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Extension to our collective bargaining rights

30 March 2010

Following the acceptance by PCS members of the offer made by Fujitsu to settle our 2009 pay, jobs and pensions dispute we have reached an agreement with them that from 2010 all PCS members irrespective of their contract heritage, can now be part of an extended collective bargaining unit for central government.
PCS currently has collective bargaining rights for members who transferred across from the civil service. We also have hundreds of members who have not been civil servants and at present have their pay determined by their line manager.
Through Collective Bargaining PCS has achieved:
  • Year on year salary increases for all members – even in 2009 over 80% of our members received either a consolidated or one off payment.
  • Pay progression – PCS has made great strides in eliminating low pay levels where we have collective bargaining rights and have achieved a minimum salary of £13,500 on government contracts.
  • Our agreement with Fujitsu commits the employer to developing a fair and transparent pay structure informed by the results of equal pay audits.
Process for defining the scope of the new extended collective bargaining unit:
We have agreed with Fujitsu that we will continue to bargain for the pay of PCS members already covered by our collective bargaining group i.e. members who transferred from the civil service.
However, Fujitsu are unable to identify members not in a PCS collective bargaining unit and need to understand who to include in scope for union agreed settlements. To assist this process we have agreed to provide them with a list of PCS members who are currently paying the unrecognised subscription rate (those on standard contracts). 
We have written to all members paying the unrecognised rate today seeking their permission to confirm to HR that they are a member of PCS. We will automatically include your name in the proposed list unless you expressly inform us not to. Fujitsu have given us an assurance that being a PCS member will not have a detrimental impact on your career. They have also confirmed that this information will be retained by HR only and will be treated in strictest confidence
We do not anticipate that members will choose not to have their name included in the list, given the benefits of collective bargaining. However, if you do not wish your name to be forwarded, you must inform PCS HQ by returning the pro forma attached to your letter by midday on Thursday 15 April 2010.
PCS will provide a list of all members to Fujitsu (excluding those who have responded and asked us not to) on the 16 April 2010. Upon receipt of the list, the company will formally write to you to invite you to join the new Collective Bargaining Unit. You must respond to the invitation by Friday 23 April 2010 to enable PCS to represent you in the 2010 pay talks.
If you aren’t currently covered by the Collective Bargaining Unit and do not receive a letter from us by the 7 April 2010 please contact us by email at commercialsec@pcs.org.uk or by telephone on 0207 801 2667 so that we can arrange for another letter to be sent.  
If you aren’t currently a PCS member and wish to be a part of the new Collective Bargaining Unit you must complete and return a PCS membership application form a.s.a.p. to allow it be processed by the cut off date of the 15 April. Application forms are available from your local PCS representative or can be downloaded.
Fujitsu have agreed that there will be further windows each January for any newly recruited members to join the extended bargaining unit. For example, any new members who join after the 16 April 2010 but before January 2011 will be included in the pay talks for 2011.  
Increase in Membership Subscriptions
PCS allows a lower subscription rate for members working for companies where there is no collective bargaining agreement. The subscription rate for unrecognised areas is currently £ £6.05 per month for full time staff and £3.03 per month for part time Staff (25hrs).
Now that Fujitsu UK have agreed to collective bargaining rights for all staff working on the government account PCS subscription rates will increase regardless of whether members choose to opt into collective bargaining or not. 
PCS subscriptions are based on your gross annual salary. The precise calculation is gross annual salary x 0.6% divided by 12. A rough guide to the new subscription rate that will apply is as follows:
  • If you earn £10,000 your monthly subs will be £5
  • If you earn £12,000 your monthly subs will be £6
  • If you earn £14,000 your monthly subs will be £7
  • If you earn £18,000 your monthly subs will be £9
  • If you earn £20,000 your monthly subs will be £10
  • The maximum amount is £12.10 a month
The extension to collective bargaining group is a significant and welcome development for Fujitsu PCS members. This has undoubtedly been achieved by the commitment members have shown and is a demonstration of what we can achieve as a union – if we stand together we can make a difference!
Sharon Leslie
PCS Fujitsu Industrial Officer