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DWP Union News - Weekly Bulletin 35

10 September 2010

The latest news for members in DWP and CMEC.

TPIP Latest

We have written to permanent secretary Leigh Lewis asking him to stop this huge potential waste of both money and the skills of long serving staff. PCS is continuing to press management to think again about spending millions of pounds transforming more Benefit Delivery Centres into contact centres when they admit contact centre closures may be considered following the government's autumn spending review.

We have also warned senior Jobcentre Plus management not to make any unreliable claims about so-called savings through TPIP that do not take into account the full costs of the project and not backed up with hard facts and figures. Announcements management were due to make this week were put on hold as consultation with PCS continues.

PCS at the TUC

PCS will be sending delegates to the annual Trades Union Congress which is being held in Manchester next week. PCS has motions on defending public services and the welfare state and will be speaking out on many issues of concern to DWP members such as the pay freeze and staffing cuts.

PCS lobby of the TUC

PCS members will also be involved in a lobby of the TUC before it starts on Sunday at 12 noon. The lobby which has been organised by the National Shop Stewards Network with PCS backing, is calling for the TUC to organise a massive national demonstration on October 23rd in an attempt to get the Government to reverse its views on the public sector cuts by uniting the whole trade union movement in opposition to the cuts.

Organising to fight the cuts

This week the BBC revealed in a poll that almost half of the public (44%) would prefer tax rises to public sector cuts. Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, has warned that there could be a poll tax style revolt against the spending cuts. PCS is calling on the TUC to organise one to make the Government change its mind.

Back to School – but still no pay rise
 

As the kids returned to school this week, many members received big bills for new uniforms and shoes and no pay increase to pay for it. The reality of the pay freeze is that while everyday costs continue to mount up, with no pay rise members are less able to afford the costs of everyday living. PCS will seek to organise unity in action against the pay freeze at TUC congress next week.

DWP pay talks continue

AAs/AOs and some EOs earning under £21k have been promised an increase of at least £250 by the chancellor. PCS will seek to maximise those increases whilst fighting for a pay rise for all.

PCS is also arguing hard for the fairest possible distribution of the bonus money. PCS believes firmly that in this unprecedentedly difficult year it is important that all members receive as much of the bonus money as possible as an incentive for all that we have to do. If we are “all in it together” PCS also believes that we should be “all in it together” when it comes to the bonus money. The money must be distributed as fairly as possible – to the many who do the work.
CMEC pay talks start next week.

Every member deserves a special bonus this year
PCS opposes the payment of special bonuses to the few. The special bonuses are paid anonymously and unaccountably. PCS is arguing that we all deserve a “special bonus” this year and that money must be used to improve everyones pay.

Together we will win

Downloadable version:   DWP Union News - Weekly Bulletin 35

 

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