PCS Defence Sector Conference – day one report

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote addressed our conference and talked about the pensions crisis in Capita and the impact that our defence members are facing and the unacceptable wait times. She talked about how defence has seen an over-all increase in budget, yet our members are facing cuts, a recruitment freeze and also further staff shortages once the VES scheme has been completed.

This year over 30 motions were received by the standing orders committee, covering a broad variety of issues affecting our members.

On pay, the DSG Scotland branch brought the motion to press the MoD on the AA/AO issue where staff are on the same rate of pay, only separated by a non-consolidated payment. This impacts our EO members who, despite have more responsibilities, are finding that their pay is being drawn into this issue. The Northwest branch supported the motion which was passed by delegates unanimously. 

The South Central branch moved a motion on employee relations structures within the new Quad setup that are urgently needed to protect our members, ensuring that management are speaking to us and maintain the current engagement process under the old TLBs. This was followed by the group executive moving a motion for the incoming GEC to review our own structures to ensure that GEC adapts to the QUAD structures. Following debate conference voted both motions through. 

The DSG Westcountry branch raised the motion regarding the civilian complaint process against military personal. The current process leaves civilians at risk of retaliatory complaints and vexatious allegations. The branch proposed that one complaints process should be used. 

The DSG South Eastern branch moved a motion on bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation (BHDV) which was supported by the North West branch. The current BHDV policy does not address what the department should do when an internal investigation finds “no case to answer” but a subsequent tribunal reaches the opposite conclusion. 

The DSG South West branch raised the inappropriate use of CCTV to monitor staff and that it should only be used for security purposes. The South Central branch supported the motion and stated that it’s not acceptable for staff to be scrutinised by management in this way. This is not the purpose of CCTV on defence sites. Conference unanimously supported the motion.