Public and Commercial Services Union

Changes to working patterns begin- PCS propose options to resolve the impasse - industrial action possible

Background

HO/MB/14/09 updated members on the latest position reached in negotiations.

Members will recall that in November 2007 PCS wrote to management seeking a number of guarantees and assurances, many of which were designed to protect the working lives of members in the border force.

Since that date, we have consistently pressed management on these issues.

That pressure finally achieved some movement in February 2009, with management providing a limited degree of assurance on some of the areas in which we are looking to make progress.

These included an assurance that the creation of UKBA is not a headcount reducing initiative, and that there are no current further plans for privatisation.

Taken together with agreements and commitments secured by PCS nationally on jobs and privatisation, PCS felt that some of the issues we were seeking guarantees on could be parked to allow the focus of our discussions with management to turn to the issues of job content and crading and pay, terms and conditions and allowances.

Management agreed to enter talks with PCS on job content and grading and pay, terms and conditions and allowances with a view to seeking a mutually acceptable way forward.

Meeting with management

PCS met management on 4 June 2009 in an attempt to reach an agreed way forward. There was some discussion around workforce planning information and why it is essential to have the detail of this before judgements can be made about what roles will exist and in which locations within the Border Force.

However, no assurances on our members’ futures were forthcoming and management indicated their intention to press on with their change programme. PCS undertook to write to management confirming our position.

PCS proposals for resolution

PCS have today written to management confirming our position. We have outlined two positive options aimed at resolving the impasse.

The first option is for management to give our members the guarantees and assurances about their futures that they are seeking; in particular that:

• No member of PCS will be compelled to perform tasks outside of their current specialisms
• No PCS members’ jobs will be downgraded as a result of the creation of the UK Borders Agency
• There will be no detriment to current pay, allowances and terms and conditions of PCS members, including hours of work (conditioned days and weeks) and existing shift patterns etc, as a result of the creation of the UK Border Agency. PCS members will have the option of retaining their current terms and conditions, existing shift arrangements and hours of work.

In return, we have offered to withdraw our advice to members that they do not volunteer for Integration initiatives and we have offered to work with management to overcome any difficulties.

The second option is for management to agree a moratorium on any compulsory change between now and 30 May 2010 to give us time to jointly explore ways to resolve any difficulties that may arise in light of the workforce planning information.

Possible action

PCS has advised management that should they not agree to either of the options outlined, or come back to us with a workable alternative, we will consider balloting our members on a campaign of industrial action to protect their interests.

Response due by 19 June 2009

We have asked management to indicate their position to us by 19 June 2009. In the absence of an acceptable response by this date, a ballot for industrial action of our members in Border Force is likely to follow in fairly short order.

Members meetings

GEC members have held members meetings up and down the country.

Members attending have overwhelmingly indicated that they do not accept the changes to patterns of attendance, ways of working and job content that management are seeking to impose, and that they are prepared to take action if necessary.

More meetings are being arranged as we go forward – please try to attend one in your area and have your say.

Watch this space

Once we have management’s response, we will issue a further newsbrief to members updating you on the position. We will keep you informed of developments.