pcs union midlands regional newsline spring 2013

7/27/2019 PCS Union Midlands Regional Newsline Spring 2013

1/8

63.3% of PCS members in the Department forEducation voted for strike, 86.9% for other forms of industrial action, including working to rule.

PCS members including in Coventry, find themselvesat the forefront of Goves ideological test -bed for wider civilservice cuts, which threaten 1000 jobs and six UK offices likeNottingham.

Last autumn, following a review led by globalmanagement consultancy Bain and Company, the departmentannounced it would be shedding more than a quarter of itsworkforce, going further even than chancellor GeorgeOsborne's required level of cuts.

This result comes just weeks after what the PCS unionhas described as a monumental loss of judgement. DfE

board members played a game before Christmas wherebythey were not allowed to remove their party hats until theysaid what they were cutting.

Education group secretary Kathy Prendiville wrote tothe departments most senior civil servant to complain. TheChristmas period is no excuse for such a monumental loss of

judgement on your part, she wrote. As virtually everymember of staff in the department faced a Christmas of anxiety and worry for themselves and their families given theradical plans for restructuring that are underway."

HATS OFF TO PCS MEMBERS IN DfE FIGHTING 50% CUTS

In January, the DfE's permanent secretary Chris Wormald wascriticised by the Commons education select committee after itwas revealed his senior civil servants played a game using partyhats to share their plans for what to cut.
http://www.join.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/archived_news.cfm/id/31E52BD7-CC2E-4197-8C01DCA98A04222Ahttp://www.join.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/archived_news.cfm/id/31E52BD7-CC2E-4197-8C01DCA98A04222Ahttp://www.join.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/archived_news.cfm/id/31E52BD7-CC2E-4197-8C01DCA98A04222Ahttp://www.join.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/archived_news.cfm/id/31E52BD7-CC2E-4197-8C01DCA98A04222Ahttp://www.join.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/archived_news.cfm/id/31E52BD7-CC2E-4197-8C01DCA98A04222A


2/8

Andrew LloydPCS Midlands Regional Secretary

Organising unions are critical

This weekend I was part of a delegation from the regional committeeepresenting PCS at the Midlands Trades Union Congress (TUC) AGM, addressed

by Frances OGrady. Frances is the new and first ever female General Secretaryof the TUC. Whilst she skilfully avoided giving her position on a general strike in a

question put by our own Nick Parker, representing Lincoln Trades Council, heroverall speech was very good. It is clear she will be very different from herpredecessors, not just in terms of the obvious, but also by what it appears will beher focus - organising.

With less than 20% of workers belonging to a union, building the unionmovement is critical. Of course, whilst that low density is surprising, trade unionsstill represent more than 6 million people compared to less than millionbelonging to all political parties in the UK. We should take from those statistics,he power and influence we could have in the country.

It is therefore easy to understand why this government wants to smash

unions, particularly like ours. We have over treble the density of the nationaligure and refuse to be bossed around, or ignored.

On that particular note, I want to pay credit to members from Department of Education DfE (covered on the front page) who have voted to take strike actionagainst the threat of over 1000 job cuts and workplace closures. We have DfEsites in both Nottingham and Coventry, I implore you to show support and turn upo their picket lines when they call their action.

In building for the National campaign, I have been to 10 different briefings,meeting over 150 reps and activists in the last month. Of all my responsibilities forhe union, running these briefings is the job I enjoy most. The commitment and

contribution of all reps attending (new and long standing) never fails to impressme. I take particular inspiration from the fact that reps always seem to want to gobeyond what we ask of them.

At two of the briefings reps suggested that they wanted to reinvigorate theirown committees. I want to thank Ian Cutts in Derby and Suzanne Harris in Lincoln

who have agreed to help coordinate their town / city committees.

Finally I return to this weekends TUC AGM - PCS put forward 3 of the 8 mo-ions heard at conference. Out of our three motions, two passed and the third we

agreed to remit (place on hold). This was on the basis that the TUC Executive aregiven chance to do something about it.

We also regained our three seats on the Executive and an officer position. GMBhave three seats, a union three times our size. A comment was made to me by anumber of delegates that not only do we punch above our weight, but thequality of our delegates contribution were outstanding.

The delegates to the TUC AGM were Sian Ruddick, Paul Martin, and Jan Baxter.

Why did the Government ditch theirpolicy on regional/local pay(market-facing pay) for the CivilService and other parts of the publicsector?

George Osborne in his AutumnBudget announced that he wasaccepting the recommendations of anindependent pay body not tointroduce market facing or local pay.

But an analysis of the Cabinetoffice commissioned report on localor market pay suggests the real rea-son for it being ditched is that itwould have cost the Government afortune to implement.

Regional pay ditched asmyths exposed bygovernments ownindependent pay body

A rich list produced by theBirmingham Post has shown thewealthiest 50 Midlanders shattered bya staggering 3.46 billion over the lastyear from 25.073 billion to 28.531billion.

The millions that were wiped off personal fortunes in the recessionhave been retrieved, and more.

For the second year running,the price of entry to the Rich List hasrocketed. This time from10 million to95 million!

Wheres all the moneygone?


3/8

The campaign, backed by PCS, isseeking justice for 24 trade unionistsarrested and charged after the firstnational building workers' strike in 1972.

Ricky Tomlinson's petition calls onthe government to disclose documentsfrom the time including cabinetminutes, discussion papers, civil service

notes, reports and telephone records that it is refusing to release, citing"national security".

The issue has attracted renewedcoverage recently as blacklisting hasbeen in the news and debated by MPs,and in light of revelations over theextent of the conspiracy and cover-up

over the Hillsborough disaster.Support the campaign and signthe petition at pcs.org.uk

Starbucks became the focus of tax justice protests in towns and citiesthroughout the Midlands in December,with joint actions between groups suchas UK UNCUT and local anti-cutsnetworks, PCS R&C Branch in Telfordplayed a central role in the protest inShrewsbury attracting the support of thebishop of Shrewsbury and local newscoverage.

On the same day in Birminghamprotesters succeeded in shutting downtwo Starbucks coffee shops by setting upa free tea and coffee stall outside,picketing, leafleting the public and shortoccupations. The protest which grew toaround 50 then toured a series of retailers involved in the governmentsworkfare schemes demanding thatparticipants are paid for their labour.

28.531 bn

Last yr 25.073bn

UP 3.46bn

Taxing times

A m o u n t o f t

a x a v o i d e d, e

v a d e d o r u n

c o l l e c t e d

DOWN 120bn

Open Shrewsburypicket archives

PCS sends messages of support to

the University and College LecturersUnion activists victimised and sacked by

Halesowen College. The campaign hasattracted over 12,000 signatures on apetition and the local branch is nowundertaking strike action. The livelypickets and demonstrations have

attracted support from all over thecountry.

Justice for theHalesowen 4

m b i n e d w e a

l t h o f w e a l t h

i e s t 5 0 M i d l a n d

e r s

When the pay of the publicsector workers for the English regionswas compared to their equivalentsfrom the private sector (usinginformation from over 200companies) it showed that the publicservice workers were significantlylower paid.

The report totally exposed themyth that public sector workers wereoverpaid. In the Midlands, for example,

the comparison showed that for themain civil service grade (Administrativeofficers and Executive Officers themost junior managers), these were(and continue to be) worse off to thetune of anything between 2,000 and9, 000 a year.

As a junior manager of theMinistry of Justice (some of these havethe power of arrest), in the Midlandstheir median salary is 17,232, whilst

in the private sector a comparablesalary would be 26,756, a differenceof 9,254.

The information will add to theanger that exists from low paid civilservants to the one per cent pay cap,and mean that industrial action isinevitable, and that action will likelyspread across the whole public sector.

PCS are calling on the Labourarty to join us in our campaign and

ondemn the benefit and pay caps.


4/8

PCS International Womens

Day (IWD) 2013 - Womenand the Arab spring.

When we look at the women inthe Arab spring and how they aremobilising to fight for their rights, itreminds us that we should look athow were doing closer to home.

If we are to succeed in our

struggle and win our campaign, weneed to raise awareness of thedisastrous impact that governmentattacks on pay, pensions and termsand conditions have on women.

We must also highlight howcuts to benefits and public serviceswill devastate the lives of womenand the blight of low pay onwomens lives (which is particularlycommon in the Commercial Sector).

By doing this, we can improvethe strength of our campaigns andmake our voice louder.

Disproportionate impactof the cuts on women

Women constitute 65% of the publicsector workforce therefore job cuts,pay freezes and caps, pensions cutsand attacks to terms and conditionsall disproportionately effect women

Cuts to children's services, socialservices, support for pregnantwomen, domestic violence andtrafficking services and legal aid allwill impact on women's lives.

Child benefit has been frozen

The health pregnancy grant has beenabolished

The sure start maternity grants willbe limited to the first child.

What does your job involve?

I work as a bargaining unit asst.n the midlands regional office. Issist Andrew Lloyd the Regionalecretary organise events such as

make your vote count, the Regionalriefings and rallies andemonstrations. I also update the

web site and send out the e briefings.Tell us something about yourself thatour colleagues dont know?

I was a school prefect....

What makes you angry? This government, particularly

he growth in poverty and inequalityf you had a fantasy dinner party,

which 6 people would you invite andwhy?

Silvia Pankhurst, Barbara Castle,Alexandra Kollontai, John Lennon,

pike Milligan and Nelson MandelaWhy good conversation, good musicnd satire.....my kind of dinner party.

What is the best bit about workingor PCS?

I feel very privileged to work forhe trade union movement.f you were granted 3 wishes what

would they be? Peace in the Middle East, to

pend time with my mum & dad, ando visit Shanghai with my father. What is your favourite book?

Good night Mr Tom, because itrings back lovely memories of eading to my Daughter and my Aunt

when I lived with herWhat is your favourite film?

The Apartment...(I am a suckeror a black and white love story )

An introduction to...ean Cooper

Bargaining Unit Asst.


5/8

The motivation for IWD came fromwo sources: the struggle or workingass women to form trade unions ande fight for womens franchise. These

wo issues united European women witheir sisters in the USA. In 1908 hundredswomen workers in the New York

eedle trades demonstrated in Rutgersquare in Manhattans Lower East Side torm their own union and to demand theght to vote.

This historic demonstration tookplace on March 8th. It led, in theollowing year, to the uprising of

30,000 women shirtwaist makers, whichesulted in the first permanent trade

unions for women workers in the USA.Meanwhile news of the heroic

ight of US women workers reachedEurope, in particular it inspiredEuropean socialist women who hadestablished, on the initiative of theGerman socialist feminist, Clara Zetkin1857-1993), the International Socialist

Womens Conference. This latter body met for the first

ime in 1907 in Stuttgart alongside oneof the periodic conferences of theSecond International (1889-1914). Threeyears later in 1910 the CopenhagenConference of the Second InternationalClara Zetkin proposed the followingmotion :the socialist women of all countries

will hold each year a womens day,whose foremost purpose it must be toaid the attainment of womens suffrage.This demand must be handled inconjunction with the entire womensquestion according to Socialist precepts.The Womens Day must have annternational character and is to be

prepared carefully. The motion was carried: 8 March

was favoured, although at this stage noormal date was set. Nonetheless rallies

and demonstrations in the US and manyEuropean countries marked the IWD in

he years leading to World War One,albeit on different days each year (e.g.March 18th in 1911 in Austria-Hungary,Germany Denmark and Switzerland andhe last Sunday in February in the US).

In 1917 in Russia, International

Womens Day acquired greatsignificance it was the flashpoint forthe Russian Revolution. On March 8th(Western calendar) women workers inPetrograd held a mass strike anddemonstration demanding Peace andBread.

The strike movement spread fromfactory to factory and effectivelybecame an insurrection. In 1922, in

honour of the womens role on IWD in1917, Lenin declared that March 8thshould be designated officially aswomens day.

In 1975 (International WomensYear), the United Nations recognisedMarch 8th as IWD.

What your branch cando for IWD

IWD events in theMidlandsNottingham 8 MarchSpeeches on women and the cuts, LGBTrights & Domestic violence ThompsonSolicitors 4th Floor City Gate East TollHouse Hills Nottingham NG1 5FS. Tel:0791 9952252 for place

Shropshire Cabaret & social 8 MarchSingers, Musicians, Story Tellers, Bellydancers Crafts Stalls, Speakers and a BarOld Chapel Community Centre CrossHouses Shrewsbury, SY5 6JHAnnette Clarke, 07854 [email protected]

Shropshire IWD Celebration 9 MarchFilm show - Carry Greenham Home,Chat & relax: Women in Shropshire -Then & Now, Beth Prior, Queer Play-back Theatre: Alive & Kickin, Pot LuckLunch, Women's Wall of Fame, Sing itall Out, Pengwern Books, Chris George

Cards Shropshire Wildlife Trust 193Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury SY2 6AH

Birmingham 9 March 11-4 Asbestos and Womens Health AnOngoing Health and Safety DisasterAsbestos and other occupational healthdangers are having a disastrous affecton womens health. Speakers includeLaurie Kazan -Allen - International BanAsbestos Secretariat & Hilda Palmer Hazards Campaign and Families AgainstCorporate Killers Plus a rare showing of the film "Alice A Fight for Life"Birmingham UNISON, McClarenBuilding, 46 Priory Queensway, Birming-ham B4 7LR Contact 0121 6788853 [email protected]

1. Put up posters Please find aposter which can be downloadedfrom pcs.org.uk/iwd13.

2. Hand out leaflets - Organisewomen in your branch to hand outthe leaflet which can bedownloaded from pcs.org.uk/iwd13encouraging women to take part inthe action.

3. Hold lunchtime meeting -Encourage women reps to hold alunchtime meeting for women todiscuss how the attacks areaffecting them, mobilising for thenational campaign and potentialaction.

4. Remind and encouragemembers with specific actions Encourage women members tosend the campaign email andattend local events.

5. Encourage members to comealong to local IWD events andactivities.

6. Arrange recruitments stalls inthe workplace, so that membersand non members can visit to findout more about the Union and thenational campaign.

7. Display promotional materials from the Union highlighting thebenefits of membership and theequality networks.

In the Commercial Sector, useIWD to remind members of theliving wage toolkit which is availableon pcs.org.uk/iwd13, and theimportance of taking part in thecampaign.

Discuss IWD with your BECand use the materials provided tohelp involve more women to winour national campaign for thebenefit of all members currentlyunder attack by this ruthlessGovernment.

The origins of IWD
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


6/8


7/8

Organising to WinSteve Battlemuch, Regional OrganiserSteve Battlemuch PCS Midlands Regional Organiser

Taking the campaign to every corner of the union

On the 31 st January I was able to accompany the General Secretary MarkSerwotka on a busy day in Nottingham. In the space of just 4.5 hours he was able toaddress 4 meetings and conduct a radio interview. This is a brief account of the day.

Thankfully arriving on a train that was on time at 11-00 I was able to updatehim on the way to the first meeting about the sort of issues that may arise there. Headdressed around 55 members at Apex Court the new home to members fromEFRA, BIS, ACAS, Natural England and other smaller agencies. This was a livelymeeting with plenty of questions from members in particular about the differentways we could take action short of strike action in areas that dont have the publicitypull of DWP/HMRC etc. The only disappointment at this was that members from theSkills Funding Agency were denied the ability to attend unless they took annualleave for a 40 minute meeting! This is a sign of things to come and shows howpetty some management bodies can get in this drive to attack PCS members.

We moved onto the BBC studio next door to Apex Court for a pre recordedinterview about the MOJ strike about the privatisation of Court Enforcementwork they were due to walk out at 2pm that day. Mark conducted a wide ranginginterview about the strike which went out later that day.

A quick walk and a tram ride in order to go to the Nottingham reps briefingheld at the TUC college. When we arrived it was standing room only as reps packedthe room to hear the latest on the national campaign. He had managed to eat a cob(Nottingham word for roll/bap etc) on the tram which was just as well as the buffetbooked for the meeting failed to arrive! (NB for anyone wanting to curry favour withMark note he does not eat anything with butter or cheese!!) The reps briefing wasbuzzing with questions and suggestions relating to the campaign which Markhandled in the way we have become accustomed to.

Hopping back on the tram to rush to meet the MOJ strikers walk out at 2pm.We arrived in time and mark was able to address the members and thank them forwalking out and supporting the campaign. After posing for photographs with branchofficers we hot footed it back to the tram to make the DWP AGM across the otherside of Nottingham city centre. This was the original reason mark was coming toNottingham and the other 4 events we added on to his day!

At the DWP AGM back in the Department he started his civil service careerin 1980 he gave a powerful defence of PCSs actions to defend members in theface of what he called a perfect storm of management attacks on our T&Cs, Pay,Jobs and their latest attempt to destabilise the union by cutting facility time. Thewell supported meeting clearly enjoyed his address and appeared up for the nationalcampaign.

Over the day Mark spoke directly to almost 200 members and many morethough the radio interview. He reminded us once again there is no substitute fordirectly addressing members as a way of getting our message across.

As one of the UCU members who saw Mark speak at the college put it to meafterwards To have a General Secretary who is prepared to tour the countryspeaking to members and reps to put the case for action is very special mostUnions have not got this!

New repsBirmingham 9,10, 15, 16, 17 April

Branch Organisers

Birmingham 2 MayNottingham 25 April

Getting Active in PCS

Nottingham 28 March

Branch learning co-ordinators

Birmingham May 9

Health and Safety Reps Stage 1

Birmingham - 10 Mondays from 29April or 10 Thursdays from 2 MayDerby 12 Tuesdays from 23 AprilLeicester 12 Tuesdays from 23AprilNottingham 12 Mondays from 15AprilShrewsbury 10 Tuesdays from 23AprilStoke 10 Mondays from 22 April

To apply or for details of trainingfor Branch Treasurers, Branchequality officers, Union learningreps and case workers pleasecontact [email protected]

Post AGM training

To organise a brief trainingsession for workplace activists onCount me in or a 1 day Organisingfor branches course for yourbranch please ring Geoff/Steveon 0121 643 4342.


8/8

On average civil servants haveseen their income fall by 100 permonth during the recession andgovernment reductions on welfare willfurther impact on living standards.Many have found their personal debtincreasing as a result. The PCS CreditUnion provides an ethical anddemocratic alternative by allowing itsmembers to make regular savings andtake out loans.

For just a minimum of 10 permonth (or less for your children orgrandchildren) you or members of your household can make a monthlyinvestment which can be used to savefor, say, next Christmas or that special

event. Furthermore, for a fullmember, after saving for threeconsecutive months, you can considerapplying for a loan for up to 3000(dependant on savings and length of loan period). PCS Credit Unionprovides a far better alternative tothe bonus conscious High Street banksand to the payday loan exponents whoare no more than legalised loan sharkscharging extortionate rates of interest.

If you are interested in furtherinformation about joining the PCSCredit Union then please contact themusing the details below or in theMidlands region email

[email protected]

PCS Credit Uniony Dave Bean

Walkout by members in criminal enforcement a success

MOJ StrikeAn excellently-supported two-

hour strike by members on 31 Januaryhas highlighted potentially disastrousproposals to outsource court finescollection and hand them over toprivate bailiff companies.

Across the country members inthe criminal enforcement section of theMinistry of Justice took to the streets,

while general secretary Mark Serwotkaaddressed members in Nottingham.

Future action The action triggers arolling programme of action that willinclude actio n short of a strike

Mark Serwotka in Nottingham

In late January I spent the day inNottingham, I was interviewed by theBBC about our members in the Ministryof Justice who were walking out at 2pmover privatisation plans. These arededicated public servants doing a vital

job in very difficult circumstances, even

at the best of times.Collecting fines on behalf of the

courts takes professionalism, sensitivityand a sense of public duty. Last year, theCitizens Advice Bureaux received 25,000complaints about bailiffs. Public sectorstaff are rightly subject to strictregulation, but there are currently nosuch rules governing private bailiffs.

As members walked out inNottingham I was proud to stand

alongside them. I thanked them fortaking a stand a deserved thankswhich their employers are notrewarding them with. They weredetermined to campaign, protest andstrike to get their case heard.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

pcs union midlands regional newsline spring 2013

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