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Defending Jobs, Services and Staffing

28 June 2010

The PCS DWP Group conference unanimously carried emergency motion 8 which instructed the Group Executive Committee (GEC) to launch a high profile campaign to make all FTA staff permanent. This branch briefing gives details about this campaign.

Stepping Up the Campaign

PCS has consistently argued that permanent staffing and permanent recruitment is the best way to deliver public services.

This pressure from PCS succeeded in getting some FTA contracts extended earlier this year. Now following further pressure in negotiations by PCS some other FTAs, due to leave before the end of September, may be offered a three month contract extension.

But the GEC believes this is not enough and we have argued that all the FTAs should be made permanent or as an interim measure offered a contract extension.

The new government has made clear that it plans job cuts in the DWP. We must keep up the pressure or 15,000 FTA staff could become a crippling 15,000 job cut.

Action by the GEC

The GEC has had a series of meetings in June with senior management and Ministers, including the Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive and the new Secretary of State. At these meetings we have continued to argue our members’ concerns in detail and to defend the jobs and services we provide.

The GEC is also raising the need for all FTA staff to be made permanent through the PCS Parliamentary group.

Campaign Leaflet and MPs Letter

Copies of a new campaign leaflet and model MPs letter about our demand for all FTA staff to be made permanent have been sent to branches with the hard copy of this branch briefing.

Action By Branches and Regions

Branches should make sure that the leaflet is circulated to all members and used to recruit non members.

Use the leaflet to encourage all FTA members to log on to the PCS website and use the model letter as the basis for a letter to their MP. Encourage members to add their own experiences and thoughts to the letter to personalise it as this will have greater impact with MPs than a standard PCS letter.

Please also encourage all other members to visit our website and send the letter to their MP.

Branches should then follow up members letters to MPs by writing to local MP’s and asking to see them. A delegation of reps and FTA members speaking directly to MPs will have a big impact when you explain how local services will be cut.

Local Negotiations

Branches and regions must ensure that making FTA staff permanent or as an interim measure offering them a contract extension is raised in negotiations with management at local and regional levels.

Management have discretion to extend contracts for three months. Branches must press for this extension to be made in all cases.

FTA members are entitled to an interview with their manager three months before the end of their contract to discuss their future. Branches should use this as an opportunity to push for permanency or contract extension. Branches should provide PCS representation at these interviews and grievance action should be considered where no extension is offered.

Branches should also hold workplace All Members meetings to discuss staffing, FTA contracts and give members a report on discussions with local management.

Action By Members

Members have a key part in this campaign by sending the model letter on the DWP page of the PCS website to their MP.

Recruitment is Still Our Priority

 Whilst thousands of new members have joined PCS in the DWP and CMEC in 2010 there are still around 37,000 non members. The leaflet issued with the hard copy of this branch briefing should also be used to recruit non members, especially FTA non members.

Discuss and Plan Recruitment

  • Branch Organisers should ensure that recruitment is discussed and planned at every BEC meeting.
     
  • You need to identify all staff, all members and non members.
     
  • Ask management for a staffing list, use the global address list, use telephone lists and talk to staff to check if they are union members.
     
  • Use the PCS Commix computer records to get a printout of your members.
     
  • Check this against the staffing information you have gathered and work together as team with the rep in each office to identify all non members.
     
  • Encourage all reps to talk to a few non members every month and ask them to join the union.
     
  • Keep monitoring progress at every BEC meeting

DWP Specific Recruitment Leaflets

Copies of DWP specific recruitment booklets are still available from leeds@pcs.org.uk these booklets will help you recruit non members.

Promotional Items Leaflets and Posters

Order forms for promotional items and union literature that you can use to help your recruitment work were sent with the hard copy of this branch briefing.

If you need help

If you need help with recruitment the GEC will also do everything possible to provide support for you in conjunction with your Regional Organiser.

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