ambitious target - sign up now:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/eventsnearme

Our campaign's success over the past months has been built by people accross the length and breadth of Britain who believe in a tolerant society. It's all been about people willing to invest whatever time and effort they can afford to stop the BNP and that's how we will close this campaign out. Our supporters, giving their time, to secure a victory for a just and fair society.

Remember the deadline to register to vote or apply for a postal vote is 19 May.

If you're not registered or want a postal vote visit http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Please forward this information to your friends reminding them to register to vote.

Thank you for all you are doing."

Branch Mandating Meeting 2009

For PCS National and DWP Group Conference

Wednesday 13th May 2009
Warbreck House Canteen
2.00pm - 3.30pm

The purpose of this post is to remind members of a General Meeting to mandate (i.e. instruct) delegates to the forthcoming PCS National and DWP Group Conferences.

Obviously as the manner in which delegates vote can influence PCS policy on a range of issues from Pay Bargaining to the way the union is run, this is an important meeting. The motions booklets will be available at the Mandating Meeting, however, if you require an advance copy please contact the Branch Secretary, Duncan Griffiths by email or by phone on Ext: 63484.

The agenda for the meeting is:

1) Apologies
2) Announcements
3) Emergency Motions
4) Mandating of delegates to the PCS National and DWP Group Conferences.

1½ hours facility time, plus reasonable travelling time, has been applied for you to attend the meeting. Please make every effort to do so.

If you require any further details please do not hesitate to contact the Branch Secretary, please also contact him if you require a hard copy of the DWP Group or PCS National Conference Motions booklets.

The National Motions book can be found here in .pdf format, the Group Motions booklet is not yet available electronically due to the slightly different nominations and motions timescale of National Conference. We will publish it once it is.

Petition to Ban Members of Racist Organisations from being employed in the Department

Members of PCS Union in the Home Office and UKBA are campaigning for a ban on members of racist organisations from being employed in the Department.

Staff in the Home Office are employed amongst other things as Border Officers, Asylum caseworkers, and enforcement officers. It is incompatible for members of racist organisations to be employed in these sensitive roles.

Whilst there is a ban in the Prison and Police Services there are currently no restrictions on members of the BNP, Combat 18 or the National Front from being employed in the Home Office or UKBA.

If you support the campaign to instigate a ban then please sign the petition which can be found here. It is unacceptable for asylum and immigration policy to be implemented by members of racist organisations.

DCPU - More Work, Less Staff

Members’ Meeting
You may have seen details from the employer recently about the additional work coming to the DCPU from Manchester DBC.

You may have also seen the Branch and DWP Group circulars on the closures and the job cuts in the (P)DCS now (about LEAN) and in the near future and the impact of the job cuts on the staff left to do the work.

Staffing in the DCPU has been reducing due to the Civil Service and DWP job cuts, enabled by LEAN and other reviews. This is despite the DCPU taking on extra work. More work, less staff in other words.We have therefore arranged a members’ meeting to discuss the work situation and gauge members’ views as follows:

Wednesday 13th May 2009
The Canteen
Warbreck House
10:00 am

We will feedback the results to Senior Management to help us to tackle the erosion of jobs at Warbreck House.

Please note that if you have not yet joined PCS there is a membership form available to print and fill in on the right hand side of this website.

We look forward to seeing you on the 13th May 2009

Resolving DCPU Helpline Issues

Scheduled Breaks - Results of the ballot
You may have seen the earlier circular regarding the employer imposing fixed scheduled breaks from 26th May 2009. We indicated that we intended to continue to oppose this imposition and were considering what steps we need to take to try to persuade Senior Management to remove this imposition and would be asking for your views.

On Thursday 30th April 2009 the Branch undertook a ballot which was a snapshot of the members’ views that were in work at that point. The results of the ballot are as follows:

Q1: Do you believe that imposed scheduled breaks are a good idea? Yes = 77 No = 185
Q2: Are scheduled breaks compatible with your Health, Safety and Welfare at work? Yes = 79 No = 174

The employer has stated it intends to impose scheduled breaks on 26 May 2009. Members will receive details of their proposed scheduled breaks before that date. The employer has not withdrawn from the temporary arrangements we agreed with them whilst discussing this issue. PCS believes they still apply namely Management can suggest when they would prefer you to take a break but you were not obliged to comply with this. PCS are aware that some managers are threatening members with disciplinary action if they do not comply immediately. This is not acceptable. Please bring any instances where you are being forced to comply with scheduled breaks before 26 May to our attention.

We will now present the results to the employer and attempt to work with them to find an acceptable solution for all parties. PCS has reminded the employer that our recent experience suggests that we can work together to find acceptable ways forward given willingness on both sides. PCS has indicated we are willing to discuss further.

We hope that the above is useful. If you require any further details about these or any other points then please do not hesitate to contact the Branch Office on Ext: 61186.

Resolving DCPU Helpline Issues

Scheduled Breaks

PCS and the employer have been discussing a number of issues recently to try to improve working conditions in Helpline and to maximise use of the DWP’s resources. Part of this was around scheduled breaks and Senior Management’s proposals to enforce scheduled breaks.

At the Helpline Members Meetings on 26th March 2009 members told us they were opposed to having their 20 minute breaks scheduled at fixed times 4 weeks in advance. PCS raised this, and other issues at a meeting with Senior Management on 15th April 2009 and argued strongly that fixing scheduled breaks was not compatible with individual needs around comfort and welfare, would reduce flexibility and would engender a more controlling and rigid environment and could affect customer service. Members felt strongly that it was important that individual members should be able to determine their own breaks in accordance with their individual needs.

Senior Management understood this and proposed that staff would be able to state when they wanted to take their breaks but would have to do so in advance. They also proposed that if members wanted to split their break into two 10 minute breaks they would be able to do so. PCS welcomed these proposals.

It is therefore extremely disappointing that Senior Management have now withdrawn these proposals and have told us they will be imposing fixed scheduled breaks from 26th May 2009. Senior Management claim “the WFM Geneysis system cannot input 10 minute breaks instead of 20 minute breaks nor do their Performance Team have the resources to input preferred breaks”. They also stated that this means that if we were to go ahead with their proposals Team Leaders would have to manually input all preferred breaks (as a worse case scenario, for up to 14 staff) every week. According to the employer this was not a viable option.

PCS rejects this view. We do not believe allowing staff the flexibility to request when they want a break is particularly onerous given that it is for 14 staff at most once a week. This does not appear to be a particularly huge resource issue particularly when we are doing all we can to resolve the issues that staff are telling us are making their working lives intolerable.

Senior Management also state that the option they propose to use is to schedule 20 minute breaks for all staff (except DDA breaks) via the Geneysis system, which requires no manual intervention. However DDA breaks will still be offered and manually input by Team Leaders. This is the key to the issue. The DWP tells us that Geneysis is a tool and is not the be all and end all when it comes to scheduling cover. Geneysis is a computer software package that takes no account of individuals and their working lives and the pressures, stresses and strains that members face on an increasing basis day by day. Members as individuals know what affects them when they come to work and when the best time is for them to take their break. This continues to be the case.

All the evidence provided by Senior Management suggests that breaks taken throughout the day on the present basis are broadly in line with expected and actual call traffic therefore we do not see any problem. PCS has already agreed that Senior Management can suggest to staff when they would like them to take their break but this was not mandatory until now.

Senior Management even claim they are committed to using any available time that occurs, as a result of this more efficient use of resources, to provide all Helpline staff with more time allocated to them, in order to read their e-mails, discuss procedural changes, read information on the Intranet etc which is a bit rich given it was the same Management Team that slashed the amount of reading time have for staff to do just that.

We must remember that the PDCS has willingly relinquished the use of 1,100 staff on the basis that PDCS claims they will be able to cope with the same amount of work. The reality is they expect more work with less staff which is why Senior Management are introducing this much more rigid, inflexible and controlling environment.

PCS will continue to oppose this imposition. We will be considering what steps we need to take to try to persuade Senior Management to remove this imposition and will be asking for your views shortly. If members have any views or ideas they would like to contribute please let us know.

We hope that the above is useful. If you require any further details about these or any other points then please do not hesitate to contact the Branch Office.

Resolving DCPU Helpline Issues

Working on Flexible Working Hours

PCS and the employer have been discussing a number of issues recently to try to improve working conditions in Helpline and to maximise use of DWP’s resources. Part of this was around work done by full time FWH staff between 7.00 am and 7.30 am (7:30 am being when the phone lines open).

Senior Management were concerned that there could be difficulties finding work within Helpline to enable those staff who regularly work from 7.00 am without impacting on the work of staff who may not be able to go on the phones for whatever reason ie temporary adjustments etc. As part of these discussions Senior Management are proposing to offer to these staff work from an Operational area and will be writing to them directly to ascertain their personal view. Senior Management are proposing that for those full time FWH staff who want to continue to exercise their FWH hours from 7.00 am they will provide work, which is likely to be in an Ops Room

This proposal complies with the principle of the DCS FWH Agreement as Senior Management are finding work that allows members to continue to work their FWH from 7.00 am

PCS are generally supportive of the proposal. We would naturally expect that H&S considerations are taken into account when working in other areas.

We hope that the above is useful. If you require any further details about these or any other points then please do not hesitate to contact the Branch Office on Ext: 61186.

Hope Not Hate Report

BNP leader defends policy on race

Hope Not Hate, an organisation backed by PCS nationally has produced an article on the BNP defending defended a party leaflet which states that black Britons and Asian Britons "do not exist".

The article, which is sourced from the BBC, can be viewed here.

BNP says some members are oddballs and liars

Matthew Taylor from the The Guardian published an article on the BNP last month. It makes interesting reading and can be viewed here.