Public and Commercial Services Union

Our union to sign off union recgonition agreement with ISS 27 July 2010

On the 30th June, our union, PCS, met with ISS management to continue the work towards a recognition agreement covering the 3000 staff working for ISS in DWP buildings around the UK.

The recognition agreement provides the opportunity to:

- Ensure that we can now work together to address the issues that affect us all such as fair pay for all ISS staff who work at the DWP.
- Ensure collective representation in respect to a range of workplace issues, including working hours, pensions and sick leave
- Allow elected representatives time off work for training as a workplace representative and to carry out trade union duties and activities

Most of all, the recognition agreement will allow us to be represented as a group, giving us a strong voice in what goes on at ISS and our working lives.

Taking up a role in our union:

It’s one thing to have the recognition agreement, it’s another to ensure that we do something about low pay and other issues in our working lives. For that to happen we need an active and strong union.

An active and strong union is one where union members become representatives, elected by their colleagues and receiving training to represent their colleagues. ISS has agreed that accredited workplace representatives will receive paid training to take on this role and paid time off work to carry out trade union duties.

How does this sound to you?

If you would like to get more information on how to become a PCS union representative, come and speak to a local DWP workplace representative or call Alen Clifford or Sharon Leslie (PCS Industrial Officers) on 0207 801 2667

London update:

The biggest issue at the moment comes with the budget facing ISS, resulting in the cutting of hours across London sites as a cost saving measure. Following an agreement between the ISS and PCS the recent round of cuts to hours has been halted and our members should have their original hours restored. It has also been agreed that PCS will be consulted if there are future proposals to cut hours. It is clear that any cut in hours would have a real impact on members and their families, sometimes reducing hours from 10 hours per week to 9 hours per week.

Subscription rate:

Joining our union costs £11.51 (part time) or £3.03 (full time). The more members we have the stronger we are, so join our union

Alen Clifford and Sharon Leslie
Industrial Officers
PCS Commercial Sector