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Future logistics information systems (FLIS) August 2010 update

26 August 2010

On 29 July 2010 the main gate business case (MGBC) for the future logistics information systems deliver project (FLIS DP) received ministerial approval and Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) was appointed preferred bidder in anticipation of a formal contract award.

Prior to this announcement the trades unions were subject to a confidentiality agreement surrounding the MGBC and unable to communicate its details to members. This has now been lifted and we have met with Log NEC management and BDUK and are therefore now in a position to provide an update for members.

Where we are now

The MGBC was produced on time and submitted for ministerial approval prior to the general election. However, this was delayed and final approval has only now been granted. The trades unions were issued with an information note with a 10-day consultation period to this effect, but declined to make any comments at this stage. The formal contract award is expected to take place in late September and we will then enter into formal negotiations with BDUK and a consultation document with a 90-day consultation period will be issued regarding the transfer. This will be given a wide circulation amongst PCS members and our union would encourage you to submit your comments/feedback through your branch secretary to allow our union to submit a detailed response on behalf of the union. It is then anticipated that vesting day will take place on 1 February 2011.

One of the items that will be included in the consultation document, which will be of most interest to members is the details of BDUK’s pension proposals. Rules state that the DP must offer a package that is broadly comparable and we have requested a copy of this to run by our pension’s experts at PCS HQ. However, we can confirm that the proposal is the Prudential Platinum package, which is the standard scheme used in TUPE transfers.

Staff who are in scope for transfer will receive an individual letter on contract award, and GAD presentations, which explain the pension proposals in detail are being arranged for November. The road shows by Log NEC that were previously cancelled will now go ahead and our union will endeavour to ensure that a PCS representative is present at all sites for both the road shows and the GAD presentations. Our union would also encourage staff to attend the drop in sessions organised by Log NEC to raise specific questions relating to their personal circumstances and also to copy PCS in.

Many of our members have expressed concern about the drawdown of existing work and fears about redundancies post transfer. From our discussions with Log NEC and BDUK it has become clear that Boeing have no intention of making staff redundant post transfer. This is a new area of work that Boeing are taking on and they do not have existing staff with the skills necessary to make this succeed they will be entirely reliant on the skills of the workforce transferring over, which already includes a large number of vacant posts within it. Where staff will have concern is when their post is assigned as over 50% unchanged, whilst at the same time seeing a decrease in workload. The answer is that there will be an increase in Through Life Support post transfer as the business moves away from small packets of work in specialised areas to more centralised generic work. The skills that Boeing want exist within the staff transferring over and there are also opportunities to develop new skills.

A training budget is still in place and we have assurances that training is available for staff that require it. There have been some mixed message though and some staff have been told that they do not require any additional training and have the skills needed to transfer. This is because the courses available in the MoD brochure do not necessarily reflect BDUK’s needs for the future. However, we have been told that nobody who has requested training has been turned down so far and this is unlikely to change in the future.

What our union is trying to achieve

Whilst we have a principled opposition to privatisation and will challenge it in every instance, we cannot always prevent it. The transfer to BDUK is set to go ahead and there is no real alternative that will retain the work in house, therefore we have to ensure that we negotiate the best possible terms for our members and that they continue to receive PCS representation after transfer. We will be meeting with BDUK to begin formal negotiations when the contract is awarded and Paul Barnsley, who now looks after the PCS commercial sector will be joining John Wilson, the PCS MoD lead and Bob Rollings, the PCS MoD group secretary in the negotiations.

Within our union, we are committed to trying to ensure that every single member of staff gets their desired outcome. We will not accept any of our members being TUPE transferred and then being issued with compulsory redundancy notices immediately post transfer. We will ensure that the terms of TUPE legislation and the Cabinet Office protocols are adhered to and if necessary will take action on behalf of our members should they suffer adversely.

The PCS FLIS sub-committee has not met for some time due to the information vacuum caused by the delay to the MGBC. It is hoped that the committee will start meeting again very soon and providing regular updates to members.

Trade union engagement

The trade union engagement plan agreed with Log NEC is still in place, and we have the opportunity to influence proceedings in the forums listed below: Members who have specific concerns that they would like to see raised should contact their branch secretary and ensure that I am made aware.

  1. JSC Whitley
  2. People change working group
  3. Trade union informal meeting
  4. PCS/Log NEC senior level quarterly meeting
  5. PCS FLIS sub-committee

What happens next?

After a period of relative inactivity we are now entering a phase of rapid movement as the transfer comes closer. Our union will be producing regular briefings for members as we enter into the negotiations phase with BDUK.

PCS will follow the meeting schedules as set out in the TU engagement plan. Members will have an opportunity to influence the outcome of these meetings through their local FLIS rep. Over the coming months our union’s FLIS reps also intend visiting a number of sites to talk to members face to face.

It is vital that all staff are properly represented in negotiations and have an opportunity to influence the direction they take. Therefore, it is in all our interest to make sure that everyone in the workplace is aware of the threats and opportunities facing us, which means ensuring that non-members join us and become involved. If you would like to take a more active role, you may wish to consider joining the FLIS sub-committee, becoming a FLIS rep in the workplace or a PCS distribution rep.

For further details please contact the PCS MoD FLIS lead, John Wilson at wilsonj105@stafford.mod.uk or call John on 01785 787108

 

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