Public and Commercial Services Union

Opening remarks

The president opened the committee and welcomed everyone present. He announced the apologies, and congratulated Pete Lockhart on his recent appointment as temporary group secretary. He gave a report on Peter Norris’ condition, who had recently gone through a heart operation. Vice president Nigel Buller provided a further update on Peter’s condition, stating that he was improving.

Record of decisions of GEC meeting

The record of decisions of the GEC meeting held on 29/30 April 2008 (for noting) (GEC/250/08) was noted as a true and accurate record.

The record of decisions of the GEC meeting held on 13 June 2008 (GEC/243/08) was agreed as a true and accurate record.

Matters arising

There were no matters arising from the above meetings nor for that held on 27/28 February 2008 (GEC/113/08).

The president asked for the records of decisions of 27/28 February, 29/30 April and 13 June of 2008 to be displayed on the website.

Financial report (GEC/240/08)

Group treasurer Harvey Crane presented GEC/240/08 to the committee, giving an update of the financial report for the first half of 2008. It was agreed that the finance committee meet on the hardship fund to consider issues in more depth and bring recommendations to the GEC in October.

t was also agreed that the finance committee review the financial situation in September and are authorised if necessary to make a supplementary bid. It may however be that further cost savings are recommended. If so these will be bought to the GEC.

Progress Report

Key Negotiations  

(a) Options assessment (GEC/258/08)
Assistant group secretary Dominic McFadden introduced GEC/258/08 - recommendations 1 & 2 were agreed and endorsed. Recommendation three was agreed by majority:

1. That we seek to amend the 1-2-1 guidance so that managers involved are diversity trained and contains the guidance on PCS reps being present at meetings.

2. That we note the pre-surplus record and deal with it along with the awaited new pre-surplus guidance.

3. That we agree the options assessment form and process and issue guidance to Branches that we consider it is helpful to members.

(b) Co-ordinated staff moves (GEC/257/08)
Assistant group secretary Dominic McFadden introduced GEC/257/08 - the recommendation was agreed and endorsed.

That the GEC agrees the policy on co-ordinated staff moves set out in the memo dated 10 July and that the workforce change negotiating team clear the detailed guidance.

Pay

(a) 2008 HMRC (GEC/215/08 & GEC/273/08)
Group secretary Peter Lockhart presented GEC/273/08, all three recommendations were agreed unanimously.

The recommendations are:
1. That efforts should continue to be made to secure additional funding to improve the HMRC 2008 pay offer; and that, notwithstanding this, to further improve the terms of the offer within the constraints of the available funding.

2. That, in line with the recommendation(s) set out in R&C/GEC/268/08, any HMRC final pay offer in respect of the pay settlement due on 1 June 2008 which does not meet the imperatives established within the context of the PCS national pay campaign should be subject to a ballot of members with a recommendation to reject.

3. That, in line with the recommendation(s) set out in R&C/GEC/268/08, members should be balloted on the question of industrial action short of strike action, to include an overtime ban, in relation to any such pay offer.

(b) Report of the national pay forum held on 17.07.08 (GEC/233/08)
Report noted

(c) Attendance allowances (verbal report)
Assistant group secretary Simon Boniface gave a verbal update on the current position. The update was noted by the committee.

(d) VOAC pay (verbal update)
Vice president Gwenda Binks gave a verbal update. The update was noted and it was agreed that officers make decision based on VOAC deliberations with regard to any offer.

(e) HMRC Pay ‘roundings’ (GEC/246/08)
Negotiations officer Andy Thomas introduced GEC/246/08. The recommendation was noted by the committee subject to confirmation of the roundings process in the former Revenue.

Campaigns

(a) Campaigns Strategy (GEC/268/08)
It was agreed that recommendation 5 be amended to include office closure as a reason for action. All eleven recommendations were agreed unanimously. GECLOs to give feedback to Linda Smith.

Recommendations

1. The GEC adopt the proposed balloting timetable.

2. A postal ballot on the HMRC job security agreement runs from 13 August to 3 September.

3. All members in HMRC are balloted on their respective pay offers from 26 August, to include a statutory ballot on the action short of strike action, to include an overtime ban.

4. All ballot literature makes clear reference to the forthcoming ballot on pay and the statutory ballot that will accompany this and the overtime ban which will follow.

5. The issues facing members working in offices due to close, in Lean areas and in respect of flexible working arrangements particularly are highlighted in branch communications, recognising the will of conference on these issues and highlighting the opportunity to impose an overtime ban and the impact that this will have in seeking to resolve lean and contact centre specific issues

6. Issues around overtime continuing to be worked across HMRC are formally raised with the department; with a view to establishing a dispute should we fail to reach agreement on the abolition of overtime.

7. Developments in relation to privatisation threats are carefully monitored and campaigning work in relation to the threat of privatisation is stepped up.

8. Briefings are issued immediately to all members on the issues around overtime, exhorting members not to work overtime and highlighting the impact of working overtime, and calling for overtime to be replaced by permanent jobs.

9. The strategy and timetable for balloting and action is communicated to all members following this GEC.

10. All GEC members actively assist in arranging national protocol and HMRC agreement meetings in the branches that they act as GECLO for, and that this work be given immediate priority.

11. The campaigns committee work with colleagues in the finance & tax sector to develop a programme of sectoral action and campaigning activity which develops our work around tax justice, and that this planned activity is communicated at the earliest opportunity to members and branches.

Negotiating areas

(a) Update on data security/Poynter report (GEC/229/08)
Assistant group secretary Lewis Bevan introduced GEC/229/08. All five recommendations were agreed, with an amendment to recommendation three.

The recommendations are:
1. That the GEC notes the Poynter report

2. That PCS negotiators in all directorates ascertain how each directorate is responding to Poynter’s recommendations

3. That PCS monitors the implementation of Poynter to ensure that national agreements with HMRC on pay conditions and recruitment are not breached

4. That Poynter’s suggestion that compliance yield is used to finance IT improvements is followed up via the appropriate negotiations

5. That PCS presses HMRC to make sensible and workable proposals on data security which, whilst addressing the concerns of the Poynter review, do not impose unnecessary burdens on staff, but rather address the institutional and corporate failings in HMRC which lead to it.

(b) Estate support services potential outsourcing of security guards (GEC/230/08)
all four recommendations were agreed.

1) That negotiations on a “market healthy” status continue (in line with paras 82 – 84 of the national agreement with HMRC), with every attempt made to secure the administrative officer grading for guards graded thus, and to protect existing staffing levels.

2) That PCS agrees to annualised hours working being introduced to the ex- Inland Revenue sites only after full consultations and agreement with the members on each site

3) That arrangements for meetings on each site be made by the corporate functions sub-committee, which meets on 5 August.

4) That R & C Group obtains detailed legal advice re the proposed changes to terms and conditions, and the possible outsourcing of this work.

(c) Future Plan for Face to Face Service (GEC/239/08)
Recommendations 1, 2 & 3 were agreed. Recommendation 4 was lost.

That the GEC
1) Endorses the negotiators' approach so far on relocation of enquiry centres;

2) Agrees that in negotiations on relocations the primary concerns should be
i) The safety of enquiry centre staff
ii) The continuation of the face to face service in or close to current locations, and its expansion to other areas where possible;
iii) That enquiry centre staff continue to be employed by HMRC, on HMRC terms and conditions

3) Agrees that our negotiators should make contact with their opposite numbers in the DWP Group with the aim of working together on the bargaining and campaigning issues arising from the pilot on co-locations with the DWP;

(d) FWH and Flexibility in Contact Centres (GEC/259/08)
The two recommendations were agreed.

The GEC is asked to
a) note the report and
b) endorse the negotiating objectives set out in the paper.

(e) TUS Structures – DMB Field Force (GEC/245/08)
Assistant group secretary Hector Wesley introduced GEC/245/08 – both recommendations were agreed with amendment to recommendation 1.

1. That the GEC agrees to establish 2 interim trade union sides to be funded by the group covering each of the north and south zones within field force for the remainder of 2008. Each TUS to comprise the assistant group secretary for DMB, 1 GEC member and 5 other members selected by the GEC from reps nominated by branches. (carried 17 votes to 13)

2. That the MOAL considers the implications in terms of union organisation of significant numbers of members working on a remote and mobile basis.

(f) Benefits and Credits: TCO, LTUS Constitution and Structure (GEC/275/08)
The two recommendations were agreed after amendment:

1. The GEC in principle agreed the constitution and structure for TCO LTUS.

2. The GEC agreed that Helen Watkins (assistant group secretary), Steve Ion (GECLO) and Gwenda Binks (VP) as chair of CCP sub-committee to attend meeting with the branch, and report back for next GEC.

(g) Local compliance – people and accommodation forums (GEC/251/08)
The recommendation was agreed.

The GEC supports our position to send two representatives to each people and Accommodation Forum. If any subsequent response is received from the official side that restricts our representation to one, PCS withdraw from our participation in these forums and advise members accordingly.

(h) Lean in Customer Operations/Hourly Monitoring (GEC/242/08)
Assistant group secretary Alan Price introduced GEC/242/08 - all three recommendations were agreed.

1. That we inform management that their proposals and failure to provide evidence of the need for hourly monitoring leads us to conclude that further negotiations are unlikely to produce a solution satisfactory to our members.

2. That this issue be considered in line with resolution 55 in any overall group strategy in respect of industrial action.

3. That if no general submission is to be made a submission to the National Disputes Committee is made on this issue alone.

(i) Criminal investigation training (verbal report)
Assistant group secretary Alistair McLean gave a verbal update. It was suggested a trial be rolled out and recommendations be brought to the GEC in October for evaluation.

(j) Employee community volunteering guidance (GEC/260/08)
The recommendation was agreed.

That the GEC agrees the guidance on employee community volunteering.

(k) Accreditation for detection staff (GEC/262/08)
The recommendation was agreed, and that a branch briefing to be issued on this paper by Mike Lowe and Simon Boniface.

It is recommended that the GEC agree the position put to management in the PCS R&C letter of 8th July to Carole Upshall.

(l) UKBA – Secret Level Security Clearance for Target and Selection Staff (GEC/264/08)
The two recommendations were agreed.

1. That the GEC agree to the proposal for upgrading security level clearance for T&S staff to SC level.

2. That this is done so on the proviso that the secondary proposal is accepted.

(m) Learning agreement between PCS, ARC & HMRC (GEC/254/08)
The recommendation was agreed as introduced by Tony Walsh.

That the GEC endorse acceptance of the new Learning Agreement and agrees implementation of the new role of Regional Learning Coordinator.

HR Policies

(a) Remote and mobile working guidance (GEC/256/08)
Assistant group secretary Simon Boniface presented GEC/256/08. After some debate, the recommendation was amended as follows:

It is recommended that we agree the remote and mobile proposals paper attached to this circular and that it is subject to the guidance that follows reflecting what has been agreed and the revised guidance being brought back to the GEC.

(b) Working time directive: HMRC policy amendment (GEC/265/08)
The recommendation was deferred.

(c) Appraisal: box markings, new definitions (GEC/271/08)
Assistant group secretary Helen Watkins introduced GEC/271/08 - after some discussion the recommendation was agreed.

The GEC notes the improved wording in the amended policy papers and agrees the revised policy.

(e) HMRC competence framework (GEC/274/08)
Assistant group secretary Helen Watkins introduced GEC/274/08. Both recommendations were agreed.

1. The GEC agrees the ‘trial’ subject to the above issues being agreed with the official side.

2. The GEC agrees that the business assistant group secretary will discuss this trial with the relevant Business Director and/or the Business Partner.

(f) Sickness absence and MPPA amended Policies (GEC/276/08)
Assistant group secretary Helen Watkins introduced GEC/276/08. The two recommendations were agreed and that a branch briefing be issued regarding this paper for clarification.

1. The GEC agrees the amended policies.

2. The GEC agrees that these should be discussed with all business directors/.partners to ensure that they are implemented as soon as possible.

(g) HMRC HR policy summary July 2008 (GEC/267/08)
This paper was noted.

(h) HR ballot (GEC/235/08)
The paper was deferred.

(i) Grievance and discipline procedure (verbal report)
Assistant group secretary Helen Watkins gave a verbal update which was noted.

Industrial relations

(a) Equality related facility time 2008/2009 (GEC/238/08 & GEC/261/08)
Assistance group secretary Simon Boniface presented GEC/261/08. After some discussion the paper was noted as provisional, to be reviewed by the IRWG, and for implementation subject to the agreement with the officers. The recommendations were provisionally agreed.

1. The GEC find 3 days from those allocated to bring the total back down to match the overall allocation.

2. The GEC debates the specifics of the allocations within the pot and considers whether it meets the expectations of branches and aspiration of the GEC when it allocated 205 extra days to the equalities pot.

3. Should any changes be proposed that the activists involved be written to accordingly and their branches similarly notified.

4. We agree that in future no allocations for equalities purposes should be formally agreed until they have been to the GEC.

The recommendation contained in GEC/238/08 was accepted in the interim and would be reviewed later when the other papers had been reviewed.

The GEC is asked to agree the proposed GEC and related allocations as per the attached spreadsheet.

R&C Organisational issues

(a) Communications review
The paper was deferred.

(b) PCS Professional Managers Association (GEC/263/08)
The two recommendations were agreed.

That:
1. The issue of the PMA is a matter that the MAOL sub-committee takes initial responsibility for.

2. That GEC member John Atkinson remains involved in taking this forward on our behalf (he is already a member of the MAOL sub-committee).

Equalities

(a) Family friendly leave and the working families act 2007 (GEC/269/08)
The recommendation was agreed.

The GEC now formally agrees the amended policies.

For noting

(a) DTUS report (GEC/266/08)
The paper was noted.

(b) Moved to item 6.4 (m)

(c) Telephone advisers – debt management telephone centres (GEC/244/08)
The paper was noted.

(d) Corporation tax processing (GEC/255/08)
The paper was noted.

(e) Motion from SW Wales branch (GEC/227/08)
The paper was noted.

(f) Minutes of MAOL meeting – 5.2 & 23.06.08 (GEC/196 &GEC/204/08)
The paper was noted.

(g) Minutes of CCP meeting – 28.04.08 (GEC/202/08)
The paper was noted.

(h) Minutes of editorial board meeting – 17.06.08 (GEC/206/08)
The paper was noted.

(i) Minutes of campaigns committee meeting – 19.06.08 (GEC/206/08)
The paper was noted.

(j) Minutes of HR sub-committee meetings – 21.11 & 2.10.07 (GEC208/08 & GEC/209/09)
The paper was noted.

(k) Minutes of LGBT meeting – 25.06.08 (GEC/221/08)
The paper was noted.

(l) Minutes of YMAC meeting – 25.06.08 (GEC/222/08)
The paper was noted.

(m) Minutes of GWAC meeting – 25.06.08 (GEC/236/08)
The paper was noted.

(n) Minutes of BAMAC meeting – 25.06.08 (GEC/241/08)
The paper was noted.

(o) Notes of workforce change working group meeting – 1.04.08 (GEC/248/08)
The paper was noted.

(p) Notes of GWAC meeting – 18.01.08 (GEC/128/08)
The paper was noted.

(q) Report from pay sub committee (GEC/247/08)
The paper was noted.

(r) Staffing issues agreement (GEC/270/08)

(s) Workforce change – meeting with Minister (GEC/277/08

1. Any other urgent business
There being no further urgent business, the meeting concluded at 4.50pm