Public and Commercial Services Union

Progress is the group magazine for members in the Land Registry.

Please send your letters and emails to:

Emily Kelly, Fylde Land Registry, union room, Wrea Brook Court, Lytham Road, Warton PR4 1TE or email emily.kelly@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk

Editor's column - Emily Kelly

Someone once said “Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine,” well, over the last few months the country voted and got a small amount of loose change of government. Having spent election night and the next day transfixed by the drama of people demanding to be able to vote, true democracy in action and the BNP getting a thoroughly deserved thrashing, I’m personally looking forward to the prospect of another general election soon.

But what will this new coalition mean to us here in the Registry? Those in power have already been pretty smug about blaming the public sector for the national deficit. It’s certainly going to be a stormy climate from now on, with a pay freeze, staff being fired but not hired and elements of our pensions being slashed and burned.

PCS has continued to campaign hard throughout this turbulent period. It was a true testament to members and activist’s resolve that we stood strong on our civil service compensation scheme (CSCS) dispute and judicial review. We proved to those who doubted us that we were morally and legally right to defend our terms and conditions.

In the Registry of course, things remain tense. The board are still using our judicial success to worry staff, already making difficult decisions about their future, based on conflicting compensation payouts. The board were a bit too keen in my view to produce a plan that would show the then Labour government how great we were at making efficiency savings in the Registry. So keen, that they ploughed ahead with the office closure and redundancy programme in full knowledge that the CSCS was an area of dispute for PCS and that it was likely to be illegally imposed. They just didn’t count on us winning did they?

This edition of Progress features articles on PCS group and National conference, a CSCS update, equality and going green articles and a chance to catch up with Chris Baugh.

Catch up with Chris Baugh

What was it that made you initially become involved in Union work?

I got involved pretty soon after joining the Land Registry all those years ago partly down to my upbringing and partly because a respected CPSA rep June Smith hassled me until I joined the branch committee.

Could you describe a day in the life of the Assistant General Secretary (AGS)?

The AGS role has evolved over the six years since I was first elected. A typical day involves striking a balance between the internal management of the unions considerable resources and promoting our organising/ bargaining/campaigning agenda.

It has been an incredibly busy time for PCS and you, what has been the main focus of activity for you over the past year?

My main focus has been the support of PCS reps in building our strength across the union. We couldn’t have sustained the unprecedented level of campaigning, most notably around the Compensation Scheme, without solid membership support and the expanding network of volunteer reps.

What do you think has been your biggest achievement to date?

Better for others to judge and it’s why I have always believed in the AGS being accountable to members through elections. If pressed I would point to my national role at a time of massive attacks upon members, promoting a green agenda and making sure your subscriptions are managed and spent wisely.

What is your view on the current situation in the Land Registry?

While our campaign in LR helped push an out of touch LR board back from the brink of disaster, PCS members in several South Eastern offices, many of whom I have worked with over the years, face a stark choice between changing location or taking a redundancy package. While the LR Board are bound by a national agreement with PCS to avoid compulsory redundancies, PCS will continue to set out an alternative model of land registration. This must be based on treating its workforce with respect and an LR that acts not as an appendage of the banks and mortgage industry but in the wider public interest.

How do you think PCS will fare under the new coalition government?

How PCS fare will depend on the leadership shown and the capacity of PCS and other public sector unions to speak and act together. The only guarantee is that PCS will use all its energy to make this happen.

News in brief

The Professional and Managers Association (PMA)

Don’t forget, if you are an RE1 grade or above, have a professional qualification or hold a post where a professional qualification is
expected then register with the PMA; an association that promotes the interests of senior and specialist grades within PCS. Once
registered, you will receive information, newsbriefs and a copy of ‘Endeavour’, the PMA magazine. Please contact our two PMA representatives Ade Walsh at Gloucester LR or Elenor Haven at Head Office for further information.

Registering is easy – you can do this from the PCS website or complete the form at the back of the PMA magazine.

So don’t delay – register today!.

‘Justice for Jane’ Fringe meeting

The room was packed for the Justice for Jane meeting with conference delegates from across the departments who had heard about Jane Brooke’s victimisation.

Jane, who is the branch secretary at the Weymouth Land Registry addressed the meeting, she spoke of how upsetting and intrusive it had been to be filmed by a private surveillance company hired by Land Registry to spy on her and other RSI personal injury claimants.

Jane said her dismissal was based on only one minute and 30 seconds of footage, which her doctor and solicitor concurred was unsubstantial evidence.

Jane’s legal representative Frazer Whitehead said he had never come across such an extreme case of victimisation of a trade union in all his time as a lawyer. Caroline Jones from the institute of employment rights said there was still a long way to go to repeal the anti trade union laws that allowed this sort of victimisation to continue.

Details of the Justice for Jane campaign are on the PCS Land Registry web pages.

Progress wins award

Progress recently won a highly recommended award in the PCS communications competition and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those contributors to the last edition. As all the articles were written by ordinary members across the Registry they were edited and changed as little as possible so that each story gave a genuine personal perspective of the writer.

However as editor I do need to edit for word count, readability and content and therefore take full responsibility for every word printed in Progress. If you have any concerns on any articles in Progress, please write to me at emily.kelly@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk

President’s piece

I write this piece following three weeks out of the office. Our Land Registry group and PCS national conferences took place between 17th and 21st May, which I followed by a two-week family holiday. Much has happened during this time.

The issues surrounding the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS), particularly for those immediately at risk of redundancy, are obviously high on the agenda. The PCS victory in the High Court was an extremely positive development and sent a clear message to the “ConDem” government that PCS will not sit back and allow anyone to impose detriments to our terms and conditions. It has, however, created a great deal of uncertainty for those immediately affected and our national union are working tirelessly to resolve the uncertainties.

The outstanding ATP issues remain the subject of weekly consultation meetings. Despite our incredible achievements, in respect of significantly altering the original proposals, there is a vast amount of work to be done in dealing with outsourcing, Head Office and all of the individual concerns, thrown up by the overall situation. We will continue to issue specific updates as work progresses.

Our LR group conference has, once again, provided your negotiators with a clear mandate on issues such as CSCS, ATP and pay. Your reps worked extremely hard in representing your views and we all left conference with renewed determination to promote and defend your interests.

It gave me particular pleasure to be able to speak at national conference, and at the fringe rally, to properly launch our campaign for the re-instatement of Jane Brooke. We simply cannot allow our reps to be singled out in this way and we will fight for justice to be done not ruling out an industrial campaign alongside the legal processes.

In light of the CSCS issues it is not clear to me, personally, what my future holds. I fully intend to see out my term of office and give a commitment that I will do my best for member’s rights up until my last day of service. Even after that I will probably be unable to refrain from interfering from the sidelines, in one way or another!

Group Conference

Higher grade reps get active at group conference

by Linda Cartwright.

I was delighted that higher grades committee members Rob Davies and Andrew Casey from the Wales office and Andy Woodgate from the Weymouth office attended group conference this year. Conference testimonies from Andy and Andrew follow; they both enjoyed the experience, which will hopefully encourage higher grade members to get actively involved in PCS.

Andy Woodgate, RE1, Weymouth branch delegate.

“This was my first time at Group Conference for many years and it was just like putting on an old pair of slippers, I felt like I’d never been away. There were a few familiar folk from my past days on the GEC in the 1990s but also many newer faces. All the delegates were made to feel most welcome within a business-like yet informal atmosphere, often due to the humorous interjections from the chair of conference, Michael Kavanagh.

What really struck me was the depth of debate and the seriousness of the issues before us. From ATP and the redundancy situation,
performance management, sick absence procedures to health and safety concerns, conference set policy for the forthcoming months. On a lighter note, it was great to see Jonathan Harwood, a past group president, awarded his distinguished life membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the union over a good many years.

I would fully recommend attending group conference to anyone, either as a full or trainee delegate. It’s a great opportunity to witness how PCS policy is debated and agreed on and learn more about the current issues facing us.”

Andrew Casey, RE1, Wales Branch trainee delegate.

“This was the first year when the AGM and mandating meetings really started to mean something to me in regard to motions for conference. When approached by my branch chair about attending conference as a trainee delegate I was delighted as I had always imagined conference was for the more experienced reps. The long journey down to Brighton on Sunday gave me ample opportunity to quiz the group organiser on conference procedure.

The following morning all the trainee delegates met up to learn about the conference, the layout of the hall, how motions are debated and a chance to practice at the rostrum.

I was not in any way disappointed with the event. It was an excellent learning opportunity compressed into a couple of days that I would strongly recommend to others.

Finally, although I was mentally shattered on the journey back home, I look forward to attending again.”

National Conference

National conference through the eyes of delegate Jane Brooke.

“The trade union movement represents the organised economic power of the workers, it is in reality the most potent and the most
direct social insurance the workers can establish”.

This year’s national conference embraces the above quote ‘WOW’ what a conference.

The conference kicked off with the presentation of the annual report by deputy general secretary Hugh Lanning. Hugh spoke of our judicial review success and how this conference would be debating how best to take the CSCS campaign forward.

President Janice Godrich then addressed the conference; she spoke about the serious threats facing PCS members due to the economic crisis and the need for public sector unity.

The opening debate A1 focussed on issues that would arise if the spending cuts proposed by government came into effect. It was recognised by conference that the coming period would be one in which inequality would rise, wages would be restrained and regressive tax measures would be introduced.

Guest Speaker Labour MP John McDonnell, chair of the PCS parliamentary group, also addressed the conference, he paid tribute to the union members who refused to back down in the face of attacks on jobs, terms and conditions and the services provided. A31 was another heavily debated motion that called for a transparent policy procedure regarding the process and timescale for medical retirement. Given our aging population this is an issue that will increasingly affect our members.

On Thursday morning after the debate and motion on standing union candidates in elections, which was fully endorsed, by conference, motion A44 was heard.

This motion was on my unwarranted dismissal as branch secretary of the Weymouth Land Registry. When I spoke on this motion I felt overwhelmed by the audience and only hope that I did justice to my cause. It’s so important for all of us to send a clear message that we will not tolerate any form of bullying, harassment or intimidation in the workplace. We must ensure that union reps are free and able to do their vital work without fear of reprisal. I particularly want to thank Mick Kavanagh who moved motion A44 and the support I received throughout conference week from many PCS reps including my personal case officer Sue Sugden and all at Russell, Jones and Walker who spoke at the Justice for Jane fringe meeting.

On the final day of conference newly elected green MP Caroline Lucas addressed the conference, she said that she looked forward
to working with PCS for a “genuinely progressive and greener future.”

Details of all the motions debated at conference can be found on the PCS website or by contacting your local representative.

CSCS

Civis Service Compensation Scheme legal victory

By Dave Lunn, Land Registry group vice president

PCS has won a major legal victory against the Cabinet Office and their plans to rip up our contracts under the civil service compensation scheme (CSCS) in order to drive through job cuts and privatise us on the cheap. The court judgement quashed the scheme that the previous Labour government had tried to impose saying it was unlawful to change accrued redundancy rights without union agreement. This has shown what serious campaigning can achieve.

Just like the outgoing government, the Cameron/ Clegg coalition is also committed to an agenda of cuts and privatisation, however this ruling does mean that the new Con-Dem government will need to re-open negotiations with PCS with a view to reaching agreement.

The timing of this fantastic victory for PCS has however created significant problems for some PCS members in Land Registry, particularly those facing redundancy under the revised ATP. Initially, the Cabinet Office had imposed a moratorium on departments solidifying redundancy terms, which had an immediate detrimental impact on several areas of our membership and in particular those members planning to leave under the ATP RA/RO exit scheme.

PCS will continue to argue for defending all existing terms and that any changes should be subject to agreement with the unions. The Cabinet Office is also seeking to establish the full extent of “accrued rights” protection, something which was central to the successful
PCS case.

The Cabinet Office has however, now authorised Land Registry to move forward with compulsory early retirement or compulsory early severance dismissals on the existing (old) scheme, but only to a last day of service of no later than 15 September 2010. Whilst this will mean that those who are prepared to leave Land Registry before 15 September 2010 will be guaranteed the old CSCS terms, this creates a real quandary for many members, particularly in the offices due for closure in 2011 and the areas identified for potential outsourcing. The Cabinet Office has put these members in a position where they will have to choose between leaving Land Registry now to be guaranteed the old terms or remaining and gambling on whatever scheme may be in place later on. This is clearly an unsatisfactory situation and PCS will be doing everything in its power to resolve this issue both at departmental and Cabinet Office level.

What this shows is that despite PCS’s fantastic legal victory, the Cabinet Office (with the full weight of the government behind them)will be doing everything it can to limit the extent of the legal ruling.

It is vital that the court victory is not seen as an end to the CSCS campaign, consequently PCS will be stepping up the campaign amongst the membership to ensure that our negotiators continue to have a strong bargaining position backed by overwhelming membership support.

Members will be balloted on any negotiated agreement and equally if agreement cannot be reached, members will be consulted on where the campaign should go next with a view to balloting for further industrial action if all other routes have been exhausted.

The PCS strategy so far, has been absolutely correct, blending the political, legal and industrial strands into a coherent and effective campaign. Whilst industrial action is always the last resort it remains the most potent weapon in our union’s armory. Members must be prepared to support any call for further action should we find a lack of will from cabinet office and government to reach agreement on a way forward that offers no detriment to all PCS members.

Provided we remain united under the collective banner of PCS, we can resist the oncoming storm and continue to protect our jobs, terms and conditions and perhaps even more importantly the public services that we provide, which are a prerequisite for any civilised society.

Equality

Group Equal Opportunities Committee (GEOAC)

By Angela Appleby

The GEOAC is a subcommittee of the GEC that looks at diversity and equality. It tries to ensure that new and existing policies conform to equality legislation and do not disproportionately disadvantage any group of members.

Currently the committee is looking at management’s childcare review, aiming for the menopause not only to be treated as a serious issue but also included in the managing attendance policy and of course, continuing to consider equality aspects of the ongoing ATP proposals.

In the past this committee has contributed to negotiations on the managing attendance, special leave policies and reasonable adjustments.

Any motions that are passed at PCS group conference that have an equality aspect to them will be passed to the GEOAC for discussion and action and then reported back to the GEC.

The last government generally had a good record on equality and passed a number of equality laws – most notably ’The Single equality act, ‘ which received royal assent in April. Civil partnerships became legal and equality legislation for race, disability and gender were strengthened under Labour. Also child tax credits were introduced, and childcare provision generally improved.

It will be interesting to see what the new government is going to do with Equality. Prior to being elected the Conservatives printed a ‘Contract For Equalities’ under the tag line of “We are all in this together”. It promises that the battle to break down the barriers that hold back so many people will be at the core of their agenda and every lever will be made available to ensure equal opportunities turns from a dream into reality. It also promises to be “the most family friendly government in history and give more support for flexible working, to the parents of disabled children and to grandparents and the six million carers who play such a vital role in society.

Fine words however since being elected, there are already threats to scrap child tax benefits and some disability related benefits.

So are we really “all in this together”?

The GEOAC will continue to investigate how any proposed changes to this type of legislation will impact on you our members.

Going green

Climate Solidarity

Ben Venables (Climate Solidarity Project Worker) reports on why climate change is one of greatest issues of social justice for the trade union movement but also some down-to-earth ways to get involved.

It’s a popular pastime to discuss the weather when first speaking to someone. However, when I strike up a conversation with people about how the world heating up will lead to more extreme events such as droughts, floods and storms, rising sea levels, food shortages, more refugees and the risk of more conflicts I can’t help feeling I’ve stretched a social convention to the limit.

Luckily for me, my role allows me to talk to PCS members. With trade unionists it would be awkward not to talk about issues of social justice.

Climate change is becoming a major issue in the workplace and mandatory targets like the ‘Carbon Reduction Commitment’ will have implications for working practices.

How, though, can our long term vision be turned into practical action that we can all be involved in?

Climate Solidarity – a climate change project which sees PCS and three other unions partner the charity Climate Outreach and Information Network (COIN) – is a means of understanding and acting on climate change. Climate Solidarity aims to inspire community and workplace action on issues around transport, housing and food.

Training is provided through COIN and resources will be provided for members to hold events and to set up action groups. Once  established, action groups will choose from a range of carbon reducing actions to undertake over a set period of time, meeting and supporting each other to achieve their aims. Holding events, a new strand within the project, has also proved a popular way of engaging members and colleagues.

Erica Gregory a former GEC member and now a member of the PCS associate and retired members network was attracted by the ethos of Climate Solidarity. “It’s a very practical campaign based on union values. The training answered all my what, why and how questions and was delivered with such enthusiasm that I left buzzing.” Two weeks later Erica had brought together enough people in
Polperro, Cornwall to set up one of the earliest action groups.

Where agreements have been negotiated with employers, as in the Natural England department, groups are able to work together on climate solidarity during working hours, obviously good news for the project but also a crucial step towards the need for facility time for Green Reps.

If you’d like to attend a Climate Solidarity training, hold an event or simply want to find out more please contact me on 0207 924 2727 ext: 2392 or by email ben@pcs.org.uk. Please visit our website www.climatesolidarity.org.uk