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Vote 'yes' for the alternative

 

  • National ballot in defence of jobs, pensions and pay opens today.
     
  • PCS and Unite sign an understanding to work together to fight the cuts.
     
  • Job Swaps Update

Delegates to PCS's annual conference decided it's time to take a stand against the unprecedented attacks on workers by the government.

Everything we have worked for is under threat:

  • Pay is frozen while inflation soars
     
  • People face working longer and paying more for smaller pensions.
     
  • No public sector job is safe as services are slashed and organisations merge
     
  • The government has ripped up the redundancy terms in the civil service compensation scheme.

PCS is urging members to vote ‘yes’ in the ballot for strike action and action-short-of-a-strike. Ballot papers should be arriving in the next few days. Four education unions are also planning industrial action over attacks on public sector pensions – after talks between trade union leaders and cabinet ministers came to nothing.

A big yes vote will strengthen the hand of union negotiators in every public sector workplace in the UK.

There is an alternative.

The government could find the money to fund public services and to protect the jobs, pensions and pay of public servants.

PCS needs members to:

  • Sign in to the members area of this website and make sure the union has your correct address and contact details
     
  • Check your closest colleagues are in the union – and if not ask them to join
     
  • Take part in workplace and branch meetings – your idea could be the one that wins the dispute
     
  • Support local anti-cuts activities – whichever union is leading them

PCS and Unite have signed an agreement that commits both unions to work with others to organise a 'There is an alternative' event, bringing together trade unionists, politicians, academics, voluntary and community groups. The aim will be to raise awareness of our alternative economic strategy and develop a broad coalition to fight the cuts.

At regional level the unions will develop practical ways of supporting joint campaigns. This will include twinning officers and organisers, developing regional campaign teams, regional events and road shows, and links with voluntary and community groups. The aim will be to build and support regional alliances.

At local level we will develop and support links between members and activists. This will include joint workplace meetings, public leafleting, locally organised town meetings and joint community activities. More details will be publicised as soon as details are known.

Job Swaps

The agency has now concluded its matching process for Government Office staff wanting to remain as civil servants against HA staff who have volunteered to swap. Disappointingly only around a dozen GO staff are likely to be offered a swap. This is despite there being a geographical and grade match that could have saved over forty GO staff from redundancy.

PCS has taken this up with the Department for Communities and Local Government, who own the job swap process. If any PCS member has been refused a swap and is still interested then please get in touch. Grievances and legal action on behalf of GO staff who will be made redundant at the end of this month is now looking the only option to try to protect members from redundancy. To make that work we need to know that there are HA staff still willing to swap. If you know of any non-member who has been refused a swap please also encourage them to contact us using the PCS mailbox.
 

 

 

If you have any comments or want to ask questions about this bulletin, then please contact Paul Foster - Paul.Foster@highways.gsi.gov.uk.