Public and Commercial Services Union

PCS members in European Operations are to take a further days strike action in the dispute over the department’s decision to withdraw subsistence allowances for night shifts and single day shifts and reduce the rate for overnight stays.

The incredible display of solidarity shown during the strike on 19 December is expected to be replicated on 20 February.

Members have indicated in meetings that they are more determined than ever to fight the Department’s plans and are extremely angry that management have refused to take notice of their concerns.

Time for the department to settle this dispute

The Department now need to acknowledge that staff who work on the juxtaposed controls feel that they have been treated appallingly with regard to the allowances issue.

They need to take note of the anger of their staff and look to resolve this dispute in a way that is acceptable to the majority of them. It is no longer tenable for the leadership of UKBF to have a policy of simply doing what they believe they can get away with.

Evidence of this can be seen in the staff survey where their total disregard for the morale of staff has resulted in one of the worst results ever recorded.

A glance at the Leadership and Managing Change Section should give them pause for thought. Only 4% of staff in European Operations feel that change is managed well in UKBA. It is time to listen to staff, settle this dispute and look to build a more constructive relationship going forward.

Senior managers failed policy of attempting to force through every change without even attempting to take staff with them has lead to this dispute and will lead to others as staff are no longer prepared to be pushed around.

PCS wants serious negotiations now

The PCS has made a proposal to the Department in which all existing staff would retain the allowances at their current rates. However the Union has also stated that it is willing to consider proposals from the Department which include a compensatory element for the loss of subsistence payments.

The Department have rejected our proposals but made no proposals of their own which offer any compensatory element.

PCS is the only party seriously attempting to settle this dispute and managers have to understand that going back to members with nothing to offer them from negotiations will simply inflame the situation further.

We need serious negotiations to start now if we are to avoid further industrial action.

Guidance for staff

Staff taking part in the action will receive detailed guidance on what to do on the day shortly. Keep checking the PCS website

The site will have all the most up to date news and briefings

Note from Brodie Clark – “Setting the record straight”

Brodie Clark’s note to Border Force staff on 10 February 2010 talks of a mobility clause that can be invoked to compel staff to undertake compulsory detached duty.

PCS has legal advice that states that mobile staff cannot be forced to undertake compulsory D/D and that no such clause exists within their terms and conditions of employment.

Our advice, as per Newsbriefs HO/MB/06/10 and HO/MB/08/10, is to contact your PCS representative immediately if you receive a letter advising you that it is a reasonable management instruction to undertake detached duty.

Also remember that PCS has taken legal advice on the issue of passports and our advice is that there is no legal obligation to produce a passport if you are requested to do so by management.

If you are asked to produce a passport you should explain that you have taken advice from your Union, that you understand that you are under no obligation to produce a passport and that you do not intend to do so.

If there are any of your colleagues not yet signed up to PCS ask them to fill in a form and take action to defend their allowances.