Public and Commercial Services Union

On Fri 16 January 2009, a meeting arranged by Plaid Cymru, was held in the Welsh assembly to discuss on-going concerns surrounding the plans to privatise training under the defence training review (DTR) rationalisation programme which effects hundreds of our union's members at various training establishments.

The meeting had been arranged to coincide with the 2nd anniversary of the announcement of Metrix as the preferred bidder for the DTR, whose solution is to relocate hundreds of jobs to St Athan in South Wales.

Paul Bemrose, full time national officer and H O'Harney, branch secretary of the MOD Cosford branch were invited to attend so that they could give those attending a detailed update on our union's campaign and how they assessed the situation to date.

Leanne Wood, Welsh assembly member and chair of the PCS group in the assembly chaired the meeting at which Dai Lloyd and Bethin Jenkins both Plaid AM's attended. Additionally members from the Welsh Green party were in attendance as well as locals from the area who are opposed to the proposed military academy being located in South Glamorgan.

Paul Bemrose commented after the meeting "This was a great opportunity, not only to meet with Welsh assembly members, but also local campaigners. It was important that they were made aware that PCS are opposed to the privatisation of our members in this £12 billion pound lottery and whether the academy was being situated in Scotland or the Midlands, PCS would be against a flawed and discredit PFI scheme such as this"