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Feedback from picket lines across the MoD group for 8 and 9 March industrial action

11 March 2010

PCS members in the MoD group have delivered massive support for action in defence of the civil service compensation scheme on 8 and 9 March.

The action was also well supported across our union as a whole, which has undoubtedly had a massive impact on the delivery of the services that PCS members provide across the civil and public service. This will send a clear message to the government that our union will not allow them to tear up our contracted accrued rights without a fight.

The report backs from picket lines have been fantastic for the MoD group with all but one indicating that this is the best-supported action in recent memory. We believe that up to 80% of MoD members observed the action. This is a clear indication of members’ anger and resolve to make a stance to defend our accrued rights.

The details below gives a feel of the support we delivered on 8 and 9 March. We should be proud of what we achieved. You have already contributed to put intense pressure on the government to re-open negotiations. The media coverage was unprecedented both at a national and a local level and we were able to get our message out to a wider audience. More MP’s have now signed Early Day Motion (EDM) 252; up to 162 which represents a third of all MP’s eligible to sign an EDM.

It is now necessary to increase the pressure further before the 1 April date when the government are attempting to force through these proposals. We still believe that there is the opportunity for a negotiated settlement if there is the will on the part of our employer.


Snapshots of some of the 70+ picket lines across the MoD on 8 and 9 March

  • Merseyside - 17 pickets. Over 550 staff work in our building. Only 20 went into work. Must have been very lonely inside and a lot of time to reflect on their decision as no one from IT came in and the computer systems were down all day. Branch Secretary did interview with Radio City. Leafleted the general public & very good reception
  • Leconfield - 60 members on 2 picket lines. Virtually closed the whole establishment with only 13 vehicles being able to move out of a fleet of over 200. Staff car parks virtually empty.
  • Andover - 12 on picket line –excellent mood. Good support from passing traffic. Most drivers stopped to talk. Very few members went in – single figures. 2 members who have had major personal cases dealt with recently crossed the picket line. The branch will be dealing with this matter. Lots of support from contractors and delivery drivers and even Military! Been on the local radio news every hour. Is feature story on Andover Sound radio station website. Prospective Parliamentary Labour Party candidate came down to give support. Unite, RMT and USDAW also came to picket line
  • Yeovilton - Castle Court: 5 on picket line. 4 people crossed. Yeovilton (Unicorn House, Cormorant House & Gazelle House only 1 gate) 10 pickets. 85% on strike.Members on strike at HMS Heron
  • Yorkshire - 10 pickets Imphal Barracks. A number of staff turned up and went away. Only 12 members went through picket. Coverage on BBC York Radio. Interviews with local press on picket line. Linton-on-Ouse picket line set up. 3 on picket line at Bacchus House. 5 members crossed the picket line but 8 stayed away. Only about 25 work at the offices. Initial reports from Menwith Hill picket line are really good.
  • Ensleigh - Minimum of 15 pickets manning 3 picket lines covering all three entrances on both days. We counted only a handful of members entering site. Both days estimate 90% of members out. Site was extremely quiet on both days. Buses were arriving empty at the bus stops. Lots of spaces in the car parks. Some offices reported as nearly empty. Some non-members must have stayed away. Prospect members making comments about how unhappy they were with their union/lack of ballot etc. Striking members visiting with cakes and biscuits. Armed forces personnel bringing out trays of tea and expressing support. Support from passing postal workers. Large amount of public support to our "hoot if you support public services" placard on the Lansdown Rd. One picket's sign "remember us when you lose your job on the cheap!" seemed to cause a good deal of effect on non-members entering the site on both days. Media coverage reported in Bath Chronicle & website, live interview on Radio Somerset Sound, interview on Radio Bristol.
  • Scotland West - 7 picket lines. Kentigern House – Only 15 went in out of over 600 staff (97% out). 20 pickets at Faslane including 6 MGS. Coulport – Guards pass office was closed so no contractors have been able to get access all day. Cerium Building – Morgan Stanley(American credit card company) own the building, and advised their staff they would face disciplinary action if they took leaflets. Morgan Stanley staff ignored this and showed Solidarity with MoD staff by taking the leaflets!!
  • West Midlands - 2 picket lines. 75% support – better than other disputes. 5 other unions came down to give their support. Discovered on Defence Estates website – “Due to industrial action and planned absences, phone lines at Telford HIC will be closed today and tomorrow”
  • Cosford – Brilliant lively picket line of over 20. Not many staff gone in. Major media coverage before and during strike along with meetings with local MP’s
  • Shrivenham – Not had picket line before but had 10 on a picket this time 100% of the MGS out with only a few people gone into work. Caused major congestion for military coming onto site
  • Devon and Cornwall - 4 picket lines well attended. Freezing cold on the picket line. Mood boosted by very few people attempting to go into work. Branch Chair did local TV interview
  • Met office –First picket line ever at Exeter. Nearly all members have joined PCS within the last month and only got assurances from management on Friday afternoon that disciplinary action would not be taken against our members for striking - so it was incredible that they set up a picket line so soon. Assistance also given from SW Regional office
  • Catterick – 7 pickets and we picketed Infantry Training Centre at Catterick. 2 MGS 1 IO and 4 admin members. Only saw two members cross the line and one of them changed his mind and left. Given the spread of the branch it is impossible to gauge how many branch wide were out. One of the MGS members’s had a round trip of 180 miles to join the picket line. Also joined by a retired member who came to show us his solidarity. Managed to jam up camp centre and the traffic backed up for about a mile. Reception from Prospect members was windows up and foot down as they drove in.
  • Mildenhall and Lakenheath - 6 on the picket line. 2 new Reps attending a picket line for the very first time. Royal Mail (CWU) refused to deliver any mail onto the base/unit including US Air Force (APO) mail. CWU sympathizers provided coffee and doughnuts' to all on picket line that was a nice surprise. Members attended Norwich rally Lots of Lorries and cars hooting their horns as they drove past. Unite Reps showed support. Did not see any Prospect Reps go past.
  • Central London – 2 picket lines at Main Building and a picket line at Woolwich barracks for the first time. Good reception and gave out all leaflets we had. PCS Battle Bus visited picket line on Tuesday morning
  • East Midlands –4 pickets in total. Covered 2 gates on one site within the whole branch. One of the BEC crossed picket line
  • High Wycombe – 3 & 5 on the picket line. Only one member crossed the picket line. Good support and closed an office
  • Shrewsbury - Good picket line – retired officers came to join the picket. Not many going into work
  • Abbeywood -15 pickets out both days. All gates covered on the main site but not N5 gate. Hard to tell how many stayed away as large part of site are either Prospect, military or contractors. But the car parks didn’t fill up. Gave out over 80 membership forms that were requested by people getting off the train at Filton, Abbey Wood
  • Sultan - Volume of traffic coming into the base in the past two days was significantly reduced meaning that most people stayed away. On Monday we had 9 members (one of whom was actually retired!) on the picket line. Tuesday similar.
  • Salisbury - 2 picket lines with 3 pickets. Poorly supported. Some members not on strike as taking ERS in March or June. Distributed 200 leaflets in Salisbury
  • Cheadle Hulme - 10 on the picket line on both days. Over 50% of the site out (70% of members out)
  • Gloucester - 2 picket lines. Better reception than ever before
  • Corsham - Picket lines on at Copenacre and Basil Hill.
  • Oxfordshire and District - 1 picket line. Gate closed at E site and some offices closed. Radio Oxfordshire interview
  • Foxhill - 10 pickets - with people who have not been on picket line before. 2 new members joined on the day and did not cross
  • Wyton and Brampton - 6 pickets at each line at Wyton, Brampton & Bassingbourn. Only 5 members crossed at Bassingbourne
  • Veterans Agency - Norcross picket line with DWP and EDS workers. Picket lines at each gate and car parks a lot emptier than usual


 

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