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What is the union going to do?

Indicative ballot
MPs
Media
Assessing the business case
General campaigning issues

 

PCS is already fighting hard against the attacks on our terms and conditions on several fronts. Representatives from all offices met on 22nd October to develop a strategy to tackle the Accelerated Transformation Programme (ATP) proposals. Although representatives in attendance were all distraught at not being in their branches to support members on the day of the announcement, this event allowed us to consider a variety of issues and develop a group/branch strategy accordingly. Over the past couple of weeks a series of meetings have been held discussing how to implement the strategy and prevent the ATP proposals from becoming a reality.

Below is an outline of what steps we are taking to resist the proposals and how you can help:

Indicative ballot

The current ballot is vitally important to the campaign. It is an opportunity too for members to collectively demonstrate that they are not willing to simply roll over and let management put our colleagues or us on the ever-increasing dole queue. Make sure that you use your vote – the outcome of this ballot is considered by management as an indication of how much you care about an issue and what you would potentially be prepared to do about it. It is worth remembering that if we cannot collectively show that they will have a fight on their hands, the second round of closures and areas under consideration for outsourcing are likely to be far worse.

What you can do to help:

Make sure you use your vote, attend meetings and encourage other members to do the same.

MPs

Letters and emails from all branches have already gone to MPs in your constituency, asking them to refrain from replying to the ATP consultation document that Land Registry has sent them and setting out our initial concerns about the proposals. A template letter will soon be made available to members to send to their MPs.

We will soon be contacting MPs to arrange meetings for members and reps to attend to discuss how the ATP would affect them and their families and the service LR provides. Petitions are being drawn up and will be made available to members shortly.

Several branches have already met with MPs and have expressed their concern over the cuts to Land Registry. Please see details in the attached document:

What you can do to help:

  1. Consider writing your own letter to your MP, setting out your concerns over the proposals – your branch reps can help you to do this.
  2. You can also send faxes or emails to your MP. Branch reps have details of MPs and their contact details ready for you.
  3. Encourage your colleagues to write, fax or email their MPs (even if they aren’t a member of PCS – but get them to join us)

Media

The day that the announcement was made was a "good day for bad news" with coverage of postal strikes, Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time and consequent demonstrations overshadowing the announcement of the ATP. Despite this, the announcement received a great deal of coverage in local, national and online media including news articles on Google.

Since the day of the announcement, several other stories regarding the proposed cuts to Land Registry have appeared, including messages from MPs vowing to fight the cuts in their constituencies. An example is from the Birkenhead News.

It is clear, from some comments left by members of the public, that there are many people who simply do not understand what we do in the Land Registry and the need for a secure and well-trained workforce to deliver the important services that we provide.

What you can do to help:

  1. Help address the public misconception that we are over paid and under worked by commenting on news articles that you find online. Follow the link above (Links to news articles on Google) to view online articles and leave comments of your own.
  2. If you see an article in your local press, write to the editor to express your point of view. Try to make members of the public understand why the Land Registry is an important public service and why it should be protected from these cuts.
  3. Consider whether you would be willing to speak to the press. While the media are willing to speak to union representatives, they are always interested to hear what members have to say too.
  4. Speak to your local reps with any ideas for press releases.

Assessing the business case

PCS has commissioned an economic expert to assess the Business case (large pdf document) and Consultation document (large pdf document). This will play a vital role in our negotiations and allow for expert advice to be taken in to our negotiating meetings, which will be held on a weekly basis. Several members have already written to the negotiating team expressing concerns over parts of the business case that they consider to be discriminatory or just to point out holes that they have spotted in the business case. We will add these comments when making our submissions. 

What you can do to help:

  1. Take some time to consider the content of the business case and consultation document. Look at areas that you know about within Land Registry. It is worth remembering that the majority of the LR Board have not worked their way up through the ranks of the Land Registry and have drawn up their business case with external consultants, based on figures and crude estimates. The staff working in these areas will know (far better than the LR Board) how things actually work in their area.
  2. Once you have had an opportunity to look over the business case, contact your local reps and ask them to forward your comments to the ATP negotiating team. We welcome all comments from members.

General campaigning issues

As already stated, it is vital that members become involved in every aspect of the campaign from looking at the business case to writing to MPs. While you may ask “What is the union going to do about this?” I can reassure you that reps in every office are doing everything within their power to make this campaign a success; however, the participation of members in the campaign is key to its success as all of the activities that your reps are involved in are dependent on your involvement.

Here are some extra tips for helping to ensure that the campaign is running as smoothly as possible in your branch:

  1. Ask you local reps about joining the local campaign committee
  2. Encourage any colleagues who are not members to join PCS – every non-member weakens your position and increases the chance of you losing your job or being subjected to worse working conditions
  3. Dispute any assumptions that the ATP proposals cannot be challenged – we can, and will defeat these ludicrous proposals if we work together
  4. Dispute any assumptions that members whose jobs are under threat will receive a “golden handshake” when they go – the LR Board have not had confirmation of the terms under which staff will go if the proposals are successful. Staff who are under threat may be subjected to compulsory transfers
  5. Ask colleagues whether they have sent a letter, email or fax to their MP
  6. Ask colleagues if they have voted in the current ballot
  7. Challenge any fatalistic attitudes – We CAN win this fight

Last, but not least, I would like to extend a big thank you to all of the reps who attended the training event in Sheffield for your valuable contributions in developing. The GEC has been working tirelessly on implementing your suggestions and addressing the concerns that you raised on behalf of your branch.