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DII update 5: Increment 3a and high grade messaging

Our union?s last update reported on the delay to signing the contract for increment 3a and also discussions held to date on high grade messaging (HGM). PCS was seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of the delay to 3a and also more detailed proposals for HGM and the possible impact on COMMCEN staff.

Our union recently met with the DII team and received an update on the latest position with 3a and HGM. PCS has also now received some proposals on giving access to the redeployment pool for staff due to TUPE transfer who may be facing redundancy post transfer.

Increment 3a

HM Treasury had considered the case for Increment 3a. Despite having clear benefits, in the current financial circumstances the department would need to work through the merits of 3a very carefully.

The department anticipated being in a position to make a decision on whether or not to let the contract for 3a in the autumn. However it was likely that the earliest possible date for signing the contract would be 1 November 09, with an earliest possible vesting day of 1 March 2010.

PCS were told that the Defence management board would be meeting at the end of this month to decide the short-mid term spending priorities for the department. It was likely that decisions taken by the board would impact on the immediate future of 3a.

HGM

The DII group were still working with ATLAS on their proposals for HGM. At this stage a number of different options were being considered. However the future delivery of HGM(F) was still highly dependent on the availability of DII release 2B Blenheim and Cambrai and on 3a to complete the roll-out of the fixed secret UAD’s.

This meant that the earliest expected possible vesting day would be around July 2010, however this would all be subject to the work currently being undertaken.

It was stressed that no final decisions had been taken yet and any ATLAS proposals would still have to go through the full COEIA process, including an assessment of whether transformation could be achieved via internal arrangements.

PCS stressed the need for their involvement in the COEIA process and again pushed our belief that if HGM did go ahead then there was no reason why the transition period to full operability could not be kept in house and COMMCEN staff not TUPE transferred to ATLAS.

Access to the redeployment pool (RDP)

PCS have been arguing that staff due to transfer as part of outsourcing initiatives, including DII, where it is known that staff are likely to face redundancy post transfer, should be given the chance if they wish, to go into the RDP prior to transfer to maximise their chances of finding another job in the MoD.

We have now received some proposals from DGCP which would allow staff, where it is anticipated they would be made compulsorily redundant within a set period after transfer, to go into the RDP prior to TUPE transfer.

PCS is due to respond to these proposals and to begin discussions on how these proposals might work in practice. PCS will be trying to reach agreement on this as soon as possible and to have a set of procedures which will allow as many staff as possible, where it is known they are going to be made redundant post transfer, to have the opportunity to enter the RDP.

Next Steps

PCS is hoping to have a further meeting with the DII team at the end of this month/early October, when it is hoped the plans for Increment 3a and HGM will be much clearer.

PCS appreciates that the current uncertainty will be causing members anxiety. However our priority remains to argue for as much work as possible to be kept in –house and that whatever options are chosen by the MoD that all possible measures are taken to try and avoid any compulsory redundancies.

PCS will also continue to raise the issue of DII through our parliamentary group. We have asked MP’s to ask a series of questions about the costs of DII and also included a DII update on our parliamentary briefings. Once the next phase of DII is known this campaigning work will continue.

 


 

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