The Group Executive Committee (GEC) is continuing to implement national conference carried motion A15 which noted disciplinary action against George Thompson the DWP North East London branch secretary and called upon the union to support and publicise the case.
The case has now been submitted to an employment tribunal. George Thompson is being supported by a Full time Officer with advice from PCS solicitors Thompsons.
Please find attached a copy of a petition in support of George. This petition has already been signed by Len McCLuskey, Caroline Lucas MP, John McDonnell MP and Diane Abbott MP and many PCS members and trade unionists.
Please see the petition here and print to get as many signatures as possible and return it to:
Steve Cawkwell,
PCS, 3rd Floor, Town Centre House,
Merrion Centre,
Leeds, LS2 8LY.
or give it your local branch office to send.
or scan and email to stevec@pcs.org.uk or send by fax 0113 200 5301.
The background to the case is that George Thompson issued a press release drawing attention to the numbers of staff to be cut in two Jobcentres in North London.
Management investigated the press release and concluded that George had breached the DWP Standards of Behaviour which states that trade union representatives must not disclose without authorisation any information that they obtain as a civil servant and through their work in the DWP.
The DWP Standards of Behaviour also says trade union representatives are not required to obtain permission before taking part in and reasonably commenting on concerns relating to pay, terms and conditions of employment and lawful trade union campaigns, they must make it clear they are speaking on behalf of the union.
The DWP Employee Relations Framework states that if documents bear a protective marking or are of a sensitive nature, the sender must ask the trade union recipient to respect the security marking /confidentiality when passing to them and ensure that it is made clear to whom and how wide the information can be shared. This also applies to information that is communicated verbally.
The information passed to George was not marked in confidence or restricted nor was he told it was of a sensitive nature. In fact this staffing information was routinely passed to the TUS without any restriction each month.
PCS has argued throughout that –
- George did not obtain this information as a civil servant or through his work in the DWP but that he was given the information by management in his capacity as a trade union representative.
- George was taking part in a lawful trade union campaign and made it clear he was speaking on behalf of the union.
- The document was not marked confidential or sensitive.
PCS believe that trade union representatives have a legitimate right to comment on job cuts as a part of the national campaign against austerity.
Please try and get many signatures as possible!
