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Northern

PCS has approximately 25,000 members working in our region, covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, the Tees Valley and Cumbria.

PCS Northern Members are employed in a diverse range of government departments, such as Defra, Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC.

We represent staff working for the regional development agency ONE NorthEast, and the Public Lending Right. We have also, recently, secured recognition and bargaining rights for staff in the Independent Safeguarding Authority, a new non-departmental public body (NDPB) based in Darlington.

PCS plays a full part in the northern TUC and is represented at all component levels of its regional structure. We have a team of eight delegates to the annual conference, three to the regional committee and also two serving members of the executive committee.

Save Our local Offices

DWP benefit centres and DVLA local offices set to close

The Government has announced a number of office closures which affect PCS members across our region.

As well as the announcement of the potential closure of Hartlepool and Carlisle DWP Benefit Centres, PCS has been made aware of plans to close local DVLA offices by December 2013. These potentially include offices in Carlisle, Newcastle and Stockton-On-Tees.

PCS is campaigning to keep all these offices open. Further details of this campaign can be found on the northern region campaign page.

November 30 – Well done and thanks

The action taken by PCS members on November 30th alongside colleagues in 30 other trade unions was a huge success both regionally and nationally. The region held 5 rallies, in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Carlisle, Whitehaven and Barrow-In-Furness. PCS was involved heavily in the joint organising leading up to the day of action. 8,500 marched through Newcastle to a rally on the Quay Side which was addressed by NEC member Kevin McHugh and covered extensively by the media.

HMRC rep Lexi Allport spoke at the 1000 strong march and rally in Middlesbrough, and DWP Organiser Fran Heathcote was the key speaker at the rally in Carlisle attended by 1700 people. 500 listened to RPA rep Beth Wagg address the Whitehaven rally, and similar numbers turned up in Barrow-In-Furness.

Each of these events exceeded expectations, and congratulations should be extended to all reps, members and staff for their efforts.