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DWP Union News - Weekly Bulletin 26

25 June 2010

New DWP Group Executive Committee Elected The results of the DWP GEC election and re-run election were published late last week and the newly elected DWP Group Executive Committee met for the first time this week to start implementing conference policy and tackling the many issues facing us in DWP.

Thank you for voting in that election. View the results in full.

Public Sector Pay Freeze

PCS members were angered to hear the Chancellor announce a two year Public Sector pay freeze in this week’s budget. PCS had talks with management in DWP that day to try to find out exactly what this means and argue hard that DWP staff need to be properly rewarded in the pay packet for all their hard work.

Pay freeze unfair to DWP staff

The pay freeze is set to apply to all who earn over £21k. In DWP and CMEC, 57% don’t and will be exempt. The budget statement says they will get at least £250 as a rise – we will argue for much more. 43% are at risk of a pay freeze. Management will seek urgent clarification from HMT and meet us again as soon as possible. We want them to clarify that everyone in DWP must receive a pay rise.

The chancellor wants to cap top salaries at 20 x the lowest but in DWP the lowest earns £13,110 – or just 4p an hour above the National Minimum Wage. Highest paid in DWP is Joe Harley, IT Director, on £250,000. Under this “restriction” he could still earn more. PCS offers the best chance to tackle pay inequality. 

Budget – worse than expected

Savage cuts were announced in the budget. Many issues such as the raising of VAT will affect us all badly but in particular the projected cuts of 25% in departmental spending would be catastrophic to service delivery and would make no sense. It would hamper our ability to save money by getting people into work quicker. PCS will fight to maintain the staff we need to do our job properly.

We are not turkeys voting for Christmas

The Government is asking all public sector workers for their ideas on what to cut. DWP management is asking for cuts ideas through the DWP intranet. PCS urges extreme caution on this. We don’t want to end up making suggestions that will increase the pressure on other members or worsen service delivery. On the other hand there is a lot of waste in the department – the use of private consultants, private contracts for accommodation and office supplies and TPIP to name but a few. If you have any ideas send them to the union as many already have to leeds@pcs.org.uk. We will respond on all members behalf – united we are stronger and safer.

The PCS Alternative to the Cuts

PCS is arguing strongly that there is an alternative to massive public sector cuts. In DWP in particular it is so obvious and easily demonstrated that we save more money for the Government than we cost as staff so it makes no political sense to cut us. We are stepping up our campaign to save DWP jobs. We lobbied our new parliamentary group of MPs this week, many of whom were extremely sympathetic to our cause. All FTAs should write to their MP in support of our campaign and we want other members to do this too. Please take a few minutes to write to your local MP by completing our e-action.

Together we will win.


  DWP Union News - Weekly Bulletin 26

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