Public and Commercial Services Union

Further action planned following member’s meetings

As stated in the last briefing, PCS is now seeking to set dates for further industrial action following the Department’s continuing refusal to either retain subsistence allowances or offer an alternative proposal that provides an adequate compensatory element to staff in European Operations.

Following a series of members meetings, in which we have sought views on the way forward, the Union will now be looking to escalate the dispute. Members have indicated strongly that they wish to take further and stronger action in order to achieve a satisfactory settlement to this dispute. With this in mind we will be looking to take further action shortly.

Desperate department resort to compulsory detached duty

The success of the strike on December 19th and the lack of volunteers to cover the controls has panicked the department into attempting to force staff from all over the country to work in European Operations when we next take action. Big mistake. The union’s legal advice states that the Department cannot compel mobile staff to undertake detached duty. However PCS will now consider balloting every member who could be asked to cover the dispute to ensure members are protected if they refuse to help to break the strike.

Department’s misleading note

Tom Dowdall’s note of January 19th to staff is misleading. He states that he was surprised that PCS decided to call further action. PCS is surprised that this is the case as we informed Tom and other senior managers, in the meeting to which he refers, that if the Department didn’t change their position on the substantive issue then the Union would take further action. This is conveniently omitted from the note to staff to create the impression that PCS acted dishonourably.

Together we will win

The display of solidarity around this dispute has been magnificent.
We need to maintain this through the next couple of months.
If we do we will win.