Fit for work tests are about cutting costs

Provided by the TUC:

The government is more interested in saving money that providing genuine assistance so those that are sick or have disabilities can move into work, the TUC has said. New claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) must undergo Work Capability Assessments (WCA) to see if they are capable of some sort of employment. Latest government figures show of 1.3 million tests between October 2008 and November 2010, just 88,700 (7 per cent) were considered unfit for any work.

A further 17 per cent were assessed as able to do some sort of work given the correct support, and 39 per cent were deemed to be fit for work and were moved onto jobseeker's allowance. Commenting on the figures, released this week by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The new incapacity benefit assessment is a much tougher test than previously and is designed to save the government money by excluding more people. It is therefore unsurprising that more disabled people have been declared fit for work. These figures certainly don't suggest that thousands of disabled people are suddenly 'trying it on'.' He added: 'The government needs to do much more to help disabled people back into jobs, rather than cracking down on the benefits they get when they are unable to work.' He said Access to Work statistics released the same day show that in 2010/11 the number of disabled people helped by this scheme fell by just over 1,400 on the previous year.

The DWP figures came as a report by the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee concluded that some vulnerable benefit claimants had payments stopped because of administrative errors in work assessments. The private French company given £100 million a year to carry out the tests, Atos Healthcare, received stern criticism in the committee's report. Its work 'has often fallen below the standard claimants rightly expect. This has contributed significantly to the widely felt mistrust of the whole process,' the report said. Atos staff are currently testing around 11,000 incapacity benefit claimants a week, to help judge whether they are eligible for benefit payments. The TUC, charities and MPs say they have been contacted by large numbers of people who felt their test results were simply wrong.

Reports that the vast majority of disabled claimants are fit for work should not be trusted, the union representing workers in the benefits system has said. PCS, which has thousands of members in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said the tests for claimants fail to address many serious health issues. The union was commenting after a House of Commons select committee report into incapacity benefit re-assessments concluded the system 'does not accurately assess claimants' employability and needs in the workplace.' PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'This exercise is just about saving money by bullying people who are sick or disabled onto lower levels of benefit. It is not about finding people work - because there is no work available.' He added: 'The government is failing to create jobs, while cutting thousands of posts in the public sector. The government has given £100 million to a private health care company to do these flawed assessments - instead of using the health service which is already there and trusted by the public. The government have set up a system that demonises disabled people and will encourage bullying and hate crimes. Disabled people need more support - not less - to lead independent lives, including working lives.'

TUC warns that safety must not be undermined

Provided by the TUC:

The TUC has said it will 'strongly oppose' any government moves to undermine workplace health and safety protection. The statement comes in a written submission to the government commissioned Löfstedt review of workplace health and safety. Ministers have directed the review to concentrate on 'easing unnecessary burdens on business'.

In response, TUC states: 'It does not support regulation for the sake of it, and has worked closely with the HSE on its simplification programme because that was a genuine attempt to ensure that the regulatory regime was effective.' But it adds the TUC 'does not believe however that regulation imposes any kind of burden on business. It is a responsibility, just as paying taxes is a responsibility, and no business should be able to operate unless it can do so safety.' The submission concludes: 'Regulation needs enforcement to be effective and the current level of enforcement activity is clearly inadequate.'

TUC says the review 'should confirm that health and safety regulation should be developed by an independent Health and Safety Executive, making recommendations to the government on regulations. This will ensure that regulations will have the support of all sides of industry and continue to be effective and simple.' It adds: 'The TUC will strongly oppose any attempt to reduce the level of protection at a time when over 20,000 people are killed every year as a result of work and 2.1 million are suffering from an injury or illness caused or made worse by work.'

The TUC submission notes that voluntary, 'self-regulation' approaches are not a viable alternative to regulation and enforcement, and have 'failed' where they have been tried.

Safety concerns remain over new coastguard plans

The following has been supplied by the TUC:

Watered-down government plans to slash the number of Britain's coastguard centres will still risk lives, unions have warned. Originally it was proposed that the number of centres be cut from 19 to eight, with only three remaining open 24 hours a day. But Transport secretary Philip Hammond announced in the Commons last week that 11 centres would remain and that they would all operate round-the-clock. The union PCS welcomed the climb-down from the government's original proposals, but said it will still oppose any new plans that would result in safety being compromised. It added the announcement was 'a partial victory for the communities who campaigned to save what is an essential public service that they hold dear. But it will be a bitter blow for those still under threat.' PCS expressed concern the government had made no commitment to prevent compulsory redundancies, and insisted the new plans must be subject to 'full and meaningful consultation involving staff, unions, the public and other interested parties.' PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'We pay tribute to our coastguard members and people in their communities who have fought so hard to defend what is a vital public service.' He added, however: 'This fight is not over. We are committed to ensuring we retain the local knowledge of our coastlines that is essential to saving lives, as we are determined to defend all public services and our communities from the government's cuts.' Bob Crow, general secretary of the transport union RMT, said: 'While the government have clearly been forced by public and union pressure to make significant changes to their original proposals we still remain concerned that the revised plans may leave gaps in the service and we will be seeking further assurances that there will be no impact on the safety of our members out on the high seas.'

Legal changes will hurt victims

The following has been supplied by the TUC:

A government shake-up of the legal system will be bad news for many of the hundreds of thousands of people harmed by their work each year. TUC's Hugh Robertson was commenting as the government confirmed it will press ahead with the reforms to civil compensation, including personal injury claims. These proposals, contained in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, 'will seriously damage access to justice for many working people,' writes the TUC head of safety in the union body's Touchstone blog. 'While attention has focused on those sections of the bill dealing with legal aid and sentencing, other parts could also prove to be disastrous for those people seeking compensation because of an injury at work caused by the employers' negligence.' He adds: 'Union members will be among the millions who are deprived of the ability to claim compensation, or who will lose damages. As many as 25 per cent of injury claims will not be brought. Those that proceed might lose up to 25 per cent of damages for the success fee and further substantial reductions for required legal expense insurance.' He says many people will no longer be able to obtain legal representation, particularly for low value or complex cases. 'However, although a claim of £3,000 or £4,000 may be considered to be low value by the government, it is not low value to a cleaner who earns £6 an hour and represents four months wages.' He warns workplace safety will be another victim. 'By reducing the threat of litigation in workplace accidents and diseases, health and safety at work will be undermined. The money taken from claimants and their representatives won't benefit the Treasury, but the big insurers will gain a windfall.'

Code Breaking Challenge

PCS in Leeds have issued the following: In conjunction with the recent visit to Bletchley Park (Home of the WWII code breaking museum) the Queen has launched a code breaking challenge which is open to ages 13 to 16. The challenge is contained within a document here with the last coded message being the subject of the competition and closes on Thursday 18th August.

Given that school's will be breaking up for the summer very soon, PCS thought this would be something useful for staff who are looking ways to keep their children amused during this time.

PCS statement to members on public sector pensions

PCS HQ has issued the following statement to all PCS members:

"The government has today (Thursday 28 July) made further announcements regarding their attacks on public sector pensions confirming what we have said all along:

they want you to pay more and work longer for a smaller pension.

All of this despite the evidence clearly demonstrating that changes are not required.

They argue that there is protection for low paid workers. But this only applies to those earning less than £15,000 (only 4% of PCS members). Those who earn between £15,000 and £21,000 will pay 1.5% more and those above £21,000 will pay anything between 3% and 6%.

All of this at a time of a pay freeze, rising prices and no certainty about the future pension. Nearly all members will have to pay more, to work longer, and get a pension not as good as their current scheme.

The talks to date have been about public sector pensions in general. Now the government wants to move to talks about individual schemes. We are considering our approach to these talks and are discussing this with the other civil service unions. We need to be sure that these talks are real negotiations not just about implementing predetermined plans.

On 30 June members took strike action alongside members of three education unions. Other unions have already indicated that they are looking to join us in any further action. Unless the government engages in serious and honest negotiations, more public sector workers will be striking in the autumn. This will be critical to ensure the so-called consultation is taken seriously by government.

We know that our pensions are affordable and sustainable – indeed earlier in the week a senior cabinet minister, Andrew Lansley, said that the government’s proposals were wrong.

The government says this is about paying to tackle the deficit, but there is an alternative way that would prevent the need for the government to impose what is effectively an extra tax on working in the public sector.

Instead of targeting public servants, pensioners, students, disabled people and those entitled to welfare payments, the government should invest in jobs and public services to help our economy to grow and tackle seriously the £120 billion in taxes lost each year through tax evasion, avoidance and a lack of resources in Revenue and Customs."

UAF Leafletting

Dear colleagues,

We have been asked to pass on an announcement that local anti-fascist activists will be leafletting against the English Defence League in Blackpool this Saturday.

If you wish to help with the leafletting please contact the branch office on 01253 331186 for further details.

A good source of current information and news about the EDL is Lancaster Unity.

Turrrets and Staffing Etc - Reminder

To all members of the PCS Fylde Central Benefitsand Services Branch at Warbreck who work on Turrets.

MEMBERS’ MEETINGS
THURSDAY 28th JULY 2011

Dear Colleagues

Members will be fully aware of the job cuts that have been announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Senior PDCS Management have continued discussions with PCS about the Turrets and call handling. These discussions have included potential changes to the manner in which calls are handled at Warbreck. We met last on 6th July 2011. We have requested time to meet with the members who work on Turrets.

We have arranged two members’ meetings as follows to discuss the latest issues:

THURSDAY 28th JULY 2011
Warbreck Canteen - 10.00 am
Warbreck Canteen - 2.00 pm

If you have read this post and are not a member; then please complete an application form to join. Only members who work on Turrets may attend the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there.

Call for ministers to put safety before profits

The government must not allow workers to die to boost business profits, civil service union PCS has said. The union, which has hundreds of members in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), made the call in responses to government-initiated reviews of health and safety legislation. It says when coalition politicians talk about 'reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses... this demonstrates a lack of care for employees by the UK government.' The union says its members in HSE are fighting a 35 per cent budget cut over four years, which it believes would make it 'very difficult' for them to do their jobs properly, a problem amplified for the government's risky strategy. According to PCS: 'The proposed changes are pro-business. They will increase risk-taking by employers and increase the number of work-related stress cases, near misses, injuries and fatalities.' The union adds that a three-pronged attack on workplace health and safety is currently underway. The government commissioned Löfstedt review of health and safety has been given a deregulatory brief and is due to report in October. A government initiated sickness absence review is being co-chaired by the head of the strongly anti-safety regulation British Chambers of Commerce. And the government's Red Tape Challenge is highlighting health and safety regulation until 21 July.

High court challenge over cuts to redundancy pay

The government's cuts to redundancy terms for civil and public servants will tomorrow face a legal challenge in the high court from the two largest civil service unions.

PCS and the Prison Officers' Association are challenging by way of a judicial review cuts to redundancy pay imposed through legislation passed last year.

The unions - which together represent almost two-thirds of the total civil service workforce - argue that, because rights to certain redundancy terms have accrued through length of service, they are classed as a "possession" in human rights law and should not be "interfered with" unless there is an over-riding public interest.

In November, MPs and Lords on the human rights joint committee criticised the government's plans as they were going through parliament, saying ministers had not made the case for capping payouts.

During the bill's progress, PCS accused Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude of misleading MPs when he claimed in parliament the union had declined invitations to negotiate.

The previous government's attempt to impose a civil service compensation scheme, which governs redundancy terms, was struck down by the high court shortly before the general election last year following a successful judicial review taken by PCS.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Ministers simply want to make it easier and cheaper to throw 100,000 of their own staff out of work in the deluded belief this will help our economy get back on track.

"We are determined to fight this, not just to protect our members' jobs but to defend the communities they serve from the ideological vandals in this Tory-led cabinet. Instead of cutting jobs, the government should be creating them and investing in our public services to help our economy to grow."

Expert slams government's safe jobs 'fantasy'

Cuts to safety enforcement, regulation and budgets are being justified with government 'lies', UNISON members have been told. Addressing 150 concerned workers at a fringe meeting of the union's annual conference last week, Hazards Campaign spokesperson Hilda Palmer ripped into the cut price, cut back health and safety strategy which will see most workers in 'low risk' workplaces shunted off the official enforcement radar. 'The government claims that offices shops and schools - the kind of places where UNISON members work - are non-hazardous. This is wrong. You are actually quite likely to die of stress-related illnesses,' she said. She added that people who work with computers or in call centres are more likely to suffer from muscle and joint disorders. Employment minister Chris Grayling 'hated health and safety' and wanted to throw the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the 'bonfire of the quangos,' she said. The minister has fronted a government assault on health and safety that has seen HSE inspector numbers slashed, preventive safety inspections cut back by 11,000 a year and an attack of safety regulations based on an unfounded claim they inhibit enterprise and are bad for business, she said. 'There is an acceptance that proactive inspections work,' Palmer added. 'But they are not taking place in agriculture, which kills more workers per 100,000 than any other industry, manufacturing and the whole of the public sector. The idea that work is safe is a lie.' The Hazards Campaign is leading a 'We didn't vote to die at work' campaign, to challenge the government's safety strategy.

Unions denounce safety red tape 'sham'

The increasingly desperate tone and tactics employed by the government in its attempts to justify the removal of safety protection at work have been described by unions as a 'sham' bordering on 'reality TV show' banality. In a news release issued this week by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employment minister said the government's Red Tape Challenge on health and safety regulations, which will run from 30 June to 21 July, 'is the opportunity that every beleaguered business leader, incredulous community group or outraged newspaper reader has been waiting for - a chance to directly change the laws underpinning Britain's health and safety culture.' In a statement, the TUC was highly critical of the government approach. 'The government is, once again, spreading the myth that health and safety regulation is 'red tape'. We do not believe that government policy should be made on the basis of who shouts loudest, and do not think that the safety and health of workers should be determined by the outcome of a web-based discussion forum,' the statement said. 'The need to protect your workers is not a burden, it is a responsibility and, at times like this we should be trying to ensure that employers do obey the law and do not cut corners. Instead we have seen a retreat away from enforcement, two reviews of health and safety regulation and now this. What is to be next - a TV reality show to decide what piece of legislation gets ditched?' TUC added that the approach is 'a flawed process which undermines the existing decision-making process on health and safety which seeks to regulate on the basis of consensus and evidence.' Unite general secretary Len McCluskey dismissed the red tape challenge as an 'insult' and 'a sham.' He added: 'It is not an appropriate way to determine government policy on health and safety at work - and it is an insult to workers everywhere, particularly those who have been injured themselves or for those families who have lost a loved one.'

Abuse aimed at pickets

On Thursday 30th June 2011 at circa 8 am a C Cabs driver made foul and abusive gestures made by towards male and female members of PCS, DWP Fylde Central Benefits and Services and SPVA Branches, who were picketing at the White Carr Lane Gate at Norcross.

We were obviously disappointed that anyone would chose to make foul and abusive gestures towards male and female PCS members, and brought this behaviour to the attention of the Managing Director of C Cabs giving them, out of courtesy, the opportunity to comment on the behaviour of one of C Cabs drivers.

There has been no reply and therefore we thought that we ought to bring this to the attention of the membership of the Branches.

PCS National Black Members' seminar 2011

The PCS National Black Members' seminar 2011 is scheduled to be held from the 21st - 23rd of October 2011.

This year’s seminar will be held in Liverpool at the Adelphi Hotel, the theme is the ‘Public Sector Cuts – The Impact: Resistance and Fight Back.’

The seminar presents an opportunity for PCS members from the African & Asian Diaspora to develop ideas about how to organise and campaign against public sector cuts. The seminar will look at workplace and community issues. Interested?

Please email equality@pcs.org.uk or ring the Equality Department on 0207 801 2683 for more information.

Please note the closing date for application is Friday 30 September 2011.

The application form can be found here.

Event Contact:
Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah
Tel: 020 7801 2683

Civil Service Wide Overtime Ban Throughout July

The purpose of this post is to inform members that the well supported strike action on the 30th of June 2011 is to be followed by a Civil Service wide overtime ban.

PCS has done everything possible to negotiate a solution to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, the Pay Freeze, and our Pensions 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, 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

SUPPORT THE CIVIL SERVICE WIDE OVERTIME BAN THROUGHOUT JULY 2011

Minister's snub to bereaved families

The government's health and safety minister has refused to meet with representatives of the families of people killed at work. Employment minister Chris Grayling, who pushed through unprecedented funding cuts to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and demanded a dramatic reduction in proactive enforcement by the safety watchdog, has rejected requests for a meeting from Families Against Corporate Killing (FACK), to hear their views about his workplace safety strategy.

The group, which was founded by relatives of those killed at work, said in snubbing them the minister has exposed his intention to 'ease the burden on employers' without taking account of the far greater burden borne by families and the public purse as a result of criminal health and safety failings at work. FACK first wrote to Mr Grayling on 6 May to request an audience, arguing that 'there seems to have been no attempt to contact, involve or consult those harmed by work - injured and made ill - or the families of those killed by gross negligence.'

In response the minister said that he regretted that 'diary commitments mean I am unable to meet with you at the current time'. He has found time for meetings with other organisations, including business groups - and told campaigners including FACK members who doorstepped him at the DWP HQ on Workers' Memorial Day 'my door is always open'.

FACK founder Linzi Herbertson said: 'FACK families are utterly disgusted with Chris Grayling's refusal to meet with us about the effects of the cuts he is proposing to the already inadequate health and safety system which allowed people we love to be killed just for going to work.' She added that the minister was more interested in 'listening to the false accounting of the business lobby.'

Victims made to pay in new offenders bill

Victims of occupational injuries or diseases will be unable to afford a compensation claim or will have to pay the legal costs as a result of a proposed law introduced this week by the government.

The TUC says provisions in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to switch the cost on personal injury cases from those who negligence caused the problem to the victims will not deliver a saving to the government but 'will simply line the pockets of insurers.' The Bill will do away with Conditional Fee (CFA) or 'No Win No Fee' agreements. These currently allow all legal costs, including the solicitor's success fee, to be recovered from the negligent defendant.

Under the proposed new law, the injury or disease victim will be expected to give up 25 per cent of their compensation to meet his or her legal costs, even in cases where the defendant has been grossly negligent. The draft law leaves open the possibility for victims who lose cases to be required to pay legal costs incurred by the employer. The changes have been criticised by unions and work injury and disease victims' advocates.

TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson commented: 'This bill will mean that many workers who suffer an occupational injury or disease will no longer be able to afford to make claims against their employer or, if they do manage to fund a case, will find their damages reduced. It is a blatant assault on victims and will simply line the pockets of insurers.'

Tony Whitston, chair of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups' Forum UK, said dying workers are being 'told that they must carry the risks of suing for compensation', adding 'isn't the risk of losing their lives enough?' He said the reality of the 'shameful attack' is only negligent firms and insurers will benefit from the government proposals. 'The fact is that many frail and terminally ill sufferers will no longer sue for compensation, fearing more uncertainty and stress of litigation,'he said. The union Unite said there were other damaging changes in the proposed law, estimating 650,000 people 'could be denied legal aid and advice to help them with housing, employment and immigration problems.'

PCS INDUSTRIAL ACTION

ALL OUT ON 30th JUNE 2011

Then a Civil Service wide overtime ban throughout July 2011

The purpose of this post is to inform members of the strike action on the 30th June 2011 to be followed by a Civil Service wide overtime ban.

PCS has done everything possible to negotiate a solution to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, the Pay Freeze, and our Pensions 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, 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 ON STRIKE ON THE 30th JUNE 2011 AND SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CIVIL SERVICE WIDE OVERTIME BAN THROUGHOUT JULY

Potential Members
If you have not yet joined your Union, please consider doing so and complete the form here and return to Room 7233, Norcross.

Rally for the Alternative - Blackpool!

Blackpool Against the Cuts will be holding a Rally for the Alternative on:

3.30pm, Thursday 30th June

The Rally will be held at St John’s Square, Blackpool Town Centre. Please come along and offer your support for the alternative – Tax Justice, not slashing the terms and conditions of public sector workers.

North West Rallies - 30th June 2011

PCS North West Regional Office has provided details of several rallies being organised in the North West for the strike day taking place on June 30th.

The flyer advertising the events can be found here.

***update***

There is now an event in Blackpool, click here.

Pensions - Update

Have you checked the online PCS Pensions Calculator?
We urge all members to check the PCS online Pensions Calculator to see how much more you will have to pay, work longer and receive less. The calculator can be found here.

Millions of workers, who were already facing meagre average annual pension income of less than £5,000 in many cases, will have to work longer and pay more for far less in retirement. The calculations used in the PCS Pensions Calculator are taken from government proposals which are based on the Hutton report.

The calculator provides members of the three main civil service schemes: Classic, Premium and Nuvos with estimates of how much the government’s proposed pension changes could cost them between now and their retirement. Many people face a doubling or tripling of contributions and might have to work longer because of the raising of the pension age from 60 to 65 and then to 68. For the average worker that could mean paying an extra £50.00+ a month at a time when there is a pay freeze.

PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka explains: “These figures show the scale of the pensions’ robbery facing millions of people across the UK. Many people on low incomes will lose money they can ill afford to each month as their contributions could more than double or even triple. Thousands of people will also lose out; because of the switch from RPI to CPI indexation.

The cuts are unnecessary; our pension schemes are affordable and sustainable. The proposed huge increase in contributions will go straight into the coffers of the Treasury to pay off the deficit caused by the finance sector. We need action to stop this pensions robbery, to stop the job cuts, and the pay freeze. There is an alternative: create jobs to grow the economy and collect the £120 billion in tax evaded, avoided and uncollected each year.”

For examples of the extra you may have to pay each month please below:

A larger version of the image can be found here.

The above are examples only and use DWP imposed 2011/12 salary rates. Those in the Premium and Nuvos scheme tend to lose even more. Check the PCS Web Site yourself to find out how much you could lose!

NUT Rally - Lancaster

The following has been supplied by NW Regional Office:

Lancaster, Morecambe & District NUT have arranged a couple of events:

Thursday 23rd June
Open Public Meeting at Lancaster Town Hall, 7pm-9pm
Speakers: Kevin Courtney (NUT), Bob Wareing (ATL), UCU, PCS, NHS, etc.

Thursday 30th June
Rally and March; assemble 11am in Market Square, Lancaster with live music, stalls, street theatre, balloons.

All are invited to both events.

The Lancashire NUT website can be found here.

War on Want - Fest-Watch

War on Want will be present at many of the festivals across the UK this summer.

For further details check out their page here.

How Much Will YOU Lose?

PCS have prepared a calculator for the three Civil Service Pension schemes to show how much you will lose over your career (if you have a job) by the changes the Government intend to impose.

The calculators can be found here and it is suggested that everyone uses them to find out exactly how the Governments impositions will effect individuals income both directly in their wage packet and in the future for their pensions.

Pay 2011 Q&A

The members’ meetings on the DWP Pay offer are ongoing here is a questions and answers brief from PCS DWP Group:

Q: I am aware of the Pay Freeze, but how much is the real value of my pay falling?

A: A lot. The rate of inflation for May was 5.2% RPI (4.5% CPI). Set against this almost half of the DWP workforce get no increase and the rest an increase of less than 2.5%. Nobody gets any progression. This is also the fifth year of pay restraint in DWP. Had the EO maximum not been held down since 2007 and then frozen for two years it would be worth over £2,500 more now.

Q: What about the government’s pension changes?

A: In addition to the rapidly rising cost of living members will need to consider the increase in employee pension contribution of at least 3% which the government intends to introduce from April 2012. This will reduce your take home pay by roughly the equivalent of losing a day’s pay every month. For a personal illustration of how this could affect you - use the pension calculator on the PCS website.

Q: Is it true that the non-consolidated end of year bonus now costs more than the pay increase?

A: Yes. The pay offer is worth £30 million and the end of year bonus is worth £52 million. The money is used to allow non-consolidated and non-pensionable payments to be made to staff earning above £21,000 full-time equivalent, but the employer insists it must be performance related. Despite the opposition of the unions it is distributed on the basis of a 2 to 1 share to staff in receipt of “consistently good” and “wholly exceptional” markings. This means the small number receiving the top box marking get twice as much as those whose performance is rated as “consistently good”. This represents a huge increase in the proportion of pay costs that are performance related and sets a very undesirable precedent.

Q: What is the union’s attitude to performance related pay?

A: It is wrong in principle to claim to reward high performance when the money comes out of the pockets of those whose performance is consistently good. Improved performance is only really possible when everyone contributes. A carrot on a stick may be ok for donkeys but not civil servants. In practice performance related pay can be shown to discriminate against staff for other reasons. Full diversity and equality data is not yet available but on the emerging figures seen by pay negotiators there has been little or no improvement in the outcomes which made part-time staff, ethnic minority staff, and staff with a disability less likely to be awarded the top marking last year.

Q: Do all staff with the qualifying box marks get an end of year bonus payment?

A: No. Staff must also be in post on 1st July 2011. This year, significant numbers of staff who can claim to have earned a bonus through their People performance marking are excluded, such as those taking an exit package whose last day of service is 30th June, and anyone terminating at the end of an FTA before 1st July 2011. PCS negotiators have made this point to management repeatedly but to no avail.

Q: Do unsatisfactory performers get a pay award?

A: No. As in previous years in addition to exclusion from the end of year bonus staff marked as unsatisfactory in the 2010/11 People Performance report will not receive any consolidated increase. This applies even if their pay falls below the range minimum. There is provision for the award to be paid if performance improves.

Blackpool Against Cuts

A reminder that the next meetings of Blackpool Against Cuts are on the 21st and 28th of June, both metings are at the LMS Loco Club, Back Ribble Road, Blackpool, FY1 4AB (map here).

The meetings will run between 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM.

Any agenda items for 21st by the morning of the June 20th please. Agenda items can be sent to Andy Boylan.

It's Yes and Yes - Ballot Results

The purpose of this post is to inform members of the outcome of the National ballot on the Pay freeze, Civil Service Compensation Scheme, Pensions changes and the campaign to defend members’ jobs, and pay in the Civil Service (including the DWP/ CSA on the Fylde).

The ballot closed on 15th June 2011 and the results were as follows:

Question 1 – Are you prepared to take part in Strike Action
Number of members voting: YES = 61% NO = 39%

Question 2 – Are you prepared to take part in Industrial Action Short of a Strike
Number of members voting: YES = 84% NO = 16%

It is important that members write to their MPs so that they will (hopefully) realise the depth of feeling of the membership. It can make a difference. We have previous circulated model letters on the issues to send to your MP.

You may also want to visit this site which looks at the impact on your pension.

The Branch website will be updated with information during the next stages of the campaign.

We believe it is vital that all members support the campaign and get actively involved.

DWP PAY 2011 - Meetings

Members Information/Ballot Meetings
The purpose of this post is to advise members of a forthcoming round of information meetings to discuss the DWP pay offer.

The details of the meetings are as follows:

Thursday 16th June 2011
Warbreck Canteen
2:15 pm

Friday 17th June 2011
Norcross Canteen
10:00 am

Monday 20th June 2011
Peel Park - The Lecture Theatre
13:30 pm

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
Warbreck Canteen
10.00 am

Carer's Week

AgeUK promote a carer's week each year. The branch Equal Opportunities Officer has arranged for a stall to be set up at Warbreck House in the canteen providing information on caring related issues members may face and directions in which they can turn for assistance and advice.

More information can be found on the website at the link above.

The Warbreck stalls will be available on the 16th and 17th of June from 11.30am to 2.00pm in the Canteen.

There will be information available on: Maternity Rights, Law on age discrimination, Parental leave, Paternity Leave, Flexible working options, Elder care, Time off for Dependants and Carers and The Equality Bill.

For more information please contact Gloria Hodgkinson by email or on x67714.

National Pensioners Convention

The NPC have embarked on a campaign to get one of their representatives to appear on Question Time.

You can read more about it here.

The NPC are holding their Pensioner's Parliament from the 14th to the 16th of June, the draft agenda can be viewed below:

NPC Pensioners' Parliament
14-16 June 2011
Draft Programme

Tuesday 14 June

1.00pm
March to the Winter Gardens

2.00-4.00pm
Official opening of the NPC Pensioners' Parliament, Opera House Rally with a range of guest speakers

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Wednesday 15th June

10.00am-12noon
Question Time with Steve Webb, Pensions Minister followed by panel discussion
Delegates have been asked to send in questions for this session

2.00pm-4.00pm
Older people and the Big Society
This session will discuss the government's Big Society and what it means for older people in light of cuts to public spending

The future of the NHS
This session will consider the changes being proposed to the NHS, what impact they could have on older people and what can be done

Engaging with policy makers across the UK
This session will hear examples from the four countries in the UK of how older people are getting their views across to those in power

Social evening with The Bachelors

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Thursday 16 June

10.00am-11.30am
Age Equality - are we there yet?
This session will look at the new Equality Act and how it will affect older people

The vision of social care
This session will consider the latest proposals for how care should be funded, the quality of the services people receive, the use of individual budgets and the rights of older people to be protected from abuse

The ongoing campaign for concessionary travel
This session will look at how the government's spending cuts are impacting on services for older people and the campaign to improve public transport

11.45am-12.30pm
NPC Report
The NPC will report on its work and campaigns over the last year and outline what challenges older people face

Keynote Speech: Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS

Important Notice regarding the Branch Hardship Fund

The Branch has set up a Hardship fund to support members who have encountered financial hardship as a result of taking strike action.

The term financial hardship means for example that you need cash for a prescription but no longer have the funds to pay for the prescription.

If you wish to make a claim to the Branch hardship funds then please contact the Branch Office for more information or fill in the hardship fund application form here and send it to the address supplied.

PCS Opposes DWP’s refusal to pay redundancy compensation to FTA’s

PCS has been arguing that any FTA member of staff, who has 2 or more years service, should be entitled to financial compensation at the time that their contract is ended.

The Civil Service Compensation Scheme rules state:

"As long as the fixed term employee has at least 2 years qualifying service and is being dismissed for redundancy, they will receive the same compulsory compensation terms as a permanent member."

PCS believes that every FTA who has their contract ended at the contract end date, or at the end of any contract extension period, is being dismissed for redundancy. We therefore have put to DWP that every FTA with at least 2 years qualifying service should be entitled to compensation when their contract ends.

Unfortunately DWP has refused to accept this. Instead they have argued that they took FTA’s on to do a set period of work and are terminating the FTA’s at their due contract end date. In legal terms they maintain that this termination at the contract end date isfor ‘some other substantial reason’ and not a redundancy situation. As a result they maintain they do not have to pay redundancy compensation.

PCS does not accept DWP’s position on this issue. We are currently taking legal advice to clarify the position and assess what our next steps should be.

PCS will be issuing further guidance and advice to reps and members as soon as possible.