The following has been supplied by PCS HQ:
To All DWP branches,
Management at Ofqual the examinations
qualifications regulator have sacked PCS branch chair Sofia Azam. PCS believe
that this is a clear case of trade union victimisation and is balloting
Ofqual members for action.
The PCS branch has been involved in
re-grading negotiations over the last year. It has been a difficult period, but
we believed that we had a professional approach to these talks, even where
differences were voiced. However, following the branch chair’s briefing last
month, where the grading information was released to members, once staff
received their outcomes, management suspended Sofia on the basis that this was
confidential and should not have been released. This was clearly a
misunderstanding between the branch and the management side, and Sofia has tried
her hardest to convince management throughout this period that her, and the
other reps’ understanding was a genuine one, but management have instead taken
the draconian step of sacking her.
Union
victimisation
We believe that such disproportionate
action taken against Sofia is clear victimisation for carrying out her trade
union activities. You will all know Sofia as a young dedicated rep, who has
worked tirelessly to try and ensure a transparent and fair process in the
re-grading negotiations, and it has not been easy. We believe that her
criticism of the Ofqual’s handling of this restructure alongside her letter to
the Board alerting them to problems of bullying in the workplace, has lead to
her victimisation through dismissal. From the start of this investigation, the
union has tried its hardest to resolve the dispute through conciliation with
ACAS, but management have refused to take this up.
Please send
messages of support for Sofia to at
kathyp@pcs.org.uk
Steve Cawkwell
PCS DWP Group Secretary
