Public and Commercial Services Union

The conflict between the government’s drive to improve workers’ skills and the increasing use of draconian work practices was the subject of motion A74.

"We want change, the whole country wants change. What has changed though is that we are not on our own anymore. From young teachers who can't afford their own place to live, to the 15,000 coppers who have marched through London to demand decent pay and pensions." John McDonnell MP. Photo: Jess Hurd.

Moving the motion on behalf of the national executive, deputy general secretary Hugh Lanning urged the government to practice what they preach.

LEAN

Call centres

Dave Owens, DWP Liverpool, began a debate on improving the appalling conditions experienced by members in call centres (A75 composite) by reminding conference that this was a global problem “from Cairo to Cape Town”.

“They call their policies ‘best sourcing’ not ‘outsourcing’ but, in fact, it’s just about what’s best for their shareholders.”

Dave said the charter of demands proposed in the motion would be a good start to finding the solution to this problem. “It’s about the union going on the offensive. We have to fight like the dockers in the nineteenth century. Workers of the world unite.”

Lee Rock, DWP Sheffield, offered his branch’s support and listed some of the numerous health issues his members’ experience, from back and eye problems to an increase in bullying.

“DWP contact centres are absolutely the worst place to work. We have had cases where members have been given warnings after they have been off sick with cancer and heart attacks.”

There was some opposition from East Midlands Revenue who argued the charter should be wider than just contact centres but the motion was still overwhelmingly passed with delegates agreeing a campaign to improve workers’ rights and conditions, up our recruitment strategy in call centres and develop legal support and training, research and industrial action.

Data loss

Protecting workers from scapegoating following the loss of sensitive data was the subject of motion A76 moved by John Virtue, HMRC Bootle Taxes.

Seconding, Mark Edwards, Waterview Park – the branch mentioned in the motion – said: “The government divorces itself from all responsibility when it comes to this issue but our members should not be held responsible for the mistakes of their department. Protect our members, protect yourself.”

Caroline Watson, Rural Payments Agency Newcastle said her members had been subject to a grilling by police when a CD had gone missing. “Capability proceedings are instigated for making the simplest mistakes when, in fact, these mistakes are due to staff being overworked and under pressure.”

Dominic McFadden for the national executive said data loss was an accident waiting to happen and urged delegates to support the motion. Conference agreed to campaign against any attempts to make data loss a criminal offence and offer training and guidance to members who handle sensitive data.

Managing attendance policy

“Dismissing members through our managing attendance policy is a disgraceful fact of life for our members,” said Mandy Clarke, DWP CSA Plymouth in moving A77. “We are entirely at the mercy of our employers.”

Mandy said the proposals in the motion would mean that members would be saved any financial worry when they are most vulnerable and mean they can concentrate on challenging their dismissal or disciplinary.

Dave Richards for the national executive urged delegates to support with a statement as “there is no evidence so far that problems are anymore than an isolated case” and that the group needed to begin by taking up the issue with their employer.

Supporting victims of domestic violence

Calling for improved protection for the victims of domestic violence, Linda McDowall, reported that: “Two women are killed by a current or former partner each week. Women are also more at risk of repeat injury and are more likely to be hospitalised.”

DWP Linconshire and Rutland seconded the motion with a moving account of the speakers’ family’s experience of domestic violence. “I am disturbed that this motion should even have to be on the agenda. Employers think it’s not their problem because they don’t see it as work related. And so often out of sight is out of mind.”

Well being at work

Presenting a motion on improving well being at work (A80), Mary Ferguson, national executive, explained that it would give the union an opportunity to influence how these issues are taken forward across government.

“We have already carried out a survey of carers and factsheets and learning and skills will be a priority area in our bargaining agenda.”

Conference agreed to prioritise: health well being and productivity; equality and diversity and sustainability and climate change across our negotiating and campaigning agendas.

Dealing with post natal depression

Improving support for the sufferers of post-natal depression was the focus of motion A81. Derek Thompson, DWP Glasgow Benefits Centre said: “The fact that someone could be disciplined, up to and including dismissal, for having post natal depression is nothing but disgusting.”

Derek went on to talk about the devastating effects of the condition on the family unit. “More support must be given. Our members have been bullied, disciplined and victimised.”

Bullying in the workplace

Bullying in the workplace was the subject of motion A83. David Bean Sheffield HMRC said staff had to ask to go to the toilet in many workplaces and harassment of reps like Eddie Fleming is little more than corporate bullying. “Dignity at work is a human right,” said David.

Tim Megone, Treasury Solicitors, amused delegates with his take on bullying on the BBC’s The Apprentice programme. “This is what passes for good management in the workplace.”

Zita Holbourne added the national executive’s support for the motion by highlighting how bullying behaviours had worsened following the government’s cuts’ agenda. .

Conference agreed to set up a multi-level campaign to deal with the problem including using the media and high level government negotiations.

Pensions

In a general debate on pensions, members debated the relative merits of emergency motion 13 about the creation of a single government agency to administer pensions and motion (EM15) which called for campaigning around a quality coherent pension provision within the civil service.

Moving EM15 Rob Bowers, MOD Cheadle Hume said the government’s proposals were an open door to attacks on our pensions. “The only defence we have is the collective strength of our union. Standing together has shown we can successfully deal with the challenges we face. Groups need to be brought together to achieve this.” Delegates backed the motion.

Moving motion A102, the national executive said most members’ incomes were so low that their pensions were not enough to live off.

Seconding, Emily Kelly, Land Registry Lytham and Lancs said women were losing out on decent state pensions due to the need to take time out of the workforce for caring responsibilities. “Only 30% of women retiring today will get a full pension. Caring responsibilities mean women are on the poverty scrapheap. Legal changes in 2010 will help younger women but will also create a pension divide between the generations.”

Conference agreed to work with the National Pensioners’ Convention to campaign for an increase in the state pension that will lift all pensioners above the poverty line.

Health and safety at work

Motions on workplace temperatures and the problems of hotdesking were both agreed during our health and safety debates.

Speaking on motion A110, Vicky Sewell, HMRC Liverpool Revenue, called for a campaign for a maximum workplace temperature. Vicky told delegates the problem was particularly bad in her workplace due to broken air conditioning and windows that don’t open.

“When a window fell on a member of staff, management said all windows would have to be sealed shut. This isn’t good when you have 600 staff crammed into an office that holds 500. We then had to be sent on a training course to learn the right way to open and close windows. Legislation needs to be in place to address this issue.”

Dan Ingneji, HMRC London HQ, spoke passionately about the problems of hotdesking. In his workplace, Dan said, there are only eight desks for every 10 staff. “We have 2000 people crammed into a building that houses 1600 and you have to drag your stuff around, including special needs’ chairs, every time you need a desk. It makes life hell.”

Conference agreed to campaign against hotdesking for all single office based staff.

Speech by John McDonnell MP

Conference welcomed John McDonnell MP, chair of our parliamentary group who praised the excellent work our campaigns unit does to support our work with MPs.

Speaking about his sense of frustration with the prime minister’s agenda on public services, John said: “When Blair went we all had a sense of euphoria, we wanted change. One of the areas we were most excited about was the potential for a change of attitude to public services. One of reasons Labour have done their worst in the polls for 40 years is because there has been no change.

“We want change, the whole country wants change. What has changed though is that we are not on our own anymore. From young teachers who can’t afford their own place to live, to the 15,000 coppers who have marched through London to demand decent pay and pensions.”

“And we’ve been proved right,” said John “First the Metronet collapse on the London underground and now the government is planning to privatise fire stations.”

The way the government was going it would “sleep walk us into a Tory government and we know what they will do about cuts, privatisation and no strike clauses.”

John finished by telling delegates they could be proud of their voice in parliament. “PCS members have had enough of being under the cosh and being victimised. Our parliamentary group will continue to call for change.”