National Executive Committee Elections 2010

The report of voting for the elections is as follows:

President

Number of eligible voters:		287,506
Votes cast by post:		31,453
Total number of votes cast:		31,453
Turnout:		10.9%
Number of votes found to be invalid:		634
Total number of valid votes to be counted:		30,819

Result (1 to elect)

GODRICH, Janice (Department for Work & Pensions)... 15,909 Elected

BREEN, Diane (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 9,729

MOLONEY, John (Department for Transport)............ 5,181

Deputy President & Vice-Presidents

Number of eligible voters:		287,506
Votes cast by post:		31,453
Total number of votes cast:		31,453
Turnout:		10.9%
Number of votes found to be invalid:		631
Total number of valid votes to be counted:		30,822

Result (4 to elect)

The count was conducted in accordance with the constraints set out in Principal Rule 10A of the Union.

BEAN, Dave (HM Revenue & Customs).................... 16,166 Elected

MORRIS, Glenys (Ministry of Justice)..................... 15,118 Elected

BOND, Sue (Equality & Human Rights Commission)..... 14,546 Elected

McINALLY, John (Department for Work & Pensions).... 14,278 Elected

BRYSON, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 13,644

KURUP, Ravi (HM Revenue & Customs)................... 11,395

HENDERSON, Andrew (D.B.I.S.)........................... 9,650

BROWNE, Marjorie (Department for Work & Pensions). 8,856

Ordinary Members

Number of eligible voters:		287,506
Votes cast by post:		31,453
Total number of votes cast:		31,453
Turnout:		10.9%
Number of votes found to be invalid:		565
Total number of valid votes to be counted:		30,888

Result (30 to elect)

The count was conducted in accordance with the constraints set out in Principal Rule 10A of the Union.

MERRY, Lorna (HM Revenue & Customs)................. 13,255 Elected

McFADDEN, Dominic (HM Revenue & Customs).......... 13,223 Elected

McHUGH, Kevin (HM Revenue & Customs)............... 12,866 Elected

WESLEY, Hector (HM Revenue & Customs)............... 12,698 Elected

LICENSE, Neil (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 12,584 Elected

KELLY, Emily (Land Registry)............................. 12,277 Elected

HOLBOURNE, Zita (ACAS)................................. 12,267 Elected

REID, Andy (HM Revenue & Customs)..................... 12,262 Elected

BROWN, Paula (Health & Safety Executive).............. 12,204 Elected

HALL, Sam (Department for Work & Pensions).......... 12,153 Elected

FERGUSON, Mary (Department for Work & Pensions)... 12,130 Elected

COMER, Steve (UK Border Agency)........................ 12,113 Elected

BROWN, Alan (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 12,101 Elected

GEDLING, Cheryl (Scottish Government)................. 12,009 Elected

ALBERT, Ian (Department for Work & Pensions)......... 11,827 Elected

WILLIAMS, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 11,795 Elected

BREEN, Diane (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 11,734 Elected

LLOYD, Marion (D.B.I.S.).................................. 11,727 Elected

DENNIS, Alan (Ministry of Defence)....................... 11,586 Elected

BRYSON, Rob (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 11,524 Elected

GREENWAY, Kevin (Ministry of Justice).................. 11,519 Elected

KHALIF, Adam (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 11,461 Elected

CHILDS, Eddie (Ministry of Justice)....................... 11,423 Elected

COLLIS, Simon (HM Revenue & Customs)................. 11,325 Elected

FRANKLAND-BARBER, Lynda (HM Revenue & Customs). 11,309 Elected

WILDE, Jake (HM Revenue & Customs)................... 11,293 **

DUNN, Joy (Scottish Government)........................ 10,974 Elected

GREEN, Jackie (Ministry of Justice)...................... 10,722 Elected

CONWAY, Tony (Government Offices).................... 10,717 Elected

JAMIESON, John (Registers of Scotland).................. 10,620 Elected

BAKER, Mark (Planning Inspectorate)..................... 10,539 * Elected*

WILLIAMS, Paul (Driving Standards Agency).............. 10,534 *

DERBYSHIRE, Michael (Ministry of Justice)............... 10,423

KURUP, Ravi (HM Revenue & Customs)................... 10,386

MORRISON, Chris (Capgemini)............................ 10,386

BARROWCLOUGH, Rachel (Department for Work & Pensions) 10,333

RICHARDS, David (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 10,329

MAGEE, Andy (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 9,937

FULLER, Howard (Department for Work & Pensions).... 9,676

COVINGTON, Mary (D.B.I.S.).............................. 9,290

NIMMO, Alan (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 9,181

DODD, Owen (Home Office Pay & Pension Services)..... 9,129

KANG, Gurmit (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 9,120

KIRKHAM, Frank (Ministry of Defence)................... 8,890

WRIGHT, Annette (Department for Work & Pensions)... 8,847

HASKINGS, James (Cabinet Office)....................... 8,801

COX, Joe (Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission) 8,761

LORD, Chris (D.B.I.S.)..................................... 8,738

HARKINS, Bernard James (Crown Office & Procurator F.S.) 8,735

GIESCHEN, Hubert (Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) 8,345

REYNOLDS, James (D.B.I.S.).............................. 8,185

CAMPBELL, Moira (Child Maintenance Enforcement Comm.) 8,145

HENDERSON, Andrew (D.B.I.S)............................ 7,922

HUZZARD, Rosie (Department for Work & Pensions).... 7,321

LYONS, Gerry (HM Revenue & Customs).................. 7,013

LAIDLAW, Bev (Department for Work & Pensions)....... 6,904

RAFTERY, Theresa (Department for Work & Pensions).. 6,614

BROWNE, Marjorie (Department for Work & Pensions). 6,607

BIRD, Nick (Department for Work & Pensions).......... 6,481

HUNTER, Peter (HM Revenue & Customs)................ 6,464

HULME, Christine (Department for Work & Pensions)... 6,331

CATTEN, Sue (Department for Work & Pensions)........ 6,110

MOLONEY, John (Department for Transport)............ 5,906

THOMPSON, George (Department for Work & Pensions) 5,357

JOHNSON, Karen (D.C.L.G.).............................. 4,996

RIGBY, Mike (Metropolitan Police Service)............... 4,717

KENNY, Martin (Government Offices).................... 4,669

HICKEY, Christopher (D.C.L.G.).......................... 4,659

CROFT, Teresa (Metropolitan Police Service)............ 4,630

DUNBAR, Chris (Department for Work & Pensions)...... 4,344

OKONKWO, Damian (Metropolitan Police Service)....... 4,314

McNAUGHT, George Anthony (Metropolitan Police Service) 4,051

WINZAR, Stuart (Metropolitan Police Service)........... 3,853

IQBAL, Jawid (Highways Agency)......................... 3,798

MEGONE, Tim (Treasury Solicitors Department)......... 3,538

VINCENT, Dave (Ministry of Justice)...................... 2,964

*votes confirmed by recount.

**not elected due to limit of eight elected candidates from any one employer.

As Scrutineers appointed in accordance with Section 49 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (as amended), we are satisfied as to each of the matters specified in subsection 52(2) with regard to the election. The following points should be noted:

1) The person appointed under section 51A to carry out the storage and counting of voting papers was Electoral Reform Services Limited.

2) The person appointed under section 51A to carry out the distribution of voting papers was Electoral Reform Services Limited.

3) A copy of the register of voters (as at the relevant date) was examined in accordance with section 49(3). The examination took place at our own instance and did not reveal any matter that should be brought to the attention of the trade union.

We would draw your attention to sections 52(4), 52(5), and 52(6).

Section 52(4) requires that a copy of this report be published and made available to all members of the union within a three month period from today. This does not, however, mean that every member has to be notified individually.

Lancaster and Fleetwood - Candidates Question Time

Wednesday 28th April 2010

Candidates Present:
Gina Dowding - Green Party
Clive Grunshaw - Labour
Eric Ollerenshaw - Conservative
Stuart Langhorn - Liberal Democrats

Question 1: With all the main parties advocating cuts in public services, what assurances can you give me that I will still have a job in 12 months time?

Conservative:

• No party can make ultimate commitment to job security.
• Pay freeze in public sector over £18k
• Committed to stopping NI increase which would severely impact on NHS wage bill.
• Public Services need to be more efficient.
• There is a budget deficit crisis that needs dealing with.

Lib Dem:

• Wage bill majority of public spending.
• Look at where services are delivered and cut jobs strategically through voluntary redundancy.
• Senior Mgt reduction undertaken through negotiation with interested parties.
• Pay restraint of 2.5% or £400 per annum across the board.
• Public sector wages are an essential part of this constituencies economy, have been keeping it afloat in the downturn.

Labour:

• NI increase would mean that the govt can maintain investment in public services.
• Direct threat from Conservatives as they would not implement this.
• TUs should be included and negotiated with on all proposed changes to public services.
• As a trade unionist candidate, Civil Servants in this constituency should be assured that I will be looking out for their interests.

Green:

• Raise taxation on the rich and large corporations.
• Cutting public services harms the most vulnerable in society.
• The low tax burden on the rich under this govt has led to public services being under-funded.
• Anyone earning over £110k would face a 50% tax rate.
• Impose an environmental tax to raise funds.
• Scrap Trident and ID cards to raise funds.
• Ordinary people are paying for financial sector mistakes, this should not continue.
• Leading economists are advising against the other parties approaches as could lead to a double-dip recession.

Question 2: What would the parties do to address the impending oil crisis outlined in the J.O.E report?

Labour:

• Will look at renewable energy including nuclear, wind farms, tidal barrages.
• Need to reduce carbon emissions.
• No clear answer but can’t afford to rely on fossil fuels.
• These new energy sources would see jobs being created in the constituency and 1.2million jobs nationally.

Conservative:

• Agree with Labour candidate.
• Shortage of fossil fuels and dependency on countries such as Russia are not helpful.
• Nuclear provides a secure option.
• Support investment in electric cars etc to reduce dependency on oil.

Green:

• Against nuclear power as it is dangerous and still no clear plan as to how to dispose of waste.
• The Green new deal would see investment in renewable energy and is a jobs rich policy.
• Would create 1m new jobs in this area.
• Supports our tax gap pledge in order to generate revenue, an easy win.

Lib Dem:

• Vitally important that public sector react to energy crisis to ensure sustainability.
• Support 10/10 Friends of the Earth initiative and has implemented it in his role on city council.
• Initiatives like 10/10 improve working conditions, bring savings and improve services for the public.
• Reducing energy consumption in public sector is essential and works.

Question 3: Do the candidates feel there is an increased apathy among the electorate?

Lib Dem:

• Not seeing apathy on doorstep.Leaders’ debates have seen a surge in interest especially among young people.
• Did see apathy around the time of Euro elections though as MPs expenses scandal broke in the right wing press and democracy suffered as a result.
• Would bring about electoral reform through single transferrable vote option.

Green:

• Feels people are despairing and are looking for change.
• Green Party should have had a platform within Leaders debates.
• In 1997 public were excited by Labour landslide but have been let down.
• Green Party would see electoral reform through proportional representation which the Conservative party are against.

Question 4: Do GM crops cause more problems than they solve?

Green:

• GM crops causing serious problems not a solution.
• Seeds are being patented which is having a devastating effect on Farmers.

Conservative:

• Agree with Green Party.
• Need to improve food labelling to make it clearer.

Lib Dem:

• Agree with all of the previous candidates.
• Need to move towards more locally sourced food.

Labour:

• Agree with all the other candidates’ points.
• Need to ensure we know our food sources.

Meeting of the PCS NW Regional Black Members Network

The next meeting of the above network will take place at the Preston Council for Voluntary Service, Unit 23/27 Guild Hall Arcade Lancaster Road, Preston PR1 1HR.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

11:30am - 3:00pm

Lunch will be provided and travel cost (subject to usual PCS guidelines – see attached form) will be met by us.

PCS Union is committed to making the workplace a better and fairer place for members. In order to do this, we must ensure that we are representative of all our members and that different equality and diversity needs are continually highlighted and changes in practices are made to address such needs. PCS has National Forums and Committees that regularly meet to discuss and plan for specific equality needs.

At our meeting members will be able to discuss issues that affect them or colleagues due to their diverse needs going unmet in the workplace. Members have quarterly meetings in their own region to obtain:

• An on-going programme of personal development
• Support from people who understand what you may be going through at work
• Opportunities to learn how you can get involved in union activities and eventsMembers who belong to these networks have found them invaluable.

Equalities Policies

Where possible please bring a copy of your employers equalities policy to this meeting so we can share and discuss their content.

Time off To Attend Meeting

These network meetings are training events. You will need to request time off to attend these meetings from your manager/employer. Important note: if you are going to attend this meeting please inform your local PCS representative they may have some issues/information that should be highlighted.

Network Convenors

The North West network convenors are Mohammed Shafiq and Paulette Kennedy.

If you encounter any difficulties securing paid time off to attend this meeting, please, in the first instance, contact your local PCS office or if you would like any further information about time off or the network please contact Ritu Chabra on 020 7801 2683 or by email.

It is important that you complete a pro-forma and return it before Friday 7 May 2010 so arrangements for lunch and any other specific requirements you may have can be organised. The pro-forma can be requested from Paula Wood at the North West Regional Office by email.

We look forward to meeting you either for the first time, or once again.

Government had no authority to slash redundancy pay, PCS says

The government acted unlawfully when it made severe cuts to the redundancy terms for civil servants, PCS will argue in the High Court.
The union is challenging by way of a judicial review the government’s implementation of changes to the civil service compensation scheme, which governs payments for redundancy and early retirement based on years of service.

Because the changes are detrimental to existing civil and public servants, the union will say the government had no authority to amend the scheme without the agreement of PCS - by far the largest of the civil service unions.

The current scheme, which the government claims it amended on 1 April, is the latest version of arrangements established in 1972 by the Superannuation Act. Section 2(3) of the Act states no changes can be made that reduce “any pension, allowance or gratuity” without agreement.

While the government claims the scheme is merely discretionary, there is not a single case in 38 years where discretion has ever even been considered, let alone exercised. Nor is there any system in place by which this discretion might be determined, who would make the decision and what form an appeal might take.

The court will be asked to quash the amendment to the compensation scheme, which would force the government to return to the negotiating table to seek the union’s agreement on a new scheme.

PCS believes that the extent of the cuts would pave the way for the next government to make massive job cuts and privatise more public services.

To mark the start of the two-day hearing PCS reps will be demonstrating outside the Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London, from 8am.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We have always accepted that changes had to be made to the scheme, but all we ask is that they are fair and reasonable, and that we can make them by agreement.

"We believe we have a strong case but this is not our only avenue. PCS members have already shown they are prepared to take industrial action to defend their jobs and the public services they provide, and we will be knocking on the door of the next government very early on to remind them that they need to reach an agreement with us.”

As part of the campaign against the cuts to the compensation scheme, 200,000 PCS members took three days of strike action in March, including on budget day. The union has also had political support with 176 MPs, including 121 Labour backbenchers, signing a parliamentary motion opposing the cuts.

Update, 5pm Friday 23 April: The court hearing is now complete and judgement has been reserved. PCS expects a result in about a week and full details will be published here as soon as they are available.

Preston Workers Memorial Day Arrangements

Preston and District
Workers Memorial Day

Saturday, 1st May, 2010, 11.30am

Preston Flag Market

Afterwards in the New Meadow Street Labour Club for lunch and refreshments.

For further information please contact Andy Birchall on 01772 223112 or look on the website here for details.

Workers Memorial Day

Please take the time to read this:

What is it and why do we have it?
Workers Memorial Day, also known as International Workers Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day (ICD) for Dead & Injured takes place annually around the world on April 28th.

It’s an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, injured, disabled or made unfit for work by their job.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in workplaces around the world:

• Every year over 2 million women and men die as a result of work-related accidents and diseases.
• Workers suffer approximately 270 million occupational accidents each year, and suffer 160 million incidents of work-related illnesses.
• Hazardous substances in the workplace kill 440,000 workers annually.
• Asbestos claims 100,000 lives each year.
• One person dies every 15 seconds worldwide, that’s 6,000 every day.
• Work kills more people than wars.
• In 2009 180 people were killed and 27,000 suffered major injury in the UK.
• Around 8,000 people die in the UK each year from occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living
Workers Memorial Day was started by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984 and the Canadian Labour Congress declared an annual day of remembrance in 1985 on April 28th.

This date was chosen as it is the anniversary of a comprehensive Workers Compensation Act, passed in Canada in 1914. In 1991 the Canadian Government recognised April 28th as an official Workers Mourning Day.

Since then official recognition has been given by many governments around the world, and Workers Memorial Day is held in countries such as: Argentina, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and the U.S.

On the 28th January 2010 the United Kingdom also officially recognised Workers Memorial Day.

Trade Unions in countries such as Benin, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, Romania and Singapore are also pursuing governmental recognition.

Throughout the world on April 28th events are held, including:

Speeches, active campaigning, workplace awareness events, multi faith religious events, laying wreathes, planting trees, unveiling monuments, balloon releases, public awareness and the laying out of empty shoes to symbolise those who have died at work.

Prime Minister praises union safety representatives
In a message released to mark Workers Memorial Day the Prime Minister praised the role that trade unions and safety representatives play in promoting health and safety. Gordon Brown said 'the British trade union movement has led the way in protecting the lives of people at work through Health and Safety Representatives. Their dedication has protected countless workers and their families from the consequences of deaths and injuries at work and I pay tribute to their tireless efforts on behalf of us all.'

The message also reiterated that Workers' Memorial Day is an important day in the calendar each year. He stated 'It gives us a chance to commemorate those who have died as a result of their work and to think of the families and friends that have been left behind. We also think of those who have been seriously injured or made ill through work and reaffirm our commitment to supporting and protecting them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, support Workers Memorial Day, and report ALL accidents and near misses. Ensure you don’t become just another statistic on Workers Memorial Day.

This year's Workers' Memorial Day Event will take place on:

Saturday 1st May 2010 in Preston centre.

If you would like to get involved please contact James Sorah on 01772 223112.

What will the election bring?

The following has been supplied by the TUC:

The election manifestos of the major political parties contain precious little on workplace health and safety - and what's there is less than reassuring, safety campaigners have said. Mick Holder of the Hazards Campaign commented: 'While there isn't anything positive for workplace health and safety activists in either the Labour or Tory manifestos, there is the worrying commitment to reduce regulation in the Tory one.

Given the Tory's persistent and corrupt attacks on health and safety laws, including those in recent weeks, this must be an issue for those considering which way to vote in the forthcoming election.' He warned against cuts in the public sector, a target for all the major parties, which 'would further weaken the inspection, enforcement and prosecution role' of the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities, and added that it was 'most disappointing' that the Labour Party had not chosen to include a commitment to introduce legal safety duties on company directors.

The Labour blueprint says it will continue to promote 'employee engagement' at work, and indicates the issue of gangmasters in construction will be revisited. Both GMB and UCATT welcomed this commitment to extend gangmaster legislation to the construction sector 'if the evidence shows that is the best way to enforce employment rights.' Neither the Tory nor the Liberal Democrats manifestos contained any positive proposals on workplace health and safety. Both, however, stress they will cut regulation - a policy plank where the Tories have made health and safety rules their for-the-chop poster boy.

The Conservative manifesto says a Tory government 'will introduce regulatory budgets: forcing any government body wanting to introduce a new regulation to reduce regulation elsewhere by a greater amount. And we will give the public the opportunity to force the worst regulations to be repealed.'

The Lib Dem manifesto mimics Tory policy, saying it will 'reduce the burden of unnecessary red tape by properly assessing the cost and effectiveness of regulations before and after they are introduced, using 'sunset clauses' to ensure the need for a regulation is regularly reviewed, and working towards the principle of 'one in, one out' for new rules.'

247 Whole Time Equivalent Job Cuts announced in PDCS at Warbreck

Dear Colleagues

Background Job Cuts Announced in PDCS on 30th March 2010
On Tuesday 30th March 2010 the employer announced that over one thousand one hundred jobs would be cut in the Pension, Disability and Carers Service between now and 31st March 2011. As PDCS is one of the largest units of the DWP on the Fylde then the there is a serious potential for large scale job cuts on the Fylde impacting on everyone.

Local Impact
The employer has now confirmed the local impact of the cuts to be as follows (please note that these appear to be whole time equivalent cuts and therefore the actual number of people being lost from employ may be far higher).

Please note that as you can calculate this as approximately one in five jobs in Helpline/ BEL and one and ten jobs in DCPU Ops are to be cut. Please also note that if the present headcount is above the March 2010 target then there may be more cuts.

The imposition of the cuts in the Civil Service Compensation scheme (which is an outrageous attempt to cut people’s jobs on the cheap) shows that the job security is a key issue to everyone. It now appears that more job cuts are being planned to pay for the bail out of the bankers and the millionaire class. Now that the worst of the recession created by the bankers is over then there will be attempts at a purge on Civil Service jobs. Cutting the compensation makes it cheaper to get rid of people, so there will be more job cuts planned.

Conclusion
The Branch will continue to campaign to defend jobs in the area and also raise key issues such as the expectations of those left behind after the job cuts and the pressures to deliver increasing workloads with fewer and fewer staff.

Which Party

The Telegraph have added a widget for some thought provoking questions and a rough guide as to who's policies your answers lean towards. It's not supposed to be a be all and end all, but may assist some people in identifying which parties thay may wish to read the manifestos of.

Civil Service Compensation Scheme Campaign - Don't Work Overtime

The national overtime ban has been
extended until 14th May 2010.

Support for the action has been very strong and members’ branches are asked to ensure that it continues to be observed strictly. Downloadable material for members and detailed guidance on industrial action is available on the PCS website here and can be found easily from the home page. Members having taken three days of strike action will not expect the campaign to be undermined by handfuls of people who may be persuaded to work outside of their contracted hours. 

Action by branches
Branches are continuing to organise picketing where weekend working is attempted, and are reporting all attempts to work overtime via GECLOs.

Candidates Question Time - Lancaster and Fleetwood

There is to be a candidates question time for the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency.

This is open to all voters within the area concerned.

Details are below:

Wednesday 28th April 2010 at 7.00pm
Milton Street Youth and Community Centre
Milton Street, Fleetwood
Lancashire
FY7 6QW

Stepping up the pressure: national action called for 24 March

Keep the pressure up

Support the national overtime ban

All out the 24th of March

The action on  the 8th and 9th of March was a great success, solidly supported by members across the UK, and with extensive media coverage. Reports are also available.

Over 200,000 PCS members were on strike.

We now need to keep the pressure up on the employer to come to a negotiated settlement.

Success on 8th and 9th of March

The action on the 8th and 9th of March included:

• Crown and county court sittings cancelled across England and Wales.
• Jobcentres offering little or no service to the public.
• Solid support among Met Police civilian staff working, including 999 operators, community support officers and picket lines at Houses of Parliament for the first time in a generation.
• An estimated 4,000 driving tests cancelled.
• Severe problems calling tax and benefit call centres with some switching to recorded announcements.
• Glasgow passport office closed, appointments cancelled in London and 80,000 passports delayed.
• Severe disruption at Gatwick as 70% of UK Border Agency staff took part in the strike action, and delays at other ports of entry.
• Well attended strike rallies were held across the UK. The London march and rally was supported by several hundred members and won the support of a number of general secretaries of other unions and the TUC.

Media coverage in the run up and of the strike itself was unprecedented across TV, radio, web and print. It was covered on news bulletins throughout the day on all national TV and radio stations and appearances by the general secretary included the Today programme, 5 Live, BBC Breakfast TV, GMTV, Sky news, Channel 4 news. UK-wide broadcast coverage was supported by excellent coverage over the two days in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions, where the media visited picket lines and interviewed reps and full time officials.

The message has gone out loud and clear that we will not accept changes to the CSCS that would mean:

• Everyone’s job under greater threat than ever before
• For many people with longer service, the loss of a third of their entitlements, possibly tens of thousands of pounds
• People currently over 50 losing access to an enhanced pension other than on compulsory redundancy
• People reaching 50 in the future losing access to an enhanced pension
• Voluntary severance packages becoming less generous and will be at employer discretion
• People with reserved rights (pre-1987) losing more than half of their entitlements
• People facing privatisation transferring with far less protection – therefore making privatisation more likely

National overtime ban

A national overtime ban is now in effect. The ban will run until 6 April in the first instance. It will be kept under review by the national executive committee. Guidance for reps and members’ leaflets on the overtime ban have been distributed to branches.

These, and all other materials, are available on the PCS website.

If we are to defend members’ entitlements under the CSCS, and defend our jobs, it is very important we do not allow our strike action to be undermined by the employer getting people to work overtime to clear backlogs created by the action.

Branches should now discuss implementation of the ban, seeking advice from Group offices where necessary.

Further action – all out 24 March

We have had successful action. We now need to keep the momentum up. The national executive has decided to call a national strike on Friday 19 March.

A members mailing will be issued to ballot addresses shortly. Meetings with members and other face to face contact using the material on the website should be carried out as a priority to build support for the strike.

Regional meetings of reps are being organised to discuss building the action. These meetings will take place over the next few days. More details will be issued by your regional office.

This is the key period to take such action, in the run up to a general election and before the 1 April when the amendments to the scheme come into effect. The union has made suggestions to the employer that would enable the government to make the savings it says it must make at the same time as protecting existing members’ entitlements. An agreement is within reach but we must step up the pressure.

Legal action

We continue to pursue legal action. The government are attempting to delay this in the courts. Industrial action will help to keep the pressure on.

Lobbying

We have written again to Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Civil Service, stating that we should meet to discuss a negotiated settlement. The government has attempted to downplay the action and disgracefully has tried to reject the prospect of an agreement to settle this dispute. But we know that political pressure on the government has grown, with 162 MPs signing an Early Day Motion. More action can have an effect.

John McDonnell MP, the Chair of the PCS Parliamentary Group, has urged us to continue to lobby MPs and ask them to contact the Minister to urge her to come to an agreement and avoid more damaging action.

Branches are urged to plan lobbies of MPs surgeries where they take place on 24 March and to encourage members to write again to their MPs.

Branches must now:

• Discuss implementation of the national overtime ban.
• Attend reps’ regional briefings: further details will be issued soon.
• Use the campaign materials and talk to members about the action on the 24 March, holding meetings wherever possible.
• Plan to lobby local MPs on the 24 March wherever surgeries are taking place, and urge members to write again to MPs. Detail are on the PCS website.

Thank you for your hard work so far. Industrial action is only called as a last resort and we know that it is not easy for members. But this is the most important dispute we have had for many years. Now is the key time to build more pressure on the government to reach an agreement to settle this dispute.

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary

Janice Godrich, President

Stonewall’s latest amendment to the Equality Bill

The following has been provided by Stonewall:

This is just to let you know that very late on 2nd March Stonewall’s latest amendment to the Equality Bill – to permit civil partnerships to be held in religious premises – was passed in the House of Lords by 95 votes to 21. For those denominations involved – including Quakers and the Liberal Jews – this is a very important step forward and, as we argued throughout, an important matter of religious freedom.


This vote is also hugely important to those lesbian and gay people of faith (and, as Lady Neuberger pointed out, to their Jewish mothers too!) who wish to celebrate their civil partnerships in their own place of worship. Lord Alli tabled the amendment for us and peers across parties supported the measure, including Norman Fowler, former chairman of the Conservative Party.

Sadly, the government continued to oppose the amendment although offered its backbenchers a free vote after the Conservative Party had offered the same. Ministers have known for some months that we intended to table this measure and we regret that the government didn't stand up to the bullying it had faced from the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church on this issue. We'll now work closely with ministers to ensure that we secure implementation of this further step towards equality.

We couldn’t campaign in the way we do without the support of so many thousands of people across Britain. Thank you again for all your help.

Best wishes,
Stonewall

Fair Trade Fortnight: 22 February - 7 March

PCS HQ has supplied the following information:

Fair Trade Fortnight: 22 February - 7 March
This annual event in the awareness raising and positive action calendar has come round again, with the theme this year of "swopping" your "unfair" trade products for fair ones, by lobbying your local retailer. For more information visit the Fair Trade Foundation website here 

Taxing International Financial Transfers to Eradicate Poverty In Developing Countries - The Robin Hood Tax
This idea has been going the rounds as "the Tobin Tax" for some time, but recently received a shot in the arm through its appealing "rebranding" as the Robin Hood Tax. This is a particularly appropriate initiative for PCS to get behind given the number of its members working on tax issues, and the union's ongoing demands for 'tax justice'. To find out more visit the Robin Hood Tax website here.

On Tuesday 10 March there is also a talk about the Robin Hood Tax at the Royal Society of Arts in London; there are currently still seats available for this, but the event will also be viewable as a live webstream. For more information visit the RSA website here

PCS Development Awareness Raising Work
It is very much a case of "watch this space" at the moment, as the union awaits the outcome of its Development Awareness Fund bid to the Department for International Development. A decision is expected before the end of March. The project will focus on how to eradicate poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals through international tax justice, social protection and Decent Work.

TUC Playfair 2012
On Saturday 27 February the Olympic torch was handed on from this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver to London, and the Playfair 2012 coalition, coordinated by the TUC, launched its union-wide campaign for an ethical London Games. Funding permitting (see above), the campaign will be a central feature of the Decent Work element of PCS' development awareness work in the coming years. For more information about the new campaign, see the TUC website .

PCS Support Benefits Palestinian Workers
In 2008 PCS supported a TUC Aid Appeal for Palestine, Zimbabwe and Swaziland, and last year ran a members' appeal in its 'International Insights' magazine. The funds destined for Palestine have been used by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) to run workshops for Palestinian workers to make them aware of their rights. To see what this means at an individual level, see Nedaa AL Zaher's personal testimony on the TUC website here.

CSCS Rallies - North West

Several North West Rallies have been organised to coincide with the first day of the strike over the proposed cuts to the CSCS.

The one local to the Branch is being held in Preston. Details are below:

Preston
Fifty Fifth Division Club

119, Church Street
Preston PR1 3BT

Refreshments available from 12.00 noon, hope to see you there.

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Please also see below for details of other North West rallies. Start times slightly variable but no later than 12.30.

Liverpool
Premier Inn
Vernon Street
Liverpool L2 2AY

Refreshments available from 11.30am

CHAIR: Paula Brown, PCS National Executive Committee
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary
Frank Hont, Unison Regional Secretary (Invited)


Manchester
Friends Meeting House
6 Mount Street
Manchester M2 5NS

Refreshments available from 11.30am

CHAIR: Pete Grubb, PCS Salford Revenue Branch
Sue Bond, PCS Vice-President
Kevin Brown, FBU Regional Secretary

PCS hits back at Cabinet Office

PCS hit back today over Cabinet Office claims that changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) are fair for staff and will bring the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector.

Far from being fair, the union argued that loyal public servants faced cuts of up to a third in redundancy pay as the government sought to tear up their contractual rights in front of their eyes.

Countering claims that the low paid won’t be affected, the union warned that they faced being stripped of their enhanced pension rights when they reach 50 and that the cuts were about making it easier for the next government to sack people on the cheap.

On turnout, the union pointed to the fact the government had denied MPs a vote on the changes and instead relied on an arcane parliamentary procedure to avoid any debate, discussion or vote. The union also pointed out that the government was elected in 2005 by just 22% of the electorate.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The Cabinet Office has described these changes as bringing the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector. Yet according to the government’s own figures, civil servants earn nearly £5,000 less per year than the public sector average.

"If the government were serious about bringing the civil service into line with the rest of the public sector then it would address the issue of chronic low pay in the civil service.

"In reality these cuts are an attack on low paid civil servants to make it easier for the next government to make job cuts on the cheap. It has nothing to do with fairness or parity, and instead is a crude cost-cutting exercise.

"The government and the Cabinet Office will be able to see the real strength of feeling among PCS members on 8 and 9 March, when we expect strong support for strike action. Over 35,000 members attended meetings on this issue and 18,000 lobbied the Cabinet Office during the consultation.

"The government and the Cabinet Office can avoid the disruption of industrial action by negotiating an agreement that protects existing members’ rights.”