The following details have been
supplied by PCS DWP Group:
DWP
have today announced a voluntary exit scheme in the DWP Corporate Centre. DWP
expect that 278 jobs will be cut as a result of this scheme. This announcement
comes on top of the 1,700 job cuts announced in DWP Operations last week and so
brings the total DWP job cuts announced this month to nearly 2,000. PCS is of course opposed to these job cuts and we continue to argue for more
staff, not less, in DWP.
As
with the Operations job cuts, the Corporate Centre say they have to make these
cuts to live within the financial pressures they will face in the 2014/15 year.
It is argued by management that as Operations is cut then the corporate centre
should also reduce accordingly.
Terms of the Scheme
The
terms of the scheme are the same as for the one in Operations. Management have
made clear that this scheme is entirely voluntary and is not planned as any
kind of precursor to a move to compulsory redundancies. If compulsory
redundancies were at any stage in the future planned then staff would have to
be offered voluntary redundancy terms again prior to any move to compulsion.
Applications to this scheme need to be made by 8th October, though final
decisions on accepting the terms on offer do not have to be made until 16th
December.
Numbers of Exits by Directorate
The
numbers of staff, by grade, that DWP Corporate Centre are seeking to cut from
each Directorate are as follows:
- Change – 100 (AO to Grade 6)
- Finance – 50 (HEO to Grade 6)
- Strategy – 50 (AO to Grade 6)
- Human Resources – 20 (HEO to Grade 6)
- Professional Services – 28 (22, AIO to Grade 6, in Strategic Communication and 6, HEO to Grade 7, in DWP Feedback, Legislation and Decision Making)
The
schemes are likely to be targeted at teams, grades and locations where
management believe there is the highest need to reduce numbers. Staff in posts
deemed to be business critical are unlikely to be allowed to leave.
AA Grade
Unlike
the Operations exit scheme, no AA’s in the Corporate Centre are eligible to
apply for the Corporate Centre scheme.
PCS Response
PCS is as opposed to these job cuts in the Corporate Centre as to the ones
announced in Operations last week. At a time when DWP is embarking on its
biggest ever period of change the need for staff in the Corporate Centre is as
great as ever to ensure that change is implemented smoothly. It makes no sense
to cut jobs at such a time.
Members
in the Corporate Centre are already working under excessive pressure following
the huge job cuts imposed under the Corporate Centre Review. This pressure will
only be increased if a further 278 posts are stripped away.
