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DWP Union News - weekly bulletin 30

23 July 2010

The DWP Group Executive met this week to discuss the many issues facing us in the department. The main debate was about staffing levels in the department. It is clear that staff cuts are not sustainable anywhere in DWP or CMEC and threaten our ability to deliver the quality customer service we are proud of and have been praised for. The GEC heard reports of staffing pressures in CMEC, PDCS and the Corporate Centre as well as Jobcentre Plus, which we are taking up with DWP management today. In Jobcentre Plus there is a great deal of evidence of a sharp increase in new claims adding further weight to our demand that the FTA staff should be made permanent. 67 MPs have now signed our Early Day Motion. Please continue to write to your MP to build the pressure. Use the PCS website at www.pcs.org.uk/dwp PCS meets with Darra Singh again in mid August when he will decide on the future of our FTA members.

Contact Centre Campaign for Flexible Working

We reported a few weeks ago how successful the Blackburn pilot of extended flexible working hours in contact centres had been. Members had really welcomed it and managers too found it easy to work with and that it brought real benefits – happier staff, less stress and increased productivity. Contact centre members were therefore rightly angered when CCD management refused to roll the pilot out this week; instead opting for a ten minute flexibility either end of the day.

More carrots less sticks needed

While all CCD members have been incredibly disappointed and angered – none more so that those on the TPIP transformation sites – having previously had full access to flexible working they are shocked by how poor the flexible working conditions are in the contact centres. The vast majority of members earmarked to transfer into CCD have opted not to transfer – mainly for this reason.

Stick together to win

Many members in CCD are sick and tired of third class working conditions and are telling PCS so. We are organising members meetings on all the TPIP transformation sites and all the CCD Contact Centres to discuss how we make management see sense on this issue.

Ban the Bonuses

Senior management in the Home Office were slated this week for still taking £773,000 in bonuses during the during the Public Sector pay freeze.
As we in DWP are also hit by the Public Sector pay freeze our bonus money is vital in ensuring that we all have a chance of some kind of pay rise this year.

Give us fair pay

The public are rightly sick of the bonus culture. Management should make sure that they act scrupulously this year.PCS are arguing that this year is very different –DWP management must use the bonus money responsibly and fairly to make sure that everyone gets a pay rise this year or risk angering and insulting staff and the public in these financially difficult and uncertain times for us all.

    DWP Union News - Weekly Bulletin 30

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