Public and Commercial Services Union

This is to update you on the decisions made by the GEC held on the 16 and 17 June 2008 on the issues of EQA and the organisation’s restructuring.

It has become increasingly clear that the employer currently seems to have no regard for industrial relations.

Using language like a “small turnout” to describe the EQA ballot result when only a dozen or so people have chosen to ignore a mandate of over 600 individuals seems somewhat hypocritical.

We would also remind members that the same number of people have recently taken a decision to declare over 130 staff potentially surplus.

When we previously had a ballot on a similar issue of performance management which was rejected in 2004, the employer did not impose their proposals - they actively engaged further with PCS.

The GEC has taken the view this is clearly a different style of management which will need a stronger response from members.

This is alongside the employer still not actively responding to our proposals on restructuring – it is clear that whilst the future plans are not fully developed taking a piecemeal decision about one office is not acceptable.

PCS has given clear alternatives on both the issues of restructuring and efficiency. Management’s plans are based on guesswork our proposals provide a rational approach to the future and above all put IPS staff and the service to customers first.

The GEC will be talking in the next three days to PCS HQ about the next steps in campaigning. Alongside this member’s meetings will be happening across the organisation in external venues, please contact your local branch secretary or organiser for further details.

Following this discussion, there will be a full announcement on a timetable of campaigning. Please make every effort to get along to the members’ meetings.

Rest assured that PCS will place your interests at the forefront of our negotiation and campaigning strategy.

Paul McGoay, group president

Ian Lawrence, group secretary