Members rally to support sacked reps
PCS members at Benton Park View in Newcastle came together today in a show of support and solidarity for their HMRC reps who were unfairly sacked for their trade union activity.
Dozens of members attended the rally to voice the demand to re-employ the 3 reps who have stood up for them at work when they have needed them and they are determined to return the favour.
Members were told that a formal letter had been sent to the employer advising that should the sacked reps not be re-employed by HMRC by no later than close of business on Friday (8 November), PCS will have no option but to consider that a trade dispute exists between us. This is the first step toward members on the site taking strike action in furtherance of the campaign to reinstate the 3 dismissed reps; and to that end a consultative ballot of members is now underway.
At the lunchtime rally, HMRC group secretary Steve Swainston said to the assembled members: "We stand together here today to say the victimisation of reps in HMRC must end and we demand fair treatment for our reps. There can be no doubt that the employer wants a weak union, so that when they try to impose a poor pay deal or enforce unfair and unpopular practices such as needlessly forcing members back into the office, there is no one to stand up for you the members."
PCS has been clear that we would like to avoid this dispute but if HMRC refuses to re-employ our reps who have been treated so unfairly we have little choice than to take this decisive action.
Support for the campaign
Messages of support for the campaign and the reps and members at Benton Park View were read out from the PCS National President Martin Cavanagh, general secretary Fran Heathcote, national vice president and HMRC group president Hector Wesley, PCS Parliamentary Group Chair John McDonnell, local MPs Emma Lewell-Buck, Kate Osborne, Ian Lavery and Liz Twist, PCS National Vice President and PCS Education Group Assistant Secretary Dave Semple, Arun Mistry PCS Education Group President, Kate Leatherbarrow, PCS Education Group Vice President and Kevin McNicholl, chair R & C Northern Ireland branch.
Show your support
Sign our e-petition to James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, demanding the reps’ reinstatement. You can also email your MP and send messages of support to Steve Swainston: Steves@pcs.org.uk.