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Unlicensed issue 3

Issue 3, July/August 2010 Newsletter of DVLA Swansea Branch


Equal Pay

At time of writing, the Employment Tribunal has still not delivered its judgement on the equal pay cases taken to establish pay parity with colleagues in other parts of DfT. We were expecting a verdict in May, so it is disappointing that we have still heard nothing.

The main defence used against us has been that Ministers and the Treasury have no legal right to set rates of pay for Agencies. In other words, they say it is up to Agencies to set their own pay and DVLA cannot be compared with other Agencies.

If that is correct, how exactly does this square up with the 2 year pay freeze? The pay freeze is set nationally. If Ministers have no right to set DVLA pay, why does DVLA have to accept instructions to freeze pay?

Either they should withdraw their objection to our equal pay claim, or they should ignore the pay freeze. They can’t have it both ways!

The union has written to Simon Tse to point out this contradiction.


Building a Stronger Union to Protect Jobs and Services

The Budget on 22 June starkly set out the Government’s agenda on public sector jobs, pay and pensions.

To prepare the ground for redundancies across Government Departments, they are preparing emergency legislation on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. Having been defeated twice in the courts, they now want to change the law to suit their purpose. Without reducing redundancy payments they will have difficulty affording the cuts they want to make.

PCS has an alternative vision to the constant refrain that cuts are inevitable and necessary. We point out through our ‘Tax Gap’ Campaign that around £100 billion tax goes uncollected per annum – avoided or evaded by large companies and wealthy individuals. By just collecting that tax, the Government could go a long way to reducing the deficit. Instead, they are actually planning to reduce the workers who collect tax in HMRC.

Let’s not forget as well, that we at DVLA are responsible for collecting VED and we need to be properly resourced to ensure compliance.

As civil servants we want to provide good customer service but we are already hampered by lack of resources. At DVLA we know all about the backlogs, the casework waiting to be processed and the telephone calls that can’t be taken promptly. This is before the effects of the recruitment freeze kick in.

Cutting the Civil Service will just lead to higher unemployment, worse public services, reduced consumer spending and lower tax revenue.

Our vision is to protect public services and the people who provide them.

There has never been a more important time to join and get active in your trade union.

Soap Box

This column allows a PCS member to present his/her personal viewpoint on an aspect of life at DVLA. It does not necessarily represent PCS policy and it might be edited for content. If you would like to use Soap – Box please contact the editor. Your name can be with – held on request.
 This month, Sue Northcott (Shared Services) defends the public sector.

Private sector companies are perceived by our political leaders to provide better value for money. The truth is that they do less for you than the public sector. If you sign a contract with a private company you will get (like a certain ad for wood preservative says) just what is stated in the contract unless you’re willing to pay through the nose for more!
 
In the public sector we are often quite lax in tying down exactly what is expected of us. We go the extra 20 miles to make sure everything is just right. We try to make sure we provide what is really needed, which often isn’t what we were originally asked for.

Civil servants are not inefficient, or lazy. We work hard to provide Rolls Royce solutions for the price of a Skoda. Shipping our jobs out to the private sector will mean that you may still have your Skoda, but many of the things you expected to find under the bonnet – like an engine - might be missing. An engine will, of course be available if you’re willing to spend just a little more……..

Keep Out of Trouble

Your branch officers and BEC members handle scores of personal cases every week, advising and representing individual members.

In many cases members need our assistance through no fault of their own, e.g. they have had the misfortune to fall ill or they have been treated unfairly.

Sometimes, however, members fall foul of the Agency’s rules by not taking sufficient care or through not understanding the  possible consequences of their actions.

Smoking Breaks

We have recently dealt with a number of cases where members have forgotten to key out for smoking breaks. Members should be aware that all access points are now monitored via staff passes and information gained in this way can be used in disciplinary cases.

Medical Certificates

Another issue we have come across is altering the dates on medical certificates (doctor’s papers). A medical certificate is a legal document and should be altered only by the doctor or one of his/her representatives.

Even if you think the doctor has made a mistake, altering the details yourself could lead to a disciplinary hearing.

Hardship Fund – Prize Draw

Did you know there was a special fund set aside by PCS to help members suffering short - term financial hardship? The DfT Group hardship fund is completely separate from the Civil Service Benevolent fund or the PCS benevolent fund. It is administered for PCS members within the DfT.

Many of us have financial difficulties because of low pay, but obviously the fund is limited and there would have to be exceptionally difficult financial circumstances to qualify. Each application is considered on its own merits by a committee of PCS representatives from within DfT. Application forms are available to down load from the PCS web site.

We need to ensure that the hardship fund is regularly replenished so there is sufficient funding to help members who need it. PCS will soon be launching a prize draw open to all members. In return for regular payments into the fund, you will have your name entered in a draw with a chance to win cash prizes.

Please look out for details in the August issue of the PCS DfT magazine, Horizon, which is posted to members home addresses.

 

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