Public and Commercial Services Union

The National Executive Committee has decided that the ballot on the national agreement reached with government on protection from compulsory redundancy will take place from 6 August to 1 September.

 

Branches in the civil service and related organisations are being urged to organise workplace meetings to build a ‘Yes’ vote in the ballot.

This generic leaflet attached can be copied and distributed to members to help publicise the meetings. There is space for meeting details to be added by our branch reps and activists.

 

A speakers brief is also provided which summarises the main points of the agreement and the arguments for a ‘YES’ vote.

 

In March our National Executive Committee reached a national agreement with the Cabinet Office on the ‘Protocol for Handling Surplus Staff Situations’, and Guidance on managing outsourcing and privatisation, copies of which were issued to Branches and workplace reps in BB/30/08. The documents can also be downloaded from the PCS website.

 

The agreement was endorsed by our Annual Delegate Conference in May. Conference agreed that our members should have the final say on the agreement in a national ballot.

 

The NEC has decided that workplace meetings should be organised across the country to enable members to discuss the agreement and to hear why they should vote ‘YES’.

 

National speakers are available for meetings, alongside speakers from groups. These will be co-ordinated via your group or national branch. If you have not done so already, you should contact your Branch Secretary or group office to begin organising meetings in your workplace now.

 

 

Requests for facility time for these meetings are being made at Group/National Branch level to the appropriate departmental, agency or NDPB management.

 

We believe facility time should be given to allow members to reach an informed view about an important agreement we have reached with the government.

 

Where facility time is not given it is nevertheless important that a meeting to discuss the protocols takes place. If necessary contact your Branch Secretary or group/regional office for further advice.

 

 

Our NEC and ADC believe the national agreement is a significant achievement for PCS which provides meaningful protection from compulsory redundancy. A good ‘YES’ vote will strengthen us in monitoring the operation of the protocols. It is therefore important that as many members as possible are urged to attend the workplace meetings.

 

The leaflet and speakers brief have been produced to help reps do this.

 

 

Mark Serwotka        Janice Godrich

General Secretary   President