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.
The union’s national executive committee (NEC) met on 11 March and agreed to call a further day of national strike action on 24 March.
PCS is organising meetings in every region to brief branches and reps. A regional briefing has therefore been organised in Newcastle on Tuesday 16 March at the Northern Regional Office. Each branch in the region is asked to send at least one representative, but no more than two to this meeting. Further details can be found our events page.
Regional action update
The Northern Regional Office would like to thank PCS reps and members for making the industrial action on 8 and 9 March such a huge success. Approximately 80% of members stayed away from work in the region.
In addition, members at Hewlett Packard at Cobalt and Durham House were involved in 2 days of action over pay which was well supported.
Over 200 attended the rally in Newcastle on 8 March with speakers from PCS, TUC, Unison, UCU and CWU fully supporting our campaign on the CSCS and around protecting public services. Media interviews undertaken at the rally included Tyne Tees news.
PCS General Secretary, Mark Serwotka, will also address a TUC organised meeting on Monday 15 March entitled “Speak up for Public Services” alongside other public sector union General Secretaries.
Please send any reports from picket lines to the Northern Regional Office - northern@pcs.org.uk.
“I am writing on behalf of NAPO members in the Northern Region to convey our heartfelt support for all PCS members in the Region as they strike in defence of the terms and conditions on the 8th and 9th March 2010.
The changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme which, if implemented, will have such a devastating impact on the entitlement to pay for staff going through voluntary or compulsory redundancy, are, put simply, unacceptable. Such changes occurring at a time when so many public sector workers are living with the threat of major cuts to services and job insecurity, appears both cynical and opportunistic.
NAPO in the region sends its very best wishes and total solidarity to PCS at this time. Branches in Probation and Cafcass have been advised of this action and will be sending their own messages of support.
Yours in solidarity”
Mike Quinn - NAPO National Vice-Chair/Link Officer to Northern Region
Monday 15 March 2010 – commencing at 12.30pm.
PCS General Secretary, Mark Serwotka will be joining speakers from other public sector unions at this event in Newcastle organised by the NTUC.