22.12.11
15.12.11
Government sticks with 'dangerous' coastguard plans
The following has been supplied by the TUC:
Government ministers plan to press ahead with station closures, despite overwhelming opposition from coastguards and the public, the union PCS has said. The union believes proposals to close eight coastguard stations around the UK and cut more than 140 jobs will result in the loss of life-saving local knowledge around our coastline. Following initial opposition and severe criticism from a committee of MPs earlier this year, the original proposals were watered down. PCS says revised plans were tabled in July without any formal discussion with the union. There was no commitment to prevent compulsory redundancies and nothing about improving pay for coastguards who are the worst paid in the emergency services, it adds. PCS remains opposed to the planned closure of the stations - Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea - but has said that any new national network must be fully tested. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'Coastguards, the communities they serve and the wider public spoke with one voice in opposing these dangerous plans, but they have been shamefully ignored. We are seriously concerned that ministers want to press ahead with proposals that will mean the loss of vital local knowledge of our coastlines, and we are committed to keeping up the fight to defend our communities from these cuts.'
Government ministers plan to press ahead with station closures, despite overwhelming opposition from coastguards and the public, the union PCS has said. The union believes proposals to close eight coastguard stations around the UK and cut more than 140 jobs will result in the loss of life-saving local knowledge around our coastline. Following initial opposition and severe criticism from a committee of MPs earlier this year, the original proposals were watered down. PCS says revised plans were tabled in July without any formal discussion with the union. There was no commitment to prevent compulsory redundancies and nothing about improving pay for coastguards who are the worst paid in the emergency services, it adds. PCS remains opposed to the planned closure of the stations - Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea - but has said that any new national network must be fully tested. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'Coastguards, the communities they serve and the wider public spoke with one voice in opposing these dangerous plans, but they have been shamefully ignored. We are seriously concerned that ministers want to press ahead with proposals that will mean the loss of vital local knowledge of our coastlines, and we are committed to keeping up the fight to defend our communities from these cuts.'
14.12.11
National Pensioners Convention - Dignity Code
PCS works alongside the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) promoting the issues pensioners face in the UK, raising awareness where possible.
The NPC has published a Dignity Code that they are hoping to get the government to sign up to honouring in the future. The code can be found here.
The NPC has published a Dignity Code that they are hoping to get the government to sign up to honouring in the future. The code can be found here.
12.12.11
Workplace reps save lives and money
The following has been supplied by the TUC:
The prime minister's threat to remove funding for the time public sector union reps take to do their union work ignores the life- and cash-saving role these reps play, the TUC has said. David Cameron told the Commons last week: 'I do not think full-time trade unionists working in the public sector on trades union business, rather than serving the public, is right, and we will put that to an end.' Safety Practitioner, the magazine of safety professionals' organisation IOSH, reported: 'The prime minister's remarks came a week after he wrote a letter of support to Aidan Burley MP, who is spearheading the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) in a bid to cut the facilities time funding. The prime minster wrote: 'Few would take issue with the unions working on behalf of their members in government departments and other public bodies in their own time, or with union funding.' TURC co-founder Mr Burley was asked in the Commons whether he had considered the benefit union reps provide in identifying and preventing health and safety problems in the workplace. He replied: 'My direct answer to the honourable gentleman is to ask what he thinks the human resources department, or the Health and Safety Executive are for. Public sector organisations have those people, so there is total duplication.' TUC national organiser Carl Roper commented: 'Those who highlight only the cost of facility time are telling half the story just to accommodate their ideologically motivated deep antipathy toward unions. The cost of facility time is more than justified by the benefits and savings that union reps, and health and safety reps in particular, bring to workplaces and society in general.' He added: 'Research by BERR (now BIS) in 2007 found that the work of union reps resulted in benefits to society of at least £136m as a result of reducing working days lost due to workplace injury and at least £45m as a result of reducing work related illness. This why the CBI and the HR professionals regard unions and their workplace reps as an essential resource and part of the modern workplace.'
The prime minister's threat to remove funding for the time public sector union reps take to do their union work ignores the life- and cash-saving role these reps play, the TUC has said. David Cameron told the Commons last week: 'I do not think full-time trade unionists working in the public sector on trades union business, rather than serving the public, is right, and we will put that to an end.' Safety Practitioner, the magazine of safety professionals' organisation IOSH, reported: 'The prime minister's remarks came a week after he wrote a letter of support to Aidan Burley MP, who is spearheading the Trade Union Reform Campaign (TURC) in a bid to cut the facilities time funding. The prime minster wrote: 'Few would take issue with the unions working on behalf of their members in government departments and other public bodies in their own time, or with union funding.' TURC co-founder Mr Burley was asked in the Commons whether he had considered the benefit union reps provide in identifying and preventing health and safety problems in the workplace. He replied: 'My direct answer to the honourable gentleman is to ask what he thinks the human resources department, or the Health and Safety Executive are for. Public sector organisations have those people, so there is total duplication.' TUC national organiser Carl Roper commented: 'Those who highlight only the cost of facility time are telling half the story just to accommodate their ideologically motivated deep antipathy toward unions. The cost of facility time is more than justified by the benefits and savings that union reps, and health and safety reps in particular, bring to workplaces and society in general.' He added: 'Research by BERR (now BIS) in 2007 found that the work of union reps resulted in benefits to society of at least £136m as a result of reducing working days lost due to workplace injury and at least £45m as a result of reducing work related illness. This why the CBI and the HR professionals regard unions and their workplace reps as an essential resource and part of the modern workplace.'
TUC calls for action on safety .
The following has been supplied by the TUC:
The TUC is calling on unions and safety campaigners to challenge a government safety strategy that 'will lead to more work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health.' TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson has warned 'there has never been a more worrying time for health and safety,' adding four decades of political consensus around the importance of regulations that protect all workers 'has begun to fall apart.' Writing in Hazards magazine, Robertson calls for a nationwide day of action on 28 April, Workers' Memorial Day. 'Political interference, cuts and the overall deregulatory agenda mean the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will lose much of its effectiveness and will suffer long term damage, while unions will find it much more difficult to operate,' he writes. 'This is not necessarily a deliberate plan by the coalition government to destroy the health and safety system. It is instead a by-product of a more general anti-worker, pro-business, anti-public sector agenda which is seen just as clearly in their approach to employment rights, public spending, taxation and pensions. It also comes from a lack of understanding of the workplace and occupational disease. However, whatever the motive, the effect will be the same - unless we stop it.' The TUC safety specialist says unions and campaigners should build a campaign for a safer, healthier alternative. 'TUC wants to use 28 April 2012 as the day when workers up and down the country take action to protect our health and safety,' Robertson adds. As Workers' Memorial Day this year falls on a Saturday, the focus will be shared between workplace activities and a TUC call on 'unions, trades councils, and others to make 28 April 2012 a 'Day of activity to defend health and safety'.' To help build the campaign, TUC says it will organise meetings of activists in every region of England as well as in Wales. The Scottish TUC will also be organising support for the day. In the fortnight before 28 April, unions will be asked to lobby local MPs. Most MPs surgeries fall on a Friday so there should be a lot on 27 April.
The TUC is calling on unions and safety campaigners to challenge a government safety strategy that 'will lead to more work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health.' TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson has warned 'there has never been a more worrying time for health and safety,' adding four decades of political consensus around the importance of regulations that protect all workers 'has begun to fall apart.' Writing in Hazards magazine, Robertson calls for a nationwide day of action on 28 April, Workers' Memorial Day. 'Political interference, cuts and the overall deregulatory agenda mean the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will lose much of its effectiveness and will suffer long term damage, while unions will find it much more difficult to operate,' he writes. 'This is not necessarily a deliberate plan by the coalition government to destroy the health and safety system. It is instead a by-product of a more general anti-worker, pro-business, anti-public sector agenda which is seen just as clearly in their approach to employment rights, public spending, taxation and pensions. It also comes from a lack of understanding of the workplace and occupational disease. However, whatever the motive, the effect will be the same - unless we stop it.' The TUC safety specialist says unions and campaigners should build a campaign for a safer, healthier alternative. 'TUC wants to use 28 April 2012 as the day when workers up and down the country take action to protect our health and safety,' Robertson adds. As Workers' Memorial Day this year falls on a Saturday, the focus will be shared between workplace activities and a TUC call on 'unions, trades councils, and others to make 28 April 2012 a 'Day of activity to defend health and safety'.' To help build the campaign, TUC says it will organise meetings of activists in every region of England as well as in Wales. The Scottish TUC will also be organising support for the day. In the fortnight before 28 April, unions will be asked to lobby local MPs. Most MPs surgeries fall on a Friday so there should be a lot on 27 April.
Blackpool Against the Cuts Meeting
Just a reminder to all BAC supporters that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th December at 6.30pm. The meeting will be discussing activities for the new year to keep the momentum going.The venue will be as usual The Loco Club, Back Ribble Road, Blackpool.
Jeremy Clarkson
Many of you will have been quite rightly outraged by the flippant comments made by Jeremy Clarkson recently.
The Branch Chair addressed the issue with the BBC in writing.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
The Branch Chair addressed the issue with the BBC in writing.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
6.12.11
Thank you
Thanks for the great levels of Support
We wish to thank all the members who supported the action on 30th November 2011. The day was one of the best supported in the Fylde area of the Branch, ever.
For those who did not get chance to see the local Newspaper there was good coverage of the issues including the rally in Blackpool where approximately 700 people attended and made their views known. There was also coverage on the local radio stations (Radio Lancashire and Radio Wave) on the day and the day following.
Please keep updated on the Campaign by following the Branch, DWP Group and National PCS websites.
Unfortunately
Whilst the vast majority of members are positive about the campaign and its objectives (to defend our pensions, oppose the seven year pay freezes/ severe restraints in the DWP, and oppose the job cuts) there appears to be a small number of “excuses” doing the rounds. It is unclear exactly where this comes from and why it happens however there are schools of thought that they emanate from those opposed to the Union and from those members who have let themselves and their colleagues down by not supporting Campaigning Action.
As a means to try and live with their consciences due to their behaviour, they try and come out with reasons why they let themselves and their colleagues down, so badly.
It is vitally important that members do not allow themselves to be deflected from the objectives of the campaign and therefore do not take any credence to any unsubstantiated nonsense.
We wish to thank all the members who supported the action on 30th November 2011. The day was one of the best supported in the Fylde area of the Branch, ever.
For those who did not get chance to see the local Newspaper there was good coverage of the issues including the rally in Blackpool where approximately 700 people attended and made their views known. There was also coverage on the local radio stations (Radio Lancashire and Radio Wave) on the day and the day following.
Please keep updated on the Campaign by following the Branch, DWP Group and National PCS websites.
Unfortunately
Whilst the vast majority of members are positive about the campaign and its objectives (to defend our pensions, oppose the seven year pay freezes/ severe restraints in the DWP, and oppose the job cuts) there appears to be a small number of “excuses” doing the rounds. It is unclear exactly where this comes from and why it happens however there are schools of thought that they emanate from those opposed to the Union and from those members who have let themselves and their colleagues down by not supporting Campaigning Action.
As a means to try and live with their consciences due to their behaviour, they try and come out with reasons why they let themselves and their colleagues down, so badly.
It is vitally important that members do not allow themselves to be deflected from the objectives of the campaign and therefore do not take any credence to any unsubstantiated nonsense.
Together we can win.
Pensions Campaign - What Next?
A meeting has been organised by Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre against the Cuts and Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Trades Council.
Contributions are welcomed from the various Unions and their members and supporters involved.
The meeting details are as follows:
Contributions are welcomed from the various Unions and their members and supporters involved.
The meeting details are as follows:
7.30pm on Friday 9th December 2011
St. Kentigerns Parish Centre
Newton Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8BT
1.12.11
Overtime Ban for December
Please Do Not Forget
Civil Service wide overtime ban throughout December 2011.
The purpose of this post is to thank members for supporting the strike action on the 30th November 2011 and to remind them to keep up the pressure by taking part in the Civil Service wide overtime ban throughout December where overtime is being worked.
PCS has done everything possible to negotiate a solution to the disputes over Pensions, the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and the Pay Freeze however to date there has not been an acceptable outcome from the Government.
We have already witnessed over two thousand job losses from the Fylde economy due to the job cuts in the area and even more are now in jeopardy and many members are facing being made redundant, we have seen our pay frozen (and unlike other areas of the Public Sector our Pay Progression isn’t separately funded meaning that we are treated even more unfairly than other public servants), our Pensions are under attack (we are being expected to pay more for our pensions, work longer and receive less) and our redundancy terms are being cut so that it is cheaper to get rid of us.
We are being asked to pay for the financial mess created by the bankers and the financial speculators and spivs, with our jobs, our pay, our pensions and our conditions of service. The financial mess was none of our making. It’s their financial mess make them pay for it.
It is time for members to show that they oppose the notion of being forced to pay for the excesses of the spivs.
Our reasonable demands are:
- No detrimental changes to our pensions and our redundancy payments
- Application and strengthening on the protocols to avoid redundancy
- An end to the pay freeze and a fair pay rise for all members
JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES
SUPPORT THE CIVIL SERVICE WIDE OVERTIME BAN
THROUGHOUT DECEMBER 2011
Potential Members
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