Ballot Meetings

On Wednesday 1st October Tony Conway, member of the National Executive Committee, will be addressing members at Frances House and Lothersdale House about the ballot for strike action.

The first meeting will commence at 12:30 in the car park at Frances House and Tony will then travel to Wellingborough and address a second car park meeting at Lothersdale House at about 1.30pm.

The meetings will last approximately 15 minutes so please attend if you can.

PCS Conference

Mark Edwards and myself attended this year's DWP Group Conference (19th - 20th May), as well as the National Conference (21st-23rd May) as delegates for the Northamptonshire branch. As always I left Brighton feeling inspired and reinvigorated, although the conference was hard work (honestly!) and occasionally painful!





The Price of Everything...


Jane Aitchison, who was re-elected as the DWP Group President, started things off by thanking reps and members for their hardwork and dedication, especially on the 24th April when the overwhelming majority of members supported the strike action.

Jane criticised the imposed pay "deal" for PCS staff, which leaves the majority of staff with a pay cut due to the rate of inflation and many long serving staff with a 0% pay rise. The claim that there simply isn't enough money was put into focus when she gave examples of some of the things DWP has found the money for. They included personal grooming courses for Senior Managers at a cost of £967 per person, pay rises of between 6.5% & 7.6% for senior managers and (my favourite) Jobcentre Plus mirrors for the long term unemployed. Customers are advised to use the mirrors to:

• Practice smiling in



• Check that they don't have somrthing in between their teeth before an interview



• And to look into whilst repeating five times "I am a tiger"!

Pay Campaign

One of the biggest debates was around the tactics for the continuing pay campaign. The Group Executive proposed continuing with a similar strategy, with consideration for targeted action and action short of a strike, whilst ensuring members were regularly consulted.

Some branches felt the current stategy wasn't working. They proposed selective action. In other words, "key parts" of the business (for example Benefit Processing Centres) could go out on long term strike action. They argued that extra funds should be raised by putting a levy on all members and this could be used to help those involved in the selective action.

However the overwhelming majority of delegates voted with the GEC, feeling that selective action forced a minority of members to fight the campaign on behalf of the majority.

Local Pensions & CSA

Other motions were also passed on the first day committing PCS to fight for staff transferring from CSA to CMEC and ensure they maintain their civil service status, as well as a concerted campaign to ensure adequate staffing levels for in Local Pension Service.

Life Membership

Day One ended with the decision to award Distinguished Life Membership to retired reps who have done so much for PCS and it's predecessor union. We were especially pleased to hear that Ralph Baxter was amongst those included.

Domestic Violence

This is a subject which I have felt passionate about for many years. It has always shocked and saddened me how many of my close friends have been affected by this issue. I was pleased to speak on motion A118 which called for DWP to develop a coherent policy allowing special paid leave to those victims who face the trauma of attacks and their aftermath. The motion was overwhelmingly passed.

GEC Elections

You should all have received your ballot paper for the GEC by now. Your Branch Committee nominated the following people at its AGM and would now urge you to vote for them, as we believe they are the people with the best policies, and will do the best to win the ongoing campaigns:

PRESIDENT - Jane Aitchison

VICE PRESIDENTS - Alan Brown, Martin Cavanagh, Martin John, Laura Martin, John McInally

ASSISTANT SECRETARIES - Dave Burke, Christine Cuthbert, Stewart Dalley, Sam Hall, Tom Penn, Dave Richards, Rob Williams.

ORGANISER - Fran Heathcote

TREASURER - Bashir Chilwan

GEC MEMBERS: Dave Alston, Paul Barton, Alison Carass, Jason Ferraby, Helen Flanagan, Janice Godrich, Gavin Hartley, Melissa Howe, Martin Jones, Adam Khalif, Dave Owens, Carol Revell, Sian Ruddick, Jagdeep Sandhu, Nigel Sheahan, Melanie Sinclair, Derek Thomson, Yvonne Washbourne, Steve West, Katrine Williams, Carol Worthington.

Further One Day Strike Called

A further one day's strike has been called for April 24. This strike is taking place the same day as action by nine other Government Departments as well as teachers and lecturers.

Only through supporting this action can we hope to win our campaign against the below inflation pay rise we will be getting this year. Please show your support on the day, and consider joining reps on the picket lines to demonstrate how you feel.

Campaigns Update

This document which you need Adobe to open, provides important information regarding ongoing campaigns. As you will see an agreement has been reached which will provide valuably needed extra protection for anybody marked surplus. This agreement has been reached through the hard work and negotiating skills of your national reps.

There is also some disturbing statistics about inflation which further demonstrates how poor the pay offer which has been forced on you actually is.

Although we have had a victory in the national campaign, the Departmental pay campaign is still ongoing. Whenever we have further information to provide we will do so.

Overtime Ban Starts Now!

As part of the industrial action all members are requested to refuse any offers of overtime.

Approximately eighty percent of members across our branch took part in the strike action earlier this week. By working overtime management are hoping to lessen the impact of this action.

We all know how difficult it is to go out on strike and sacrifice a couple of days pay. None of us are paid a fortune and no one can easily afford to have less money coming in. But that is the reason for the industrial action. The pay imposition is designed to ensure that most staff will receive a pay cut in real terms over the next three years.

It may be tempting for some to work overtime in the next few weeks. But by doing so you are personally responsible for undermining the financial sacrifice made by the members who went out on strike.

Over the next three years there are plans to reduce the number of staff in DWP by a further 12,000. Every member who crosses a picket line or works overtime is weakening the union's position. The union needs to be stronger than ever if it is to resist these cuts. Is a couple of days overtime really worth weakening PCS? Because never forget, no ones job is safe.

Thank You All For Your Support

Your Branch Committee would like to thank you all sincerely for your support for the industrial action this week. The support was as strong as the last action in December, showing how strongly you all feel about the derisory pay offer that has been imposed on us all.

Do not forget that an overtime ban is now in place for two weeks. Working overtime undermines the action that we have taken and sends false messages as to how much we are willing to do for an hourly wage which is lower than we all deserve.

Everybody needs a weekend off to refresh our batteries so we can work to our potential during the normal working week, and certainly everybody deserves the long break that the Easter holidays provide for us.

Your Group Executive Committee will shortly be writing to you to thank you for your support and giving more information on the campaign

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OVERTIME BAN

Health and Safety Reps

We are looking to recruit more health and safety reps within the branch. Health and safety reps play a key role in ensuring that staff are looked after properly and that managers adhere to DWP Health and Safety guidance and we are concerned that several sites do not have a trained rep on site.

Health and safety reps only deal with issues regarding health and safety. They would not be expected to handle disciplinary cases or negotiate with managers on behalf of members. We have several experienced reps in place, so we would ensure that any new reps received all the support and help that they need.

There are plans for a PCS Health & Safety course in the near future. If you are interested in becoming a rep please let me or one of the other reps know.

New Faces

We are pleased to announce that we have two new reps, both from Corby Debt Centre.

Caroline Henderson was elected as a site rep in a ballot held in the run up to the Annual General Meeting. After years of the branch committee being dominated by middle aged, white,(overweight?) males (and yes I include myself in that category) it is great to see young enthusiastic members like Caroline taking a more active role. Without young activists coming through the branch, indeed the union, will not be able to thrive in the future.

Joanne Rhoden has also taken up the role of a Health and Safety rep. Her extensive health and safety training and experience is a real boost to the branch and to the members in Corby Debt Centre. We are really pleased to have her on board.

Sadly however we have lost the services of Paul Cross, who has been a site rep at Corby for the last year. He no longer feels that he can stay on as a rep, but we are grateful for the numerous personal cases he undertook and the excellent recruitment work that he did.

Strike Days Announced

Two further days of industrial action have been announced after further talks with management about the imposed pay offer broke down. On the 17th and 18th March PCS members across DWP will refuse to go to work to show their outrage at this frankly scandalous pay offer.

For many long serving staff this pay imposition equates to a mere 1% per year for the next three years. With the Retail Price Index showing that the cost of living has increased to above 4% the truth is that all we have been offered is a year on year pay cut.

Some members feel that we should have gone ahead with the proposed strike on 31st January. However if PCS had refused to enter into further discussions with the Treasury, it would look as if we were not serious about trying to reach an agreement. Since management failed to offer anything new during these talks it is now obvious which side really wanted to make these talks work.

Other members feel that we should be taking any strike action at all. Members know that by taking part in a strike that they will suffer financially at the end of the month. But failiure to fight this pay cut in real terms, would be resigning youself and your colleagues to suffering financially every month for the next three years. And for anyone approaching retirement in the next few years this pay cut will affect their pension forever.

The unions strength lies in its' membership. Managers at local and national level discuss and negotiate with PCS officials because they represent three quarters of their workforce. Non members, even those who boast about crossing picket lines, often turn to reps for help or advice when they have a problem themselves. Why? Because they know that the union does have influence.

Every single member has influence. The decision made by every single member on 17th and 18th March is crucial. Everyone who crosses the picketline is saying that they are happy to do more and more work for less money. They are saying that the announced 12,000 jobs loses in the next three years is ok with them.

I have been asked if I think we can win this fight. Honestly, I believe we can. We can if you the members are prepared to fight. But if we chose not to fight, then we have already lost.

Season's Greetings

Your PCS Branch would like to send you all Season’s Greetings and wish you well for 2008.

2007 has been a busy year for your branch, and we would like to thank you for your support during the year.

We appreciate that asking you to take action in the way you have is often very difficult. The national campaign and the Group pay claim are still ongoing. PCS want to reach an amicable suitable settlement to both these campaigns and it is sincerely hoped that this will happen early in 2008.

On a local level the branch has had to reorganise following the retirement of its erstwhile Secretary Ralph MBE. Hopefully the officers have provided the membership with the support it has needed and Ralph’s departure has not been noticed.

Committee members do recognise that they are often away on TU duties, which puts a strain on their immediate colleagues. We are ever grateful for your individual support in this way.
Once again enjoy your time off and see you in 2008.

On Strike - Day Two And Photos

Day two of the strike was as successful if not more so than day one. Thanks again to all of you for your support. Pictures and newspaper cuttings are below.

Pictures from Northampton to follow later in the week.

The Overtime Ban Has Started

Following on from the marvellously successful two day strike please don't forget that a two week overtime ban is in operation from 8-21 December. We appreciate your support in taking industrial action on Thursday and Friday, but it is important the campaign goes on. Question two on the ballot paper asked if you were willing to take action short of a strike and 81.6% said YES.

We need to send a clear message to senior management that we will not be tempted to earn some money back whilst taking them out of the mire that industrial action put them in. Stay at home the next two weekends. Support the overtime ban

Day One At Daventry

Just wanted to add to Mark's comments below and thank members across the district for joining in today's action, especially those who braved the cold and rain to stand on the picket line. I was particularly pleased with the reaction of members in the Daventry office, which had a picket line for the first time in many years. In fact nearly half the members in the office joined the picket line (with more promising to join tomorrow) and ninety percent of members were out on strike.

No photos of today's picket line at Daventry, but Lynn Curtis kindly gave me this press cutting from 1985. In fact Lynn is the only person to have been on the picket line in 1985 and 2007. What struck me most of all was the placard saying "CPSA members like a joke: 4.5% is a cracker."

4.5%? Many of our members are only going to get 1% a year for the next three years. And they told us things could only get better.

On Strike - Day One

A massive thank you to all of you for your support today. This has probably been the best supported day of industrial action in many a year, proving that you all feel angry about the imposition of the pay offer.

We had picket lines at Northampton, Wellingborough, both Corby sites, and, for the first time since the 1980's; Daventry. Massive, massive thanks go to those of you who joined us on those picket lines. It is great that members who are not reps join in and show unity in this way.

We had interviews both today and yesterday with The Chronicle and Echo, The Evening Telegraph, and The Daventry Express, and articles have been in all three together with photographs. Some of these can be found online.

Branch Secretary Mark Edwards also gave a live interview to BBC Radio Northampton in which he described the 'rise' those on the max will be receiving as "frankly scandalous", which has now been adopted as the branch catchphrase.

Look here again tomorrow for links to press coverage and (hopefully) photos.

News from the front line

As you know we are unable to use the work email to let you know anything about industrial action. However we will be using this blog to keep you update with progress on Thursday and Friday.

Hopefully some of you will come down and keep us company on the picket line, but for the rest of you you can find out how it turned out across Northamptonshire on this site.

Last time we were on strike members the fire service came provided support, as well as donuts, for those on the picket line at Corby Debt Centre and they are hoping for more of the same this time!

The Weakest Link

A chain is only as stong as its weakest link, or so the cliche goes. A union is not only as strong as its weakest member, but the action of every single member is crucial, especially during industrial action.

Every PCS member, all of us, will have something to thank the union for. It may not be direct help you have received, but that doesn't mean that you aren't in a better position because of the union. Without PCS and its predecessor unions, we would not have the conditions that many of us take for granted, such as flexi time, term time working, generous maternity and paternity leave and the right to retire at sixty (or later) and receive a final salary pension.

Other members have received more direct help from reps both locally and nationally. Some of you reading this may not even still be employed without the hardwork and dedication of those within the PCS.

But PCS can only support members if the membership supports PCS. Managers don't consult with reps because of who they are as individuals. We haven't saved jobs or gained help for members because a manager liked our aftershave or perfume. We have won victories, big and small, because we are part of large, active and committed union.

Taking two days strike action next week will be difficult. Not one of us will not feel the impact of the loss of pay. But every member that crosses a picket line weakens the union.

Personally, you may have done okay out of the imposed pay offer, although it is estimated that many staff will suffer a 9% pay cut in real terms over the next three years. But if you break the strike you are saying that the pay cut for many staff is acceptable. You are saying that the job losses, increased stress and more work are acceptable.

Ask yourself a simple question. Will I need the union in the future? Be honest with yourself, if you didn't think you needed the union you wouldn't be in it. With privatisation, the increased use of the Third Sector and more job losses on the way we will all need the union. So why weaken it now?

Pain in the ATOS

Earlier this year ATOS took over the contract to carry out occupational health assessments for DWP staff. When a members of staff is referred for an OHS assessment it is usually because of an underlying health issue or disability, and the resulting report can help to determine what reasonable adjustments need to be put in place to help the staff member. This can involve anything from a change of duties to the introduction of specialist equipment, or simply an increase in the trigger days.

When ATOS took over the contract from Capita, they inherited a large backlog of work. However months later there are still many people waiting for this vital health assessment to take place. While they wait they continue to suffer from the impact of their health condition, as well as the stress of possible disciplinary action.

Across the region those who have had an assessment and are waiting for the reasonable adjustment to be put into place have been identified. In some cases staff have been on "gardening leave" for months while they wait for specialist equipment to put put in place.

However management do not have any idea how many staff are lost in the system awaiting the initial OHS assessment. If you have been waiting for ATOS to carry out an assessment on you for more than two months, please let me know so that we can esculate this issue with management and ATOS.

Don't suffer in silence. Your local TU reps can only help to get this issue resolved if we are made aware. Please contact me on john.andrews@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

Two Day Strike Announced

After talks with management broke down on Wednesday, PCS DWP group have called a two day strike for Thursday 6th December and Friday 7th December.

PCS desperately want to solve this dispute by negotiation and were pleased when Peter Hain called a meeting in the light of the ballot result. However when the full PCS pay negotiating team turned up for the talks at the chosen start time of 12:30, they were suprised to be kept waiting until 13:15 for the two management representatives to turn up. The talks were regularly punctuated by management attendees nipping out of the room for reasons unknown.

Unfortunately no proposals or further offers were forthcoming, and PCS' request to award a consolidated 3.9% payrise to all members (which can be afforded), and to renegotiate years two and three was rejected.

It is clear then that the only way to force managements hands on this derisory pay imposition is to act on the ballot result and take the industrial action that the majority of members who voted have voted for.

Don't forget that even if your November pay packet looks good, it is a one off, and you will still be paid less money in 2009 than someone in your equivalent grade with your length of service is earning now in HMRC. The Government are refusing to award us a cost of living pay rise (or any rise at all in 2008 if you are on max) at the same time as bailing out Northern Rock to the tune of 20 to 30 Billion Pounds.

Please support your Union by joining in this industrial action. Members in Northants have always shown solidarity and have supported the democratic decisions of the union. Better still join us on a picket line, on one or both days. Anything would be appreciated. Please contact a local rep for details of how you can help.

Pay Ballot Result

The results of the DWP pay ballot have been published. The turnout is disappointingly low at 33%, but make no mistake: this is still a mandate to take industrial action in response to the now imposed pay offer. The fact that 67% of members did not vote is in no way a sign that those 67% do not agree with or won't choose to strike. Please do not believe any communication stating otherwise.

If they really felt that strongly then they would have voted "no" which they clearly haven't.

So the next step is eagerly awaited. The GEC meets tomorrow to decide what should happen next. Please watch this space and the PCS website for news as it happens.