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DWP Young Members Newsletter

Young members training event a big success

There were 50 DWP young members at the day and a half training event in Manchester on 26th and 27th November.

The focus was firmly on campaigning and organising, with lively debate on how to take key issues forward. The attendees highlighted areas that mattered most to them: low pay and pay progression, CSCS proposals, career progression and job security (the casualisation of staff through FTAs), call centre conditions and the current Contact Centre Campaign.

27 attendees were just ordinary members and not union reps but have now indicated an enthusiasm become active to help PCS campaigns.

CSCS proposals an 'Attack on young members'

In the last few months thousands of young members have attended workplace consultation meetings about the attack by the government on the (CSCS) Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

The government’s proposals mean that all our jobs would be cheaper to cut, and at increased risk of privatisation. Young members with less years service are often more likely to be selected for redundancy. PCS nationally and Young members are also demanding that those covered by the Nuvos scheme (entrants after July 2007) should be covered by CSCS. All young union members should fully supporting PCS in our fight for a fair system for all.

Young members campaigning in the DWP

Fixed Term Appointments want Permanent jobs
 

Currently there are nearly 12,000 PCS members on Fixed Term Appointments in Jobcentre Plus. These union members are angry at the lack of job security and are demanding a change.

Our union opposed the decision by management to recruit on this basis, and challenged their reasoning that the recession would be over in 18 months. Our union has consistently raised these concerns in meetings with national Jobcentre Plus management and with the Secretary of State.

PCS recently successfully stopped JCP management from terminating the contracts of hundreds of casual staff from January 2010. The Young Members Advisory Committee (YMAC) along with GEC will continue to push for permanency for the thousands of JCP FTAs remaining.

Contact centre campaign

Benefit processing sites and contact centres have a higher proportion of young workers in comparison to other DWP workplaces, often 10 – 15% more. PCS Young members have made clear that telephone centres with rigid targets and computerised monitoring does not mean a good service to the public.

Young members working in these environments are active in the Contact Centre campaign calling for major improvements in their working conditions and working life.

PCS supports Youth Fight for Jobs

PCS annual conference gave unanimous support to the Youth Fight for Jobs (YfJ) campaign in May 2009. The organisation is striving to improve the conditions of young people in society. It campaigns for an expansion of secure, fairly-paid jobs and apprenticeships for those out of work or in insecure agency or temporary jobs.

The Youth Fight for Jobs demands are:
 

  • The right to a decent job for all.
  • We won't pay for the bosses' crisis!
  • No to job losses. Open the account books to let workers see where the profits have gone.
  • Bail out workers not bosses. Nationalise big industries threatening closure or large-scale job losses.
  • For fighting trade unions, involving young workers and the unemployed.
  • For training linked to decent jobs.
  • No to cheap labour apprenticeships! For all apprenticeships to pay at least the minimum wage, with a job guaranteed at the end.
  • No to university fees. Support the campaign to defeat fees.
  • No to bullying management. For decent working conditions.
  • For a living minimum wage of at least £8 an hour for all. No youth exemptions.
  • Share out the work. For a 35 hour working week with no loss of pay.
  • For government investment in socially useful jobs. For a massive public programme of house building, renovation and infrastructure projects. No to profiteering private companies running these projects.

The PCS young members’ network is actively involved with campaigning alongside YfJ in their local area, including linking up with young people from other trade unions and community organisations and playing a key role on the national YfJ steering committee. YfJ organise events in various locations, often involving jobcentres.

PCS activists involved in YfJ have raised concerns that these may be perceived as aggressive towards PCS members. YfJ has made clear to PCS that the demonstrations are not against PCS members, and JCP customers are not antagonised in any way.

Time to get involved in PCS

The Group Executive Committee (GEC) have agreed to fund a meeting in each region of young members. Currently only half of all DWP branches have a young member’s officer, and we want to increase that number.

We also want young members to be actively involved in their branch and workplace to help us campaign on the issues that matter to them. AGMs are being held in workplaces and branches, young members are encouraged to stand for election as PCS reps or for trainee delegates for Conference.

Please contact your Branch Secretary, or the Group Young Members Officer Helen.Flanagan@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk for more information.