ALL OUT 8 - 9 MARCH 2010 - Reports from the pickets.

Reports from the picket line


Today's strike action by PCS members working in the civil and public services caused mass disruption across the UK, and helped to highlight how crucial PCS members are in delivering services to the public.

Here are a few of the stories from today’s action.
In London and the South East, the Identity and Passport service (IPS) saw the majority of members join the strike. Appointments were down by around 75%. IPS Glasgow saw only 10 of 190 members reporting for work.

Some of London's biggest attractions were severely disrupted by the strike. At The Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington only two of 90 members of staff came into work. This resulted in just the ground floor of the museum being open. The British Museum and British Library also saw strong support, with pickets on both sites.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) operations has also felt the effect of today's action, and training courses have been cancelled as a result of the strike.

One HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) office in the Midlands reported the best support for strike action since 2002. Another HMRC office, this time situated in the North West saw deliveries being turned away by those unwilling to cross the picket, and also saw five members recruited on the line.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Nottingham saw pickets at all sites, and reported some of the biggest picket lines ever. Branches of the DWP in the North West reported excellent support, with only 15% of staff coming in. This led to five job centres and a benefit delivery centre being closed. In Scotland, one jobcentre saw just under 80% of staff not attending. Refusal to cross picket lines was reported in different DWP offices around the country.

In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government reception in Carmarthen was closed due to the strike action. Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards visited the picket line. In Cardiff Bay, public access to the building was closed off, and Assembly Members would not cross the picket line. The First Minister was also unable to meet the High Commissioner of the site. Other work areas in Wales also reported a high turnout of members joining the picket line.

ALL OUT 8 - 9 MARCH 2010

Defend the
civil service
compensation
scheme
All out
8–9 MArch
No job cuts
on the cheap
Public and commercial Services union | pcs.org.uk/cscs

Civil servants lobby parliament

3 March 2010
Around 100 representatives of PCS, from across the UK will be descending on Parliament today to lobby MPs over cuts to the redundancy terms for civil and public servants.

The lobby and rally come as a quarter of a million civil and public servants gear up for a 48 hour stoppage on 8 and 9 March over the unilateral changes, which will see staff robbed of up to a third of their entitlements and see loyal civil and public servants lose tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of their job.
Political pressure is mounting over the forced changes, with over 150 MPs and former ministers signing an early day motion (EDM) urging the government to re-examine the ‘disappointing and unfair proposals’.
A pre-lobby rally, chaired by PCS president, Janice Godrich with John McDonnell MP, David Drew MP and Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary starts at 1.30pm in committee room 18 of the House of Commons. PCS representatives will then start lobbying their MPs from 2.30pm.
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "It is disgraceful that the government has denied MPs a vote on these changes which are aimed at cutting jobs on the cheap. Instead the government has relied on an arcane parliamentary procedure to avoid any debate, discussion or vote to change the law.
"It is clear that political pressure is growing with MPs and former ministers signing an early day motion that urges the government to re-examine the ‘disappointing and unfair proposals’.
Over 150 MPs recognise that the government should be protecting those who have given loyal service over a number of years rather than slashing their redundancy entitlements and cutting their jobs on the cheap
"Over 150 MPs recognise that the government should be protecting those who have given loyal service over a number of years rather than slashing their redundancy entitlements and cutting their jobs on the cheap. The government needs to pay heed to growing opposition from MPs and reach a negotiated settlement."

Learning At Work Day Events

Your Union Learning reps will be travelling around the branch throughout may, holding events in all offices in North Yorkshire.
We will aim to get as many providers and taster sessions as we possibly can.
York for example will be holding tasters sessions with our very own Debbie pogson who is a fully qualified hypnotist she will be running sessions on hypnotism and emotional freedom technique.
We’ll be having sessions again on watercolour painting with Lynne arnison our lovely Scarborough site rep and union learning rep. we’ll be having Lesley young from defra joining us with her resuscitation doll “Annie” to show us CPR and run a session on first aid.
There are lots of things planned for this year, so keep your eyes peeled for the emails and posters.

DWP union news

Contact Centre talks move towards a conclusion
Talks continue with Contact Centre Directorate management aimed at settling the dispute over members being threatened with compulsory transfer into CCD. Members on the 14 sites have been very patient so far but PCS has warned management that member’s patience is running out and they are increasingly keen to see real measurable signs of progress from the talks. PCS are pressing management to agree a package of improvements good enough to settle the dispute before the Group Executive meets on March 4th.

PCS members vote for civil service wide strike
PCS members across the civil service have voted decisively to strike to defend the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. 51,984 members voted in favour of strike action, 29,941 voted against. A massive 81% voted for action short of a strike.

The PCS National Executive Committee met yesterday to receive the ballot result and they immediately agreed to call a civil service wide strike for March 8th and 9th followed by a short sharp overtime ban from March 10th to April 6th to really pile the pressure on the employer to change their mind.

Make them listen
PCS will do everything it can to try to find a settlement to our dispute. A lobby of parliament has been arranged for next week so every MP can hear first hand how strongly we feel about protecting our jobs. We will bust the myths that have been peddled about gold plated payments. We will let MPs and the public know that it is about job cuts on the cheap and stripping us of every ounce of job security during very uncertain times.

Sticking together to win
PCS members in DWP know that action gets results. Across the civil service we are even stronger. We now need to stand firm together to show that we know that what the employer is trying to do to us is a disgrace – our cause is right.

Together we will win.

Early pay talks take place
PCS pay negotiators met with DWP senior management this week to set out members priorities for pay in 2010 in advance of management’s submission to the treasury for our pay pot. We submitted our clam to DWP and CMEC management emphasising the need to start off by seeking additional funding to consolidate the non-consolidated payments from the last pay round.

Make bonuses redundant
Everyone knows this pay round will be difficult. We have asked management to maximise pay by bringing every available penny into pay. This recession has totally discredited bonuses. This week there has been a public outcry about The Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to spend £1.3 billion on bonuses. Bonuses are the one thing management should make redundant. PCS members want the money to be spent on decent wages they can rely on instead.

Civil service compensation scheme

•Members vote 'yes' for action
•All out 8 & 9 March


A majority of members voting in the national ballot have voted in favour of strike action by 63.4% to 36.6%, and in favour of action short of a strike by 81.4% to 18.6%.

The ballot result sends a clear message to the employer that PCS members will not accept cuts in their accrued rights to fair redundancy compensation at a time when all the main political parties are planning deep public spending cuts.

The national executive (NEC) would like to thank all reps and members for their work in delivering a successful ballot result.

It was agreed to write to the minister for the civil service, making clear our aim of reaching a negotiated settlement and calling on the government to return to talks.

The NEC agreed that notice will be given of a two day national strike on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 March, and a national overtime ban.

The Road Show

Monkgate BDC, York hosted the joint DWP and PCS roadshow. A fantastic event showing just what your union learner reps can do for you. Also what departmental learning is available. If anyone has any questions about the event or any of the materials please contact one of your reps for further information.
The Prince's Trust Scheme, Community 5000, NVQ's......etc.
Don't forget if you are interested in an Open University course that PCS members get a 10% discount.
I will be meeting again with York College to arrange course available in North Yorkshire. Please watch this space for any updates on course coming to you through your union.
I would like to thank everyone who came to the event and look forward to taking your thoughts and ideas forward.

PCS - NORTH YORKSHIRE BRANCH: TUC UNION LEARNING CONFERENCE HULL

PCS - NORTH YORKSHIRE BRANCH: TUC UNION LEARNING CONFERENCE HULLhttp://www.unionlearn.org.uk/about/regions_info_yandh.cfm

Unionlearn celebrates success in Yorkshire and Humber region
Friday 16th October 2009

'Unionlearn with Yorkshire and the Humber TUC held its annual celebration of trade union achievements around learning and skills yesterday (15 October 2009) at the Royal Hotel in Hull.

Since unionlearn* was established in 2006 unions in Yorkshire & Humber have helped support 60,000 people through training programmes, many for the first time.

This conference was aimed at celebrating achievements and looking forward. Around 150 union delegates and partners will attend the conference, which, as well as celebrating their successes, will provide them with information about the impact of the current economic downturn, new policies and initiatives/developments in learning and skills.

The conference heard from keynote speakers, Ian Cawsey MP , TUC Deputy General Secretary, Frances O'Grady , Tom Wilson , Director of unionlearn and Alan Roe , Regional Manager of unionlearn for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Ian Clayton , writer, journalist and broadcaster was also at the conference to present awards to the winning entries in the annual unionlearn writing competition amongst union members 'Union Writes 2009.'

Unionlearn in Yorkshire and the Humber has worked with trade unions to increase skills levels in workplaces across the region, working in partnership with a broad range of employers in both the public and private sectors.

Alan Roe, unionlearn regional manager said: 'I am extremely proud of all the union learning reps who have given their time, effort and enthusiasm to help others to engage with learning. Trade unions in this region have supported tens of thousands of local people in the workplace to learn, progress and change their lives.

'It is a great example of what the trade union movement can do to fight social inequality, through empowering workers.'

Tom Wilson, director of unionlearn said: 'This has been a great event and another chance to showcase the great work being carried out by union learning reps. They are making a real difference to the lives and skills of workers around the country.'

All details found on the union learn website or click on the links on the right hand side of the page.

job advert

would anyone be interested in being a union learning rep? Job satisfaction and time allowed and credited to flexi.
Interested?
We require people in harrogate, skipton, whitby, northallerton, stonebow york, and ryedale.
You can speak to either a local rep or email me on: claire-louise.harrison@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk. Look forward to recieving your replys.

pcs and dwp roadshow.

11th of november, monkgate bdc will host the yorkshire and humberside roadshow. The event will be taking place in the large conference room in monkgate bdc. The roasdshow will start at 11:30 and finish at 13:30. The roadshow will hopefully promote what the union can offer in the way of learning and what the union learner reps can do. The dwp will be providing information on departmental learning. Staff will be given time to attend the event with a credit to there flexi.
Watch out for posters and emails with more information on, advertising the event. Hope to see you all there.

ATTENTION MEMBERS IN BDC'S

Please check out the pcs website using the links from this site for all the latest news.

facebook?

why not join pcs and pcs proud on facebook. To do this go to www.facebook.com in the search for friends box type in pcs. Keep upto date with pcs news and views, why not meet fellow union activists too.
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