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PCS in the north west

About PCS in the north west

PCS in the North West The PCS north west regional centre covers the 40,000 PCS members who live and work in the north west, spread over 80 regional branches and 10 national branches.

The primary function of this website is to give our members access to information about the work of the regional office, the north west regional committee and specific activities and issues that may interest our members.

It is important to us that you know who we are, where we are and what we are doing. 

Our full postal address is: PCS, 3rd Floor, Jack Jones House, 1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG.

The main office number is 0151 298 3900, fax 0151 298 9636.

The PCS north west regional office has meeting and conference facilities available to members and allied organisations. 

  • The Robert Tressell Room is equipped with video conference facilities and can comfortably accommodate 60 people (Theatre Style)
  • The Lillian Urmston Room has telephone conference facilities and is suitable for meetings of up to 14 people (Boardroom Style)
Advanced booking is essential by telephone on 0151 298 3900. All facilities are accessible. A cafeteria is open on the ground floor of the building between 9.30am and 2.30pm.

Sefton Council Liberal Democrat Leader

In January, the Liverpool Echo ran a story about an offensive leaflet used by Liberal Democrats in Sefton, Merseyside, you can read the article at the Liverpool Echo site.

One of the residents interviewed by journalists as part of their investigation works in the PCS North West regional office as a Bargaining Unit Assistant. This fact has since been deliberately misconstrued by the Lib Dem Leader of Sefton Council to misrepresent the PCS position in his blog.

The Regional Secretary has responded in the following terms:

Cllr Robertson,

The content of your blog dated 15th January has been brought to my attention. On behalf of PCS and its members in Sefton I would like to correct a number of inaccuracies in your piece.

The Aintree resident who you claim "attacked local Lib Dems" over the use of the word "Nutters" is not a "PCS Trade Union Official". She is employed by PCS as a Bargaining Unit Assistant which is a junior administrative role holding no official authority. As "an Officer for many years", I would have expected you to recognise the difference.

You also infer that the "Leader of PCS" is in some way responsible for the "cheques that keep Labour afloat". Again, as a member and ex-Branch Official of our union, you will be aware that PCS is not affiliated to, nor otherwise supports, any political party including the Labour Party.

Finally, as the Regional Secretary of a campaigning organisation which is politically independent, I was most amused by the ironic image of a Lib Dem politician criticising a Labour rival for a "policy U-turn". Please forgive me for taking the moral high-ground and wishing a plague on all the houses of those who seek to make hard-working public sector workers, of which there are tens of thousands in Sefton, pay for the mistakes of city financiers and their irresponsible casino capitalism.

To avoid any suggestion that your ignorance on the above matters is anything other than political opportunism, I hope you feel able to clarify the situation for the readers of the blog perhaps by publishing my response.

Regards,

Peter Middleman
PCS NW Regional Secretary

PCS to play "leading role" at the North West TUC


The North West Region of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) will hold its Annual Conference in Liverpool in March.

PCS will again take up our full allocation of delegates and has submitted two motions on the important topics of the threat presented by 'Local Pay' and 'Youth Unemployment and Welfare Reform'. View the full text of our motions (which may be subject to amendment by other TUC affiliates).

Commenting, PCS Regional Secretary, Peter Middleman said, "I'm always incredibly proud of our members contribution to the important work of the TUC. Last years conference was a high-point in terms of the quality brought to the debates by PCS delegates, particularly on the subject of pensions and mobilising communities to fight the cuts. I look forward to us continuing to play a leading role and cementing our reputation as a hard-working, determined and member-led union in the region in 2012".

The full PCS delegation to the conference is:

  • Peter Middleman, Regional Secretary
  • Martin Kelsey, Regional Chair (Home Office Merseyside Branch)
  • Lorna Kennedy, Regional Vice-Chair (HMRC NW & Central Lancs Branch)
  • Alex Davidson, Regional Vice Chair (British Council National Branch)
  • Jane Warburton, Regional Young Members Convenor (HMRC Salford Revenue Branch)
  • Katya Lawder, Regional Committee (DWP Fylde Central Benefits and Services Branch)
  • Steve Farley, National Officer

PCS NW Samba Band - Marching to a new beat

 
During 2011 the PCS North West region complemented its visible presence (hundreds of members, flags and banners) on various marches and demonstrations with an audible presence in the form of a fledgling Samba Band which attracted lots of attention and positive comments.
 
The band is currently made up of predominantly Manchester based activists and numbers between eight and ten depending on availability.  Following a Regional Committee decision, we have recently taken delivery of a further two Bass drums, a Snare Drum and various smaller percussion instruments which will be made available to members across the region.
 
Experience is not necessary as we plan to run a number of workshops in February and March for members who would like to learn to play.  If you are interested in joining the band, contact us via email or Twitter with your name, branch and contact details.
 
Images of the band in Manchester can be viewed on our Flickr pages.

Pensions campaign still one million strong

 
The general secretary and president attended the public sector trade union liaison group meeting at the TUC on Thursday 12 January to consider developments in the pensions campaign.
 
 

Pensions calculator

Use the pensions calculator to see what the changes will mean for your pension.

Save the DVLA

PCS is opposing the closure of all 39 local offices of the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, including sites in Chester, Manchester and Preston. 
 
A service user has created an on-line petition which all members are encouraged to sign. More information on the campaign can be found on the DfT pages of the PCS website.