The extra £6.25 billion of cuts to government spending announced today (24 May) will inevitably damage public services, PCS says.
Massive spending on consultants is one area PCS has campaigned against for many years and the union has welcomed the commitment by the coalition government to reduce this. But with some departments being told to axe hundreds of millions of pounds from their budgets for this year, the union does not believe this can be done without hitting vital public services.
Other than a £600m cut for non-departmental public bodies and some commitments to renegotiate contracts and cut spending on travel and advertising, it is not clear what areas of government will bear the brunt of these cuts. The union also fears today’s announcement is just a taste of much worse things to come.
At its annual conference last week, the union agreed to launch a far-reaching campaign, including with other public sector unions, to not only oppose the cuts, but to make the case for the alternative. If the government were serious about tackling the deficit it would act immediately to close the widening tax gap which sees more than £120 billion lost to the UK economy every year.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We have serious concerns about the staff in many government agencies who will have read in the media at the weekend that their jobs could be at risk, but have been given little information since.
“We do not accept that huge spending cuts are necessary or desirable, and we do not believe it is credible for the government to say it can protect public sector jobs and services while taking the axe to departments in this way.
“These cuts will damage the economy, will undoubtedly lead to people losing their jobs, and will put the delivery of vital public services at serious risk at a time when they are most needed. A recruitment freeze now, when tens of thousands of civil service posts have been cut in the last few years, will further add to workloads and put at risk the services our members provide to the public.
“We would welcome the opportunity for a full and honest debate about the public sector and its role in the economy, but the government appears intent on short-circuiting that by cutting first and asking questions later.”
22.5.10
PCS National Conference - Day 3
The sun finally shone brightly on last day of the ADC which seemed unfair as the delegates would be leaving after the close of the conference at about 12:30 to return to offices and branches to fight the cuts that everyone knew were about to be announced by the new ConDem coalition.
There would be little time to catch the rays just enough to catch the train and head to all points of the compass. Appropriately given the cuts we knew were heading our way the first session of the day was that on Pay; Motion A109 which rejected the 2010 pay remit of limiting pay rises to between 0% and 1%. The motion called on the NEC to co-ordinate action to see that a reasonable pay rise for all areas across the public sector including working with other unions to achieve out goal of fair pay ina national bargaining environment.
Motion A110 discussed the absurd practice of pay leapfrogging whereby new recruits were being employed on maximum pay rates which long serving staff have little or no hope of ever achieving. Why does this happen you might ask and the answer, not unsurprisingly, is that it is impossible to recruit staff on the wages the Civil Service pay the rest of us. Conference agreed that this practice should be opposed by a policy of rejecting these flexible starting pay rates.
Our Branch's motion on annual leave "35 days for all on recruitment" was remitted to the NEC as it was felt that such a objective could be difficult to achieve with all other elements of the pay campaign. If nothing is done to move towards this in a few years time we will be back with the motion again.
A similar motion A122 on negotiating an increase from 30 days to 35 days for those with service of 25 years was lost as some felt it discriminated on age.
Finally and before the guillotine fell Motion A114 was carried instructing the NEC to campaign for a maximum 35 hour week without loss of pay, no extra holidays (yet) but fewer working hours in every week is now policy.
Before Caroline Lucas MP was to speak and address the conference, environmental issues were debated. Caroline is Britain's first Green MP and represents Brighton and so it was appropriate that she be there to hear the debates. She congratulated the Union for its passion on Green issues and pointed out that being Green does not mean supporting public sector cuts or cuts in industry. She recognised the value and benefit of public sector jobs being carried out by our members and that creation of employment in the new renewable (Green industries) was a way to work our way out of deficit and recession.
She heard the conference pass motions on union involvement in the Climate Campaign and the "Million green jobs initiative (Motion A115). Motion A116 condemning the closure of Vesta's onshore wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight was carried as was A117 supporting the Climate Solidarity Project.
In the Social and Economic session Motion A629 was carried and called for continued support for anti-fascist organisations to oppose the BNP and similar organisations. Similarly Motion A121 instructing the NEC to gather information about properly organising against the far right and to issue guidelines on personal safety at rallies and how to respond to the behaviour and tactics of the far right at those rallies was also carried.
Motion A122 debated the issue of the financial crisis and was carried calling on the NEC to organise forums of trade unions to popularise the alternatives to making workers pay for a crisis we did not create. ON a similar vein Motion A123 was passed and requires the NEC to actively campaign for the "Tobin Tax" on every banking transaction to raise billions in revenue and reverse public spending cuts.
A144, which had been moved forward in the agenda then called on the NEC to continue the campaign to repeal the anti-trade union laws (watch out for more of these to come from the new coalition government. Back on track in the agenda A124 was passed calling on support for the immediate restoration of the link between pensions and earnings and to oppose any raise in the state retirement age. The branch intervened on the next motion A125 which was calling for engagement with the "commission on ownership" set up to consider "Mutualisation" a form of worker democracy and to draw up a plan for workers democracy in the civil and public sector. The NEC were calling for remission on this matter and the branch's intervention which opposed remission and supported the motion may have swung matters when it was stated that unlike management who could not organise a booze up in a brewery we could all do a better job.
Remission was lost and the motion was carried. Chris however was told off by Grant for using profane language in his intervention as the phrase was slightly different when not in print.
Two more motions were passed in this section A126 calling for the opening of negotiations to raise the current redundancy threshold and A127 calling for an increase in the level of carers allowance and a removal of the restrictions which prevent pensioners from claiming the benefit. As the conference drew towards its conclusion those motions that had been lost to the guillotine in their various sections were given the opportunity to be heard, those motions put by the branch that had been lost were however not included in the chosen list which was A614 (noting the victimisation of reps in CSA Hastings), A78 (equality assessment of PCS subs), A68 (campaign against law changes which would prevent extradition of war-criminals from UK), A46 (Trade Union education in schools), A96 (access to Thompsons legal advice) and A137 (Free telephone numbers for benefit claimants to replace 0845 numbers). All the motions were carried despite resistance from the NEC to A96.
The vote of thanks to all those involved in the conference was given with the usual sprinkling of conference in-jokes, it got a laugh on the day but would mean little here so the humour isn't repeated....except...When the conference was asked to send its best wishes to Mark Serwotka in his hospital bed by wishing his beloved Cardiff City a win in the Championship playoffs certain voices were raised (loudly) to cry "Come on you Pool!".
Having already sent our apologies to Mark in his get well card saying "get well soon – sorry about Saturday" all we had to hope for was that Success at Wembley for the right team would ensue.
Now off to the train station for the trip home...or for some...to London for tomorrow's excitement.
Written by Chris Wade
There would be little time to catch the rays just enough to catch the train and head to all points of the compass. Appropriately given the cuts we knew were heading our way the first session of the day was that on Pay; Motion A109 which rejected the 2010 pay remit of limiting pay rises to between 0% and 1%. The motion called on the NEC to co-ordinate action to see that a reasonable pay rise for all areas across the public sector including working with other unions to achieve out goal of fair pay ina national bargaining environment.
Motion A110 discussed the absurd practice of pay leapfrogging whereby new recruits were being employed on maximum pay rates which long serving staff have little or no hope of ever achieving. Why does this happen you might ask and the answer, not unsurprisingly, is that it is impossible to recruit staff on the wages the Civil Service pay the rest of us. Conference agreed that this practice should be opposed by a policy of rejecting these flexible starting pay rates.
Our Branch's motion on annual leave "35 days for all on recruitment" was remitted to the NEC as it was felt that such a objective could be difficult to achieve with all other elements of the pay campaign. If nothing is done to move towards this in a few years time we will be back with the motion again.
A similar motion A122 on negotiating an increase from 30 days to 35 days for those with service of 25 years was lost as some felt it discriminated on age.
Finally and before the guillotine fell Motion A114 was carried instructing the NEC to campaign for a maximum 35 hour week without loss of pay, no extra holidays (yet) but fewer working hours in every week is now policy.
Before Caroline Lucas MP was to speak and address the conference, environmental issues were debated. Caroline is Britain's first Green MP and represents Brighton and so it was appropriate that she be there to hear the debates. She congratulated the Union for its passion on Green issues and pointed out that being Green does not mean supporting public sector cuts or cuts in industry. She recognised the value and benefit of public sector jobs being carried out by our members and that creation of employment in the new renewable (Green industries) was a way to work our way out of deficit and recession.
She heard the conference pass motions on union involvement in the Climate Campaign and the "Million green jobs initiative (Motion A115). Motion A116 condemning the closure of Vesta's onshore wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight was carried as was A117 supporting the Climate Solidarity Project.
In the Social and Economic session Motion A629 was carried and called for continued support for anti-fascist organisations to oppose the BNP and similar organisations. Similarly Motion A121 instructing the NEC to gather information about properly organising against the far right and to issue guidelines on personal safety at rallies and how to respond to the behaviour and tactics of the far right at those rallies was also carried.
Motion A122 debated the issue of the financial crisis and was carried calling on the NEC to organise forums of trade unions to popularise the alternatives to making workers pay for a crisis we did not create. ON a similar vein Motion A123 was passed and requires the NEC to actively campaign for the "Tobin Tax" on every banking transaction to raise billions in revenue and reverse public spending cuts.
A144, which had been moved forward in the agenda then called on the NEC to continue the campaign to repeal the anti-trade union laws (watch out for more of these to come from the new coalition government. Back on track in the agenda A124 was passed calling on support for the immediate restoration of the link between pensions and earnings and to oppose any raise in the state retirement age. The branch intervened on the next motion A125 which was calling for engagement with the "commission on ownership" set up to consider "Mutualisation" a form of worker democracy and to draw up a plan for workers democracy in the civil and public sector. The NEC were calling for remission on this matter and the branch's intervention which opposed remission and supported the motion may have swung matters when it was stated that unlike management who could not organise a booze up in a brewery we could all do a better job.
Remission was lost and the motion was carried. Chris however was told off by Grant for using profane language in his intervention as the phrase was slightly different when not in print.
Two more motions were passed in this section A126 calling for the opening of negotiations to raise the current redundancy threshold and A127 calling for an increase in the level of carers allowance and a removal of the restrictions which prevent pensioners from claiming the benefit. As the conference drew towards its conclusion those motions that had been lost to the guillotine in their various sections were given the opportunity to be heard, those motions put by the branch that had been lost were however not included in the chosen list which was A614 (noting the victimisation of reps in CSA Hastings), A78 (equality assessment of PCS subs), A68 (campaign against law changes which would prevent extradition of war-criminals from UK), A46 (Trade Union education in schools), A96 (access to Thompsons legal advice) and A137 (Free telephone numbers for benefit claimants to replace 0845 numbers). All the motions were carried despite resistance from the NEC to A96.
The vote of thanks to all those involved in the conference was given with the usual sprinkling of conference in-jokes, it got a laugh on the day but would mean little here so the humour isn't repeated....except...When the conference was asked to send its best wishes to Mark Serwotka in his hospital bed by wishing his beloved Cardiff City a win in the Championship playoffs certain voices were raised (loudly) to cry "Come on you Pool!".
Having already sent our apologies to Mark in his get well card saying "get well soon – sorry about Saturday" all we had to hope for was that Success at Wembley for the right team would ensue.
Now off to the train station for the trip home...or for some...to London for tomorrow's excitement.
Written by Chris Wade
21.5.10
PCS National Conference - Day 2
Following on from yesterday's business the delegation had a hard decision to make. After several conversations with the National Treasurer Chris Baugh and assurances that the Branch (and others) would receive permission to purchase branch banners without the need for the sort of fundraising we had mentioned in our motion A81 for later in the day. With the assurances given the decision was taken to withdraw the motion and allow the business of the conference to progress without being delayed by a unnecessary debate when we had our first victory of the day.
Chris Baugh had the first section of the day to present when he outlined the 2010 Organising Strategy to the conference before debate opened on the motions of the day with A40 a debate on campaigns and organising and the views of branches were taken towards how to progress the move to standing Trade Union candidates in elections.
There was opposition to this and although the motion called for a further year of preparation before proposals were put to the ADC next year there were branches opposed in principle to standing TU candidates. However, following conferences first card vote, the motion was passed by 153,470 to 86,799 with 917 abstentions.
A43 which called for procedures to be set down for how constituencies would choose candidates rather than the NEC was in the end remitted as being too soon, no decision actually having been taken to stand such candidates. The debates took up considerable time and the rules section where the branch had two motions was soon upon us but not before conference unanimously agreed motion A44 calling for support and re-instatement for sacked and victimised Land Registry union rep Jane Brooke.
In the Rules section A56 calling for a set percentage of 0.6 % of gross wages to be taken as members subscription without a maximum cap was lost. A57 deleted expired appendices from the rule book and then Martin moved and won the debate on motion A58 calling for the election of member trustees. A lengthy debate ensued on motion A60 which called for shortened debates in future where no clear opposition existed with the motions moving direct to the vote after the motion was moved and seconded. It was ironic that a motion intended to shorten debate took so long.
This led us into the Health and Safety debates; A63 was carried and called for Crown Immunity to be removed from Government departments as this was being used by employers to avoid legal obligations to engage in meaningful health and safety structures.
A64 was passed calling for departments to adopt the International Stress Management Standards which are accepted by the HSE as the approach to be taken in dealing with Work Related Stress. The last motion to be heard in the Health and Safety section was A65 which called for an agreed maximum working temperature was remitted to the NEC on the grounds of the instruction to provide industry standard monitors to all branches.
Lively debates ensued in the Affiliations section where A70 calling for affiliation to the "Right to Work" campaign was agreed before Motions A71 and A72 were debated. These discussed affiliating to the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and disaffiliation from the Hands off Venezuela campaign. As you can imagine, with such opposing views the debate was quite lengthy and no other affiliation discussions were heard.
The 2010 Financial report was presented to Conference and can be found on the PCS website.
The final section of the day was the Services and Structures debate where Grant was to move motion A88 on behalf of the branch. The motion called for organisation between branches where site closures such as Lytham were made more complex by the various branches represented there. The motion recognised the need for all branches to be organised to present a unified resistance to such closures and the motion was passed.
The first motion in the section was A85 but was remitted to the NEC. It was intended to re-dress the serial leavers and re-joiners to the Union where some staff abuse the representation of the union, joining when in trouble and leaving when they felt the union had solved their problems. Motion A86 was passed calling for an updated equality data exercise to assist in addressing under-representation of minority groups in the Union.
A87 on pay for Union employees was lost as it called for pay cuts for our full time officials and staff. A88 was carried, as I mentioned before, as was A90 on de-recognition of PCS in negotiating rights where those rights are gifted to or swapped with sister unions following departmental re-organisation. The motion called for full consultation with members before this was done in future and conference agreed. Another remitted motion was A91 moved by Treasury Solicitors calling for facility time for branches where they become responsible for their own pay negotiations.
The role of Lay Tutors was recognised in A92 which called for lay tutors to be treated ad ULRs for the purpose of delivering training courses and for associated time to be given for that role, this motion too was carried.
A93 was lost when nit sought to stop the practice of listing the number of nominating branches alongside candidates' names in ballot papers. The last motion to be heard was A94 calling for the use of e-mail and electronic submission for conference delegates and nominations. This was carried before conference closed for the day and delegates headed back to their hotels to prepare for the PCS Social later that evening.
Written by Chris Wade
Chris Baugh had the first section of the day to present when he outlined the 2010 Organising Strategy to the conference before debate opened on the motions of the day with A40 a debate on campaigns and organising and the views of branches were taken towards how to progress the move to standing Trade Union candidates in elections.
There was opposition to this and although the motion called for a further year of preparation before proposals were put to the ADC next year there were branches opposed in principle to standing TU candidates. However, following conferences first card vote, the motion was passed by 153,470 to 86,799 with 917 abstentions.
A43 which called for procedures to be set down for how constituencies would choose candidates rather than the NEC was in the end remitted as being too soon, no decision actually having been taken to stand such candidates. The debates took up considerable time and the rules section where the branch had two motions was soon upon us but not before conference unanimously agreed motion A44 calling for support and re-instatement for sacked and victimised Land Registry union rep Jane Brooke.
In the Rules section A56 calling for a set percentage of 0.6 % of gross wages to be taken as members subscription without a maximum cap was lost. A57 deleted expired appendices from the rule book and then Martin moved and won the debate on motion A58 calling for the election of member trustees. A lengthy debate ensued on motion A60 which called for shortened debates in future where no clear opposition existed with the motions moving direct to the vote after the motion was moved and seconded. It was ironic that a motion intended to shorten debate took so long.
This led us into the Health and Safety debates; A63 was carried and called for Crown Immunity to be removed from Government departments as this was being used by employers to avoid legal obligations to engage in meaningful health and safety structures.
A64 was passed calling for departments to adopt the International Stress Management Standards which are accepted by the HSE as the approach to be taken in dealing with Work Related Stress. The last motion to be heard in the Health and Safety section was A65 which called for an agreed maximum working temperature was remitted to the NEC on the grounds of the instruction to provide industry standard monitors to all branches.
Lively debates ensued in the Affiliations section where A70 calling for affiliation to the "Right to Work" campaign was agreed before Motions A71 and A72 were debated. These discussed affiliating to the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and disaffiliation from the Hands off Venezuela campaign. As you can imagine, with such opposing views the debate was quite lengthy and no other affiliation discussions were heard.
The 2010 Financial report was presented to Conference and can be found on the PCS website.
The final section of the day was the Services and Structures debate where Grant was to move motion A88 on behalf of the branch. The motion called for organisation between branches where site closures such as Lytham were made more complex by the various branches represented there. The motion recognised the need for all branches to be organised to present a unified resistance to such closures and the motion was passed.
The first motion in the section was A85 but was remitted to the NEC. It was intended to re-dress the serial leavers and re-joiners to the Union where some staff abuse the representation of the union, joining when in trouble and leaving when they felt the union had solved their problems. Motion A86 was passed calling for an updated equality data exercise to assist in addressing under-representation of minority groups in the Union.
A87 on pay for Union employees was lost as it called for pay cuts for our full time officials and staff. A88 was carried, as I mentioned before, as was A90 on de-recognition of PCS in negotiating rights where those rights are gifted to or swapped with sister unions following departmental re-organisation. The motion called for full consultation with members before this was done in future and conference agreed. Another remitted motion was A91 moved by Treasury Solicitors calling for facility time for branches where they become responsible for their own pay negotiations.
The role of Lay Tutors was recognised in A92 which called for lay tutors to be treated ad ULRs for the purpose of delivering training courses and for associated time to be given for that role, this motion too was carried.
A93 was lost when nit sought to stop the practice of listing the number of nominating branches alongside candidates' names in ballot papers. The last motion to be heard was A94 calling for the use of e-mail and electronic submission for conference delegates and nominations. This was carried before conference closed for the day and delegates headed back to their hotels to prepare for the PCS Social later that evening.
Written by Chris Wade
20.5.10
PCS National Conference - Day 1
The Delegates third full day in Brighton saw the commencement of the National Conference with Union President, Janice Goodrich, giving her address to conference. In it she thanked the membership for the support in the campaigns against the Compensation scheme cuts and sent her and conferences best wishes to Mark Serwotka who is in hospital having tests for a heart problem. Mark will apparently review the events of the day in a DVD and in his absence Hugh Lanning (Deputy General Secretary) made the presentation of the 2010 PCS Annual Report and included references to the High Court victory.
Protecting public services was the heading for the first section of the day motion A1 was passed calling for a coalition of Public Sector Trade Unions to campaign together in common campaign activities. Joint action to protect public services being a major plank of this motion despite the failure of other Civil Service Unions in recent months to join with PCS in working towards our victory.
A624 took the collaborations of unions to the international level, calling for closer links and support with our sister unions in Greece where Public Sector workers are facing a struggle more desperate than our own in their current Economic Crisis. This motion was also passed as were A609 and A611. A609 dealt with outsourcing pilots in HMRC and A611 with the movement of responsibility for learning and skills to the CSCB and Cabinet Office.
Returning to the original schedule motion A3 was passed calling for a reversal of office closures and staff cuts and a reversal of the move towards offices based on telephony whilst realising that to achieve this may require industrial action.
Despite the new governments statement that National Identity Cards were to be scrapped before they came into existence conference passed A4 dealing with the jobs of those staff in IPS. DEFRA staff made redundant barely six months after being transferred to "Interserve" in 2009 led to motion A5 being passed calling for revised and effective guidance to be negotiated. The section closed on time and with all motions having been heard with A6 also passed calling for the wasted money spent using favoured contractors to provide services such as travel to be saved before jobs were cut.
High Lanning then addressed conference before the next session dealing with the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and Pensions. He told conference that when the victory was announced to members in the PCS flash text scheme the negotiators for the Cabinet office had to leave the room when they, who are PCS members themselves, received the message. He then outlined the next steps in the campaign to defend redundancy terms now that the Government are considering their response.
A647 recognised the necessity of maintaining pressure in the campaign especially with a new government no keener to negotiate with Civil Servants. Any new scheme will now have to be approved by a ballot of members as the motion was carried by the conference, as was motion A660 which called for legal and other challenges to recover the wages lost by staff that were forced to take strike action in response to the government's illegal actions.
A9 condemned the treatment of disabled staff under the scheme when they worked within "host" employers such as charities where the scheme limited their reckonable service because of this duality of employment. Carrying this motion and calling for negotiation of better treatment for disabled staff the section came to an end.
MP John McDonnell the head of the PCS parliamentary group then addressed the conference and used his annual address to not only report on the action of the group, the moves to include new MPs and grow the influence of it but also to launch his candidacy for the Labour Party leadership. John will need nominations from 33 Labour MPs to get his name on the ballot and all PCS members can help by contacting their MP (if a Labour one) and calling them to nominate John.
After the Lunch break Equality motions were debated.
A12 agreed that the establishment of PCS regional equality networks had proved vital in increasing the participation of members in passing the motion conference called for reasonable paid time off for members to attend these regional meetings.
A13 was also carried calling for equality proofing of all union goods and services to ensure that the marketing material members receive from PCS and its partner organisations.
A14 committed conference to inviting the authors of "The Spirit Level" to attend meetings and to publicise their findings to members.
A15 was lost when voted upon, it called for the NEC to be censured for failing to implement last year's Motion A47. The Branch intervened on this motion to oppose it in an impromptu speech before motions A277, A18 and A19 were carried, these motions called for a return to access to Access to Work for employees in the civil service, an end to discrimination in the PRP system for Senior Civil Servants and for the NEC to report back on and publicise the inequalities in the Civil Service across all Government departments.
Following this section Commercial Sector matters were discussed.
Martin intervened on A25 calling on the NEC to report how it intends to organise in the PCS Commercial Sector and how improvements to conditions of services could be achieved. The practices of in-shoring and out-shoring of Civil Service jobs were addressed and condemned in Motions A26 and A27. Both were carried before Charles moved the branch's motion on pay in BBW which was also carried by conference.
The last two motions in the section A29 and A30 were remitted to the NEC to address wages for outsourced work and the secrecy sometimes imposed by employers in negotiations about redundancy.
The communications awards were then presented, see the PCS website for more details, before conference moved onto the last section of the day Personnel Policy.
A31 called on the NEC to negotiate for a clear policy dealing with medical retirement, while A320 called for sick absences to be removed from the disciplinary and dismissal procedures. Both motions were carried as was A32 calling for an end to the discriminatory Civil Service Fast Track scheme and A33 calling for recognition for carers employed by Government departments.
The last motion of the day to be heard was A585 which was carried although the fairness for Apprentices in Government Departments was well on the way to being achieved in pre-existing negotiations.
Leaving the conference hall the delegation headed off through the mists of Brighton to fringe meetings supporting victimised reps and to prepare the speeches for tomorrow.
Written by Chris Wade
Protecting public services was the heading for the first section of the day motion A1 was passed calling for a coalition of Public Sector Trade Unions to campaign together in common campaign activities. Joint action to protect public services being a major plank of this motion despite the failure of other Civil Service Unions in recent months to join with PCS in working towards our victory.
A624 took the collaborations of unions to the international level, calling for closer links and support with our sister unions in Greece where Public Sector workers are facing a struggle more desperate than our own in their current Economic Crisis. This motion was also passed as were A609 and A611. A609 dealt with outsourcing pilots in HMRC and A611 with the movement of responsibility for learning and skills to the CSCB and Cabinet Office.
Returning to the original schedule motion A3 was passed calling for a reversal of office closures and staff cuts and a reversal of the move towards offices based on telephony whilst realising that to achieve this may require industrial action.
Despite the new governments statement that National Identity Cards were to be scrapped before they came into existence conference passed A4 dealing with the jobs of those staff in IPS. DEFRA staff made redundant barely six months after being transferred to "Interserve" in 2009 led to motion A5 being passed calling for revised and effective guidance to be negotiated. The section closed on time and with all motions having been heard with A6 also passed calling for the wasted money spent using favoured contractors to provide services such as travel to be saved before jobs were cut.
High Lanning then addressed conference before the next session dealing with the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and Pensions. He told conference that when the victory was announced to members in the PCS flash text scheme the negotiators for the Cabinet office had to leave the room when they, who are PCS members themselves, received the message. He then outlined the next steps in the campaign to defend redundancy terms now that the Government are considering their response.
A647 recognised the necessity of maintaining pressure in the campaign especially with a new government no keener to negotiate with Civil Servants. Any new scheme will now have to be approved by a ballot of members as the motion was carried by the conference, as was motion A660 which called for legal and other challenges to recover the wages lost by staff that were forced to take strike action in response to the government's illegal actions.
A9 condemned the treatment of disabled staff under the scheme when they worked within "host" employers such as charities where the scheme limited their reckonable service because of this duality of employment. Carrying this motion and calling for negotiation of better treatment for disabled staff the section came to an end.
MP John McDonnell the head of the PCS parliamentary group then addressed the conference and used his annual address to not only report on the action of the group, the moves to include new MPs and grow the influence of it but also to launch his candidacy for the Labour Party leadership. John will need nominations from 33 Labour MPs to get his name on the ballot and all PCS members can help by contacting their MP (if a Labour one) and calling them to nominate John.
After the Lunch break Equality motions were debated.
A12 agreed that the establishment of PCS regional equality networks had proved vital in increasing the participation of members in passing the motion conference called for reasonable paid time off for members to attend these regional meetings.
A13 was also carried calling for equality proofing of all union goods and services to ensure that the marketing material members receive from PCS and its partner organisations.
A14 committed conference to inviting the authors of "The Spirit Level" to attend meetings and to publicise their findings to members.
A15 was lost when voted upon, it called for the NEC to be censured for failing to implement last year's Motion A47. The Branch intervened on this motion to oppose it in an impromptu speech before motions A277, A18 and A19 were carried, these motions called for a return to access to Access to Work for employees in the civil service, an end to discrimination in the PRP system for Senior Civil Servants and for the NEC to report back on and publicise the inequalities in the Civil Service across all Government departments.
Following this section Commercial Sector matters were discussed.
Martin intervened on A25 calling on the NEC to report how it intends to organise in the PCS Commercial Sector and how improvements to conditions of services could be achieved. The practices of in-shoring and out-shoring of Civil Service jobs were addressed and condemned in Motions A26 and A27. Both were carried before Charles moved the branch's motion on pay in BBW which was also carried by conference.
The last two motions in the section A29 and A30 were remitted to the NEC to address wages for outsourced work and the secrecy sometimes imposed by employers in negotiations about redundancy.
The communications awards were then presented, see the PCS website for more details, before conference moved onto the last section of the day Personnel Policy.
A31 called on the NEC to negotiate for a clear policy dealing with medical retirement, while A320 called for sick absences to be removed from the disciplinary and dismissal procedures. Both motions were carried as was A32 calling for an end to the discriminatory Civil Service Fast Track scheme and A33 calling for recognition for carers employed by Government departments.
The last motion of the day to be heard was A585 which was carried although the fairness for Apprentices in Government Departments was well on the way to being achieved in pre-existing negotiations.
Leaving the conference hall the delegation headed off through the mists of Brighton to fringe meetings supporting victimised reps and to prepare the speeches for tomorrow.
Written by Chris Wade
19.5.10
DWP Group Conference - Day 2
Day two of the Conference opened with (Emergency Motion) EM 8 condeming the decision of Jobcentre Plus management to end the contracts of many Temporary and Fixed Term Contract staff at the end of March 2010. The call to make all Fixed Term Appointees permanent was agreed by the conference along with the call to recruit all staff through fair and open competition, oppose privatisation and defend staff jobs. The theme of protecting jobs, especially AA jobs, was taken forward in Motion A195a before the conference moved on to the Conditions of service section.
Here conference passed motions A82 which called for support for part time staff by accommodating part time working patterns, job sharing and giving full reasons when refusing applications for changes to working hours. The "Wednesday is the new Monday and Friday" response or "Business Needs" will now no longer be acceptable as the Group has a policy to demand full and detailed reasons.
Following this motion A86 (moved by the branch) was passed calling for support for workplace crèches and holiday play schemes to assist working parents such as the SCAMPS play scheme twice saved by the Branch's interventions.
The value to members of flexible working was re-iterated in A87 and A97 which called for a ban on any local flexible working agreements that were less favourable than the Model agreement and a re-instatement of the ½ day flexi credit for JC+ staff, so miserly removed in 2009.
The superiority of the former DCS flexi agreement over that in the former PS was acknowledged in A101 where Katya moved the branch's motion calling for the new PDCS flexi agreement to contain the best of that enjoyed in the former PCS and then the focus moved to Call Centres in DWP CMEC.
Call Centres and CMEC both being important parts of the rest of the day's debates
A102 resolved to campaign against the extension of the new telephony model in DWP and CMEC and to continue to campaign for decent conditions for all workers in call centres.
A114 condemned the attempts made by CMEC management to negatively change our member's conditions since their move from DWP. The motion called for a restoration of flexible working, improvements in conditions, a review of the breaks policy and a new appraisal system in CMEC.
Both motions were passed as was EM9 detailing the fight to gain access to flex working in CSA Operations.
A120 arguing for protection of members from the extremes of the disciplinary procedures was also passed following debates where the horror stories of penalties imposed following simple human mistakes in dealing with information security. A128 also dealing with the excesses of the disciplinary procedures was also passed, as was A130 calling for the disciplinary procedures in line with the ACAS code.
A133 dealing with Statutory leave following European Court Judgements (20 days can be carried forward in law) was carried by conference and called for retrospective claims to cover the losses that members have suffered as the DWP has allowed its policy to lag behind the law.
Proper hours in telephony areas was the focus of A134 which closed the morning section and called on the GEC to ensure a system is put in place to allow people to work their proper hours.
The afternoon section was opened with Katya moving Motion A199 on Call Centre health and Safety, a demand for the restoration of proper baseline and regular hearing tests for staff in call centres and proper risk assessments regarding telephony equipment. Again this was passed unanimously, Katya's nervousness translating into excellent preparation clear and supportable speeches and success for the branch's motions.
A205a was passed calling for reasonable adjustments in accordance with DDA to be more supportive and creative to allow staff to remain in work.
The Health and Safety section took on a sombre mood when the debate on A206 (Staff Safety) which called on all staff to fully engage in the revised DWP Unacceptable Customer Behaviour (UCB) policy and database. Delegates remembered the death of a colleague in 1980, killed whilst working as a visiting officer. Her death is still a poignant reminder of the importance of challenging all forms of UCB.
The length and emotion of the contributions here meant that Charles was unable to speak on Fire and Bomb warden training as the section ended and business moved on to EM13 dealing with public sector spending cuts calling on the GEC to resist all cuts imposed by the new ConDem coalition.
The importance of recruitment and organising and training young members was recognised by the passing of motions A285 and A287. Conference re-iterated that retaining the links between CMEC staff and DWP staff despite the worst efforts of CMEC management was vital policy when they passed A290.
The passing of EM10 on the new Union Learning Representatives caused some contention but it was recognised by conference that the agreement whilst not perfect was considerably better than the situation currently in place.
The guillotine section saw motions A151, A154 and A159 (Special Leave, Agreement on reasonable adjustments and Revised Service hours) from the conditions of service section passed whilst A153 (treatment of casuals) was remitted to the GEC. A232 (overpayment of wages due to RM) was also remitted . A60 (facility time for Branch Equality Officers), A240(Audit of LEAN results), A242 (free telephone numbers for customers to access benefits), A22 ( Call Centre Job design) were all passes while A61 (Use of RM by reps to record facility time) ended the day with a lively debate. The GEC opposed this motion which called for further negotiations with DWP to resolve the waste of reps time caused by the RM policy but was carried by conference.
In closing the conference the Group President thanked delegates for the work here and in Branches and we left to plan our strategy for National Conference.
Written by Chris Wade.
Here conference passed motions A82 which called for support for part time staff by accommodating part time working patterns, job sharing and giving full reasons when refusing applications for changes to working hours. The "Wednesday is the new Monday and Friday" response or "Business Needs" will now no longer be acceptable as the Group has a policy to demand full and detailed reasons.
Following this motion A86 (moved by the branch) was passed calling for support for workplace crèches and holiday play schemes to assist working parents such as the SCAMPS play scheme twice saved by the Branch's interventions.
The value to members of flexible working was re-iterated in A87 and A97 which called for a ban on any local flexible working agreements that were less favourable than the Model agreement and a re-instatement of the ½ day flexi credit for JC+ staff, so miserly removed in 2009.
The superiority of the former DCS flexi agreement over that in the former PS was acknowledged in A101 where Katya moved the branch's motion calling for the new PDCS flexi agreement to contain the best of that enjoyed in the former PCS and then the focus moved to Call Centres in DWP CMEC.
Call Centres and CMEC both being important parts of the rest of the day's debates
A102 resolved to campaign against the extension of the new telephony model in DWP and CMEC and to continue to campaign for decent conditions for all workers in call centres.
A114 condemned the attempts made by CMEC management to negatively change our member's conditions since their move from DWP. The motion called for a restoration of flexible working, improvements in conditions, a review of the breaks policy and a new appraisal system in CMEC.
Both motions were passed as was EM9 detailing the fight to gain access to flex working in CSA Operations.
A120 arguing for protection of members from the extremes of the disciplinary procedures was also passed following debates where the horror stories of penalties imposed following simple human mistakes in dealing with information security. A128 also dealing with the excesses of the disciplinary procedures was also passed, as was A130 calling for the disciplinary procedures in line with the ACAS code.
A133 dealing with Statutory leave following European Court Judgements (20 days can be carried forward in law) was carried by conference and called for retrospective claims to cover the losses that members have suffered as the DWP has allowed its policy to lag behind the law.
Proper hours in telephony areas was the focus of A134 which closed the morning section and called on the GEC to ensure a system is put in place to allow people to work their proper hours.
The afternoon section was opened with Katya moving Motion A199 on Call Centre health and Safety, a demand for the restoration of proper baseline and regular hearing tests for staff in call centres and proper risk assessments regarding telephony equipment. Again this was passed unanimously, Katya's nervousness translating into excellent preparation clear and supportable speeches and success for the branch's motions.
A205a was passed calling for reasonable adjustments in accordance with DDA to be more supportive and creative to allow staff to remain in work.
The Health and Safety section took on a sombre mood when the debate on A206 (Staff Safety) which called on all staff to fully engage in the revised DWP Unacceptable Customer Behaviour (UCB) policy and database. Delegates remembered the death of a colleague in 1980, killed whilst working as a visiting officer. Her death is still a poignant reminder of the importance of challenging all forms of UCB.
The length and emotion of the contributions here meant that Charles was unable to speak on Fire and Bomb warden training as the section ended and business moved on to EM13 dealing with public sector spending cuts calling on the GEC to resist all cuts imposed by the new ConDem coalition.
The importance of recruitment and organising and training young members was recognised by the passing of motions A285 and A287. Conference re-iterated that retaining the links between CMEC staff and DWP staff despite the worst efforts of CMEC management was vital policy when they passed A290.
The passing of EM10 on the new Union Learning Representatives caused some contention but it was recognised by conference that the agreement whilst not perfect was considerably better than the situation currently in place.
The guillotine section saw motions A151, A154 and A159 (Special Leave, Agreement on reasonable adjustments and Revised Service hours) from the conditions of service section passed whilst A153 (treatment of casuals) was remitted to the GEC. A232 (overpayment of wages due to RM) was also remitted . A60 (facility time for Branch Equality Officers), A240(Audit of LEAN results), A242 (free telephone numbers for customers to access benefits), A22 ( Call Centre Job design) were all passes while A61 (Use of RM by reps to record facility time) ended the day with a lively debate. The GEC opposed this motion which called for further negotiations with DWP to resolve the waste of reps time caused by the RM policy but was carried by conference.
In closing the conference the Group President thanked delegates for the work here and in Branches and we left to plan our strategy for National Conference.
Written by Chris Wade.
18.5.10
DWP Group Conference - Day 1
After arriving in a cloudy Brighton yesterday, and with torrential rain following later, the branch delegation found themselves feeling greatly at home with the weather if not the accommodation. A definite Soul feeling for Chris, Grant was quite Mod, Katya Frilly and Martin Artistic but let's not mention Greg most definitely not a stock room!
Anyway one restless night's sleep later, I'm always nervous the night before the first day, the delegation woke to sunny skies with the promise of showers...where's the sun block?
The group President opened the conference congratulating delegates and branches on the fabulous support in the recent action in the compensation campaign which proved decisive in the recent High Court victory for the Union. Remember the decision of the Court made specific mention of the fact that the strike clearly demonstrated that the majority of Civil Servants affected by the unlawful changes were not in agreement with them.
The day moved onto the motions.
EM1 on the Contact Centre Campaign was carried, all branches involved in Contact Centre areas speaking out about the working conditions endured in CCs with the first use of unparliamentary language showing how well "Contact Centres are..." can be alliterated.
Moving onto A12 the branch delegation had the opportunity if it's first intervention in the debate on PDCS and Lean. I (Chris Wade) was able to tell the conference about the effects of LEAN at the DCPU, more work fewer staff being the outcome and the conference agreed that protection of jobs and services in areas threatened by LEAN was a priority and all action should be taken to resist the department's policy.
After the break the Pay claim motions were the focus of the conference and pay progression headed the debate and action to progress the pay talks and abolish low pay in the DWP. Unfortunately the guillotine fell before the branch's motion on honorarium for First Aiders was heard...has anyone got a plaster?
Equality issues and policy on Mental Health followed A214 detailing support for reps in dealing with cases where member's mental health problems have been held against them including investigating any potential discrimination. A215 on working patterns and A216 on Equality Data gathering were passed as was A222 on Equality Data. Conference determined to make sure that all HR policies are equality assessed.
After a short lunch break motions in the Managing Attendance section were debated, the first motion A245 dealing with natural justice, rights under DDA and an acknowledgement that people do get ill and should not be punished because of it was also passed.
A258 dealing with discounting of DDA linked absences was also passed an important policy plank of the group now being to get a fairer deal for disabled staff. While A270 called for re-education of managers regarding AM and DDA and was passed. It is noteworthy that although moved and seconded by other branches this motion like some others was written by this branch but also passed at the other branches' respective AGMs ...a mark of the influence of this branch within the wider union.
A277 on OHS advice was guillotined; this was to be seconded by our branch though like the one above, the lead branches motion was based on our own. Motions were then debated which spoke of the victimisation of PCS reps in DWP and in CMEC in particular and the support we as a Union must give to our representatives when dismissed for taking part in legitimate representation of members. A59 then going onto debate (and be passed) a motion regarding the imposition of CMEC Employee Relations Principles which are now to be resisted as an attack on PCS.
Conference ended with votes on Honorary Lifer Memberships for activists and presentations to those approved at the previous conference.
Then it was off to tea...but not before the fringe and other conference meetings that fill the evenings here in Brighton...It had been a long day but a worthwhile one.
Tomorrow will see the remaining delegates; Katya, Grant, Greg and Charles speaking on motions, more of that later.
Written by Chris Wade.
17.5.10
The Re-Run...
DWP Group Elections 2010 – The Re- RunAnother Chance To Influence Your Pay, Terms and Conditions.
From Friday 28th May 2010 onwards you should receive your DWP Group Executive Committee Election ballot paper, in the re-run election.
Part of the DWP GEC election is being re-run due to administrative errors in the first election. It was no fault of the candidates or the Branches and was frankly human error in that the incorrect election addresses were printed for some of the candidates. The PCS General Secretary (Mark Serwotka) has therefore instructed that the DWP Group Presidential and DWP Group Executive Committee part of the elections be re-run as these were the areas that were impacted by the errors.
The Branch Executive Committee and the Annual General Meetings support the following list of candidates:
Group President
Jane Aitchison
Committee
Dave Alston, Alison Carass, Jason Ferraby, Helen Flanagan, Janice Godrich, Sharon Green, Gavin Hartley, Keith Henry, Martin Jones, Adam Khalif, Marie McDonough, Dave Owens, Ian Pope, Carol Revell, Sarah Robinson, Sian Ruddick, Lesley Salt, Jagdeep Sandhu, Nigel Sheahan, Derek Thomson, Steve West.
We would encourage members to vote in the forthcoming elections and we hope that you will consider voting for the above candidates.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact your Branch office.
14.5.10
Right-leaning lobby ignorant on safety
A leading professional body has joined unions and campaigners in criticising a report by a Tory-linked think tank that calls for health and safety deregulation. The report, 'Health and safety: reducing the burden,' produced by the right-leaning Policy Exchange, 'is marred by a number of conceptual weaknesses,' according to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
In March, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber dismissed the report, saying it was 'as close to being relevant to the needs of the modern workplace as Alice in Wonderland. Anyone who believes that there is a culture of over-compliance needs some basic lessons in the reality of working life'.
IOSH is equally dismissive. It is says references to 'over compliance' aren't based on genuine requirements of safety laws. It adds that the report's authors are 'seemingly unaware' that their call for 'proportionality' on safety regulation is in fact already the legal position.
'Regrettably, this Policy Exchange report does nothing to clear up public confusion or address the root causes of risk and liability aversion,' said IOSH policy and technical director Richard Jones.
Campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) said the report, which treads similar ground to recent Tory proposals, treats the victims of work hazards with 'contempt', adding: 'The Policy Exchange has not dealt with our burden which we carry all our lives, nor with all the costs of poor health and safety in human and financial terms, and has not bothered to consult those on the receiving end of employers' negligence.'"
In March, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber dismissed the report, saying it was 'as close to being relevant to the needs of the modern workplace as Alice in Wonderland. Anyone who believes that there is a culture of over-compliance needs some basic lessons in the reality of working life'.
IOSH is equally dismissive. It is says references to 'over compliance' aren't based on genuine requirements of safety laws. It adds that the report's authors are 'seemingly unaware' that their call for 'proportionality' on safety regulation is in fact already the legal position.
'Regrettably, this Policy Exchange report does nothing to clear up public confusion or address the root causes of risk and liability aversion,' said IOSH policy and technical director Richard Jones.
Campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) said the report, which treads similar ground to recent Tory proposals, treats the victims of work hazards with 'contempt', adding: 'The Policy Exchange has not dealt with our burden which we carry all our lives, nor with all the costs of poor health and safety in human and financial terms, and has not bothered to consult those on the receiving end of employers' negligence.'"
10.5.10
Major victory for union over plans to cut civil service redundancy pay
The Public and Commercial Services union has won a major legal victory against government plans to drastically cut civil service redundancy payments.
Following a two-day judicial review hearing in the High Court in April, Mr Justice Sales ruled today (10 May) that the previous government acted unlawfully when it introduced, without PCS’s agreement, a new redundancy scheme reducing the rights staff had accrued over time.
In what is a dramatic win for the union’s 270,000 public sector members, the judgement quashes a revised scheme that the government had sought to impose from 1 April. It means the next government, when it is established, must reopen negotiations with the union if it is to agree a new arrangement that protects existing members’ rights.
The union has always maintained the changes to the civil service compensation scheme, which governs payments in the event of redundancy and early retirement, would have made it easier and cheaper to cut tens of thousands of civil service jobs and privatise more of our public services. It has also argued consistently that the government had no authority to act independently.
When PCS members took three days of strike action in March, including on budget day, Gus O’Donnell described it as “misguided” and Tessa Jowell, then the civil service minister said the “time for talking is over”.
Despite widespread anger among the government’s workforce, and opposition from 176 MPs including 121 Labour backbenchers, changes aimed at saving £500 million over three years were forced through. If they had been allowed to stand they would in many cases have robbed civil servants of thousands of pounds if they were forced out of their job.
Strike action was suspended during the election - though the union continued to campaign in targeted constituencies across the UK - but PCS now says a failure to comply with the ruling would risk angering civil servants still further, leading to the possibility of more industrial action.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members in the civil and public services refused to sit back and watch their terms and conditions being ripped up in front of their eyes. This ruling is a huge tribute to them for mounting one of the most impressive campaigns this union has seen, in the face of some disgraceful criticism from their employer and ministers.
“We have always accepted that changes are necessary but all we ever asked is that they were fair and protected those who have given loyal service. We will now be knocking on the door of the next government to remind ministers they are legally obliged to reach an agreement with us. If they do not meet their obligations, the union will have to consider further industrial and legal action.”
Hugh Lanning, PCS deputy general secretary, called on the next government to comply with the judgement and enter into talks as a matter of urgency to reach a fair agreement for all civil servants, adding: “This is a major victory for our members, who were being deprived of their rights by a government that refused to talk and reach agreement. Let’s hope the new government obeys the law.”
Richard Arthur, head of trade union law at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “The law says that the government can’t change redundancy rights which have already accrued for civil servants unless the unions agree. As the judge said, this was unsurprising in the circumstances of civil service employment. PCS did not agree to the new scheme and so it was found to be unlawful.”
Following a two-day judicial review hearing in the High Court in April, Mr Justice Sales ruled today (10 May) that the previous government acted unlawfully when it introduced, without PCS’s agreement, a new redundancy scheme reducing the rights staff had accrued over time.In what is a dramatic win for the union’s 270,000 public sector members, the judgement quashes a revised scheme that the government had sought to impose from 1 April. It means the next government, when it is established, must reopen negotiations with the union if it is to agree a new arrangement that protects existing members’ rights.
The union has always maintained the changes to the civil service compensation scheme, which governs payments in the event of redundancy and early retirement, would have made it easier and cheaper to cut tens of thousands of civil service jobs and privatise more of our public services. It has also argued consistently that the government had no authority to act independently.
When PCS members took three days of strike action in March, including on budget day, Gus O’Donnell described it as “misguided” and Tessa Jowell, then the civil service minister said the “time for talking is over”.
Despite widespread anger among the government’s workforce, and opposition from 176 MPs including 121 Labour backbenchers, changes aimed at saving £500 million over three years were forced through. If they had been allowed to stand they would in many cases have robbed civil servants of thousands of pounds if they were forced out of their job.
Strike action was suspended during the election - though the union continued to campaign in targeted constituencies across the UK - but PCS now says a failure to comply with the ruling would risk angering civil servants still further, leading to the possibility of more industrial action.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members in the civil and public services refused to sit back and watch their terms and conditions being ripped up in front of their eyes. This ruling is a huge tribute to them for mounting one of the most impressive campaigns this union has seen, in the face of some disgraceful criticism from their employer and ministers.
“We have always accepted that changes are necessary but all we ever asked is that they were fair and protected those who have given loyal service. We will now be knocking on the door of the next government to remind ministers they are legally obliged to reach an agreement with us. If they do not meet their obligations, the union will have to consider further industrial and legal action.”
Hugh Lanning, PCS deputy general secretary, called on the next government to comply with the judgement and enter into talks as a matter of urgency to reach a fair agreement for all civil servants, adding: “This is a major victory for our members, who were being deprived of their rights by a government that refused to talk and reach agreement. Let’s hope the new government obeys the law.”
Richard Arthur, head of trade union law at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “The law says that the government can’t change redundancy rights which have already accrued for civil servants unless the unions agree. As the judge said, this was unsurprising in the circumstances of civil service employment. PCS did not agree to the new scheme and so it was found to be unlawful.”
National Executive Committee Elections 2010
The report of voting for the elections
President
| Number of eligible voters: | | 287,506 |
| Votes cast by post: | 31,453 | |
| Total number of votes cast: | 31,453 | |
| Turnout: | | 10.9% |
| Number of votes found to be invalid: | | 634 |
| Total number of valid votes to be counted: | | 30,819 |
Result (1 to elect)
GODRICH, Janice (Department for Work & Pensions)... 15,909 Elected
BREEN, Diane (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 9,729
MOLONEY, John (Department for Transport)............ 5,181
Deputy President & Vice-Presidents
| Number of eligible voters: | | 287,506 |
| Votes cast by post: | 31,453 | |
| Total number of votes cast: | 31,453 | |
| Turnout: | | 10.9% |
| Number of votes found to be invalid: | | 631 |
| Total number of valid votes to be counted: | | 30,822 |
Result (4 to elect)
The count was conducted in accordance with the constraints set out in Principal Rule 10A of the
BEAN, Dave (HM Revenue & Customs).................... 16,166 Elected
MORRIS, Glenys (Ministry of Justice)..................... 15,118 Elected
BOND, Sue (Equality & Human Rights Commission)..... 14,546 Elected
McINALLY, John (Department for Work & Pensions).... 14,278 Elected
BRYSON, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 13,644
KURUP,
HENDERSON, Andrew (D.B.I.S.)........................... 9,650
BROWNE, Marjorie (Department for Work & Pensions). 8,856
Ordinary Members
| Number of eligible voters: | | 287,506 |
| Votes cast by post: | 31,453 | |
| Total number of votes cast: | 31,453 | |
| Turnout: | | 10.9% |
| Number of votes found to be invalid: | | 565 |
| Total number of valid votes to be counted: | | 30,888 |
Result (30 to elect)
The count was conducted in accordance with the constraints set out in Principal Rule 10A of the
MERRY, Lorna (HM Revenue & Customs)................. 13,255 Elected
McFADDEN, Dominic (HM Revenue & Customs).......... 13,223 Elected
McHUGH, Kevin (HM Revenue & Customs)............... 12,866 Elected
WESLEY, Hector (HM Revenue & Customs)............... 12,698 Elected
LICENSE, Neil (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 12,584 Elected
KELLY, Emily (Land Registry)............................. 12,277 Elected
HOLBOURNE, Zita (
REID, Andy (HM Revenue & Customs)..................... 12,262 Elected
BROWN, Paula (Health & Safety Executive).............. 12,204 Elected
HALL, Sam (Department for Work & Pensions).......... 12,153 Elected
COMER, Steve (
BROWN, Alan (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 12,101 Elected
GEDLING, Cheryl (Scottish Government)................. 12,009 Elected
ALBERT, Ian (Department for Work & Pensions)......... 11,827 Elected
WILLIAMS, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 11,795 Elected
BREEN, Diane (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 11,734 Elected
LLOYD,
DENNIS, Alan (Ministry of Defence)....................... 11,586 Elected
BRYSON, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 11,524 Elected
GREENWAY, Kevin (Ministry of Justice).................. 11,519 Elected
KHALIF, Adam (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 11,461 Elected
CHILDS, Eddie (Ministry of Justice)....................... 11,423 Elected
COLLIS, Simon (HM Revenue & Customs)................. 11,325 Elected
FRANKLAND-BARBER, Lynda (HM Revenue & Customs). 11,309 Elected
WILDE, Jake (HM Revenue & Customs)................... 11,293 **
DUNN, Joy (Scottish Government)........................ 10,974 Elected
GREEN, Jackie (Ministry of Justice)...................... 10,722 Elected
CONWAY, Tony (Government Offices).................... 10,717 Elected
JAMIESON, John (Registers of
BAKER, Mark (Planning Inspectorate)..................... 10,539 * Elected*
WILLIAMS, Paul (Driving Standards Agency).............. 10,534 *
DERBYSHIRE, Michael (Ministry of Justice)............... 10,423
KURUP,
MORRISON, Chris (Capgemini)............................ 10,386
BARROWCLOUGH, Rachel (Department for Work & Pensions) 10,333
RICHARDS, David (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 10,329
MAGEE, Andy (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 9,937
FULLER, Howard (Department for Work & Pensions).... 9,676
NIMMO, Alan (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 9,181
DODD, Owen (Home Office Pay & Pension Services)..... 9,129
KANG, Gurmit (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 9,120
KIRKHAM, Frank (Ministry of Defence)................... 8,890
WRIGHT, Annette (Department for Work & Pensions)... 8,847
HASKINGS, James (Cabinet Office)....................... 8,801
COX, Joe (Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission) 8,761
LORD, Chris (D.B.I.S.)..................................... 8,738
HARKINS, Bernard James (Crown Office & Procurator F.S.) 8,735
GIESCHEN, Hubert (Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) 8,345
REYNOLDS, James (D.B.I.S.).............................. 8,185
CAMPBELL, Moira (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 8,145
HENDERSON, Andrew (D.B.I.S)............................ 7,922
HUZZARD, Rosie (Department for Work & Pensions).... 7,321
LYONS, Gerry (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 7,013
LAIDLAW, Bev (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 6,904
RAFTERY, Theresa (Department for Work & Pensions).. 6,614
BROWNE, Marjorie (Department for Work & Pensions). 6,607
BIRD, Nick (Department for Work & Pensions).......... 6,481
HUNTER, Peter (HM Revenue & Customs)................ 6,464
HULME, Christine (Department for Work & Pensions)... 6,331
CATTEN, Sue (Department for Work & Pensions)........ 6,110
MOLONEY, John (Department for Transport)............ 5,906
THOMPSON, George (Department for Work & Pensions) 5,357
JOHNSON, Karen (D.C.L.G.).............................. 4,996
RIGBY, Mike (Metropolitan Police Service)............... 4,717
KENNY, Martin (Government Offices).................... 4,669
HICKEY, Christopher (D.C.L.G.).......................... 4,659
CROFT, Teresa (Metropolitan Police Service)............ 4,630
DUNBAR, Chris (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 4,344
OKONKWO, Damian (Metropolitan Police Service)....... 4,314
McNAUGHT, George Anthony (Metropolitan Police Service) 4,051
WINZAR, Stuart (Metropolitan Police Service)........... 3,853
IQBAL, Jawid (Highways Agency)......................... 3,798
MEGONE, Tim (Treasury Solicitors Department)......... 3,538
VINCENT, Dave (Ministry of Justice)...................... 2,964
*votes confirmed by recount.
**not elected due to limit of eight elected candidates from any one employer.
As Scrutineers appointed in accordance with Section 49 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (as amended), we are satisfied as to each of the matters specified in subsection 52(2) with regard to the election. The following points should be noted:
1) The person appointed under section 51A to carry out the storage and counting of voting papers was Electoral Reform Services Limited.
2) The person appointed under section 51A to carry out the distribution of voting papers was Electoral Reform Services Limited.
3) A copy of the register of voters (as at the relevant date) was examined in accordance with section 49(3). The examination took place at our own instance and did not reveal any matter that should be brought to the attention of the trade union.
Section 52(4) requires that a copy of this report be published and made available to all members of the union within a three month period from today. This does not, however, mean that every member has to be notified individually.
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