Public and Commercial Services Union

Our union met yesterday with Service Desk Management to discuss Phase 1 of its ‘Virtualization plans’, which will impact our members, based on the NAFW Service Desk in Cardiff.

 

The plans outline forthcoming changes to technology provision and working patterns which will reduce the need for payment of shift allowance.

 

In short the plans are intended to drive through cuts on the contract that will directly impact upon all PCS members working on the NAFW Service Desk.

 

Under the proposals staff will be required in future to provide cover on the service desk on a rotational basis between the hours of 08.00-18.00 only.

 

Management plan to restrict shift allowance payments to a few staff possibly as few as 6 and to withdraw the payment for employees who are no longer involved in the shift pattern.

 

PCS expressed concern that members, many of whom are amongst the lowest paid within the SIS Service Desk community, can ill afford to lose 10% allowance.

 

Ironically, this proposal comes at a time when PCS are seeking through the newly acquired bargaining arrangements, to attain pay parity for NAFW members with members on other Service Desk accounts.

 

PCS is seeking legal advice regarding whether members have a contractual right to retain the 10% shift allowance payment, we also understand that our member’s contractual core hours are 0900-1730 which does not give scope for the proposed cover arrangements and this is something we intend to take up with management.

 

Whilst there is provision for six staff to retain shift allowance for a further minimum of three months, this is cold comfort for our members who stand to lose 10% of salary from the 1^st October 2010. Furthermore selection criteria will limit those who may potentially be eligible to retain the allowance for an unconfirmed period dependant on the client agreement.

 

PCS is extremely concerned that this move may be seen as slimming down of the NAFW Desk with a reduction of staffing on non-core hours, raising questions around future viability. PCS feels that further reduction in cover cannot be discounted. We believe that this will raise many concerns amongst the community.

 

SIS, as mentioned previously, will be briefing staff today on the changes and what they will mean to you. We believe that the overall savings will amount to £60K, as our members will be making an involuntary contribution to these savings; we contend that it is not unreasonable for SIS to resolve outstanding low pay issues within the NAFW Account. (Although the two issues are considered separate by SIS Management.)

 

PCS will seek further discussions with SIS around provision of extra funding to the proposed pay pot provision for 1^st October 2010. We consider that there is scope to provide a fair increase to all staff on the NAFW account, including uplift of all competent staff currently sitting below the target salary. PCS is also keen to ensure that no member of staff will see an increase in workload on the desk as a result of ongoing proposals. SIS has provided data which, whilst not indicative of a fall in call volumes, confirms their belief that capacity on the desk will be sufficient to handle the needs of the client.

 

We will be holding a meeting of all members shortly to discuss the employer’s pay and shift allowance proposals. PCS will seek further meetings with SIS on the proposals. In the meantime if you have any further questions or concerns then please contact your PCS Representatives.

 

Please remember that unity is strength and we urge you to ask any of your colleagues who are not yet PCS members to join at a time when the pay and working conditions of all staff on the NAFW Desk are under attack.

 

PCS has sought further talks with SIS around our members’ contractual terms. We understand that members have been invited to attend one to one meetings on Monday 16^th August. PCS has requested a deferment of this process. Failing this, members will have PCS’s representation at the meetings.

 

PCS has sought further legal advice in respect of the changes. However our union will stand side by side with members if we decide to fight this attack on our terms and conditions and in the fight for fair and equal pay.