Prison Officers Dispute

I’ve just been up to the Leicester Prison picket line in my lunch break. The Prison Officers Association (POA) have called their members out because of rising levels of violence. They had 100% of their members walk out but have sent a minimum staffing level to ensure safety. 

Any of our PCS members based in prisons should agree with their manager to work elsewhere to ensure their own safety. I would also strongly support any member who refused to cross a picket line. 

There is a good picture on the BBC web site

here.

Save Leicester General Hospital

The General is under threat. I have no idea how the NHS will fit their services into the other two hospitals. We are outside the Health Scrutiny Committee to protest. 

Anti Trump Protest

I spoke on behalf of the Leicester & District Trades Union Council. Misogyny, racist, homophobia & Islamophobia are not welcome in Leicester by the trade union movement or anybody else. 

NHS 70 March

The Leicester & District Trades Union Council banner is on the march along with some members of the branch. The NHS is 70 and is worth fighting for. 

Pay Day Protest

Some Of our branch members joined MOJ members and the shadow health minister, Jon Ashworth MP, for a Pay Day Protest. We ALL deserve a pay rise. 

Make sure you have posted your ballot paper. 

Pay Day Protest

Please come & have your photo taken. We’re meeting outside the court at the top of Wellington Street on Friday 29 June at 13:15. 

And post that ballot paper. 

Vote NOW

Ballot papers have arrived for a lot of members today, including for me. If you have not received yours contact PCS to check it’s been sent to the correct address and, if necessary, to organise a replacement.

When you have voted record your details here  You will not be asked which way you voted.  

VOTE YES. 

Pay Ballot

The ballot papers will drop through your letterbox from today. It looks like the picture. PCS strongly recommends you vote yes, as do your branch. You can, of course, vote however you choose. Whichever way you do choose PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do vote. 

You can only vote by post so please record you vote immediately and get it in the post. 

We have already won some concessions by just calling a ballot. If we get a yes vote we can get a whole lot more. 

Pay Meetings

We can’t hold meetings about a strike ballot in offices so we are arranging car park meetings. Please ask your rep for details. 

If you can’t make it find out what happened from a colleague. We have sorted the three city sites & are working on the county ones. 

It is no coincidence that management changed their minds & agreed to pay talks when the ballot decision was taken, and that they changed their minds about paying the ED contractual payments on time when we met them & told them we had the support of our members. 

Ballot papers start arriving next week. Make sure that you send a message to managers and the government that we are united and strong by voting YES. 

Unity is strength. Together we have won concessions. By sticking together we can win far more. 

Pay Ballot

Vote YES for a pay increase. The Employee Deal doesn’t even keep up with inflation & DWP are even reneging on that legally binding agreement by not paying on time. Enough is enough. 

Thursday afternoon - ADC

We’re on the last leg. As usual all motions were carried unless otherwise noted. 

A86 calls for changes outlined in Just Transitions pamphlet to shift the way we organise our economy to reduce climate change. 

A87 calls for a Scottish Conference to consider effect of Scottish Climate Change Plan. 

A88 calls for PCS to work with other trade unions to push for changes to reduce climate change. 

A89 calls for the Just Transitions to include food and farming. 

A90 calls for a plastic reduction policy in PCS. 

A280 calls for PCS to ask the government to reduce the use of plastics. 

A91 call for improved air quality. 

A95 calls for affiliation to Justice4Grenfell. 

A96 calls for affiliation to Tamil Solidarity Campaign. 

A98 calls for affiliation to Another Europe is Possible. This was lost as PCS is opposed to a second referendum. 

A99 calls for improved service from MyCSP. 

A100 calls for the links between pay and performance to be scrapped. 

A101 calls for UK civil service to be allowed to transfer to Northern Ireland civil service internally. 

A102 calls for a common recruitment system across the civil service. 

A109 calls for the remit of the Civil Service Appeal Board to be extended. 

A103 calls for PCS to drop our opposition to fast stream but to negotiate equality proofing it. This motion was remitted which means PCS can negotiate to equality proof without dropping our opposition. 

A296 calls for a campaign to end period poverty. 

A69 calls for opposition to the Football Lads Alliance. 

A55 calls for a review of what ARMs members may be able to do. 

A277 calls for support for Health Campaigns Together. 

A70 calls for PCS to expose the role of the government in undermining trade unionists

A75 calls for improvements employment rights. 

A297 calls for a campaign for the rights of travellers. 

And that’s it. All done apart from the journey home. 

Wednesday afternoon - ADC

We’re back in our seats and ready for the afternoon. 

A43 endorses the organising strategy.

A44 calls for a consultation on ways to get more women active in PCS. 

A45 calls for a review of the PCS harassment protocol. 

A46 calls for an annual public sector forum. 

A47 agrees the new political fund rules. PCS had to do this because of the law changes introduced by the Tory government. 

A48 calls for better support for Health & Safety reps. 

A49 calls for building the PCS Professional & Management Association. 

A50 calls for the age limit for young members to be raised to 30. This was lost.

A57 calls for the release of Ahed Tammi and all Palestinian child prisoners. 

A61 calls for opposition to job losses and reductions in terms & conditions after Brexit. 

A62 calls for the EU referendum to be rerun once the electorate is better informed about what they are voting for. This was lost. 

A288 calls for an independent public enquiry into the Windrush scandal. 

A63 calls for a defence of civil service pensions and to bring MyCSP back into the civil service. 

A293 calls for opposition to Donald Trump's visit to the UK. 

A64 calls for PCS to carry on applying pressure on the Scottish government to improve social security benefits under their devolved powers. 

A65 & A66 were heard together. A65 calls for a pause to UC and A66 calls for UC to be scrapped altogether. A65 was carried. 

A quick photo call and we’re finished for the day. 

Wednesday morning - ADC

We’ve left the hotel for conference. All motions were carried unless otherwise noted. 

A16 calls for better awareness of Section 15 of the equalities act. 

A17 calls for a survey and action plan on sexual harassment. 

A18 calls for the Gender Recognition Act to be implemented immediately. 

A20 calls for support for local pride events if they are campaigning and not for profit events.

A21 calls for a legal strategy to fight indirect discrimination cases. 

A23 calls for constitutional amendments to be exempt from the 500 word limit for motions. 

A24 calls for NEC Elections to have reserved seats for various equality groups. 

A25 calls for reserved NEC seats for at least one young member. 

A26 calls for at least two reserved seats on the NEC for private sector members. 

A27 tidies up a limitation on numbers for larger groups in the union. 

A28 calls for all nominees to ensure that all their personal details are up to date. 

A29 allows the NEC to change the age of young members. This motion was lost as conference felt it should be conference that decides age changes and not the NEC. 

A30 calls for a equality, health and safety department be set up. 

A31 puts a new model constitution in place. This motion was lost. 

A34 calls for changes to ensure a fighting fund of £2M. 

A35 calls for a national database for motions and progress on them.

A36 calls for a Health and Safety report on an unhealthy workforce and stress. 

A41 calls for the means by which PCS increases its support for a campaign to get a UK Labour Party government elected. 

And we’re now on the lunch break. 

Tuesday afternoon - ADC later afternoon

We resume after a contribution from Chris Stephens MP, the chair of the PCS parliamentary group. 

As usual the following motions were all carried. 

A8 calls for support for staffing claims & opposition to office closures in all government departments. 

A291 calls for support to retain jobs where management had reneged on promises to transfer some  HMRC staff to DWP to process UC. 

A9 calls for opposition to privatisation and protect jobs of former Carillion workers. 

A292 censures the NEC failing to get a joint strategy between government departments on office closures. 

A10 calls for a step up in its antiprivatisation campaign. 

A11 calls for a defence of the CSCS. 

That’s it for day. See you tomorrow. 

Tuesday afternoon - ADC Pay debate

After a standing ovation for our first guest speaker, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, we start the pay debate. 

A283 calls for pay talks, a strike ballot and consultations with members before we take action. 

A3 calls for the ballot to be supported by members meetings, social media campaign, etc. 

Tuesday afternoon - Annual Delegate Conference (ADC)

We’re off on our national conference journey. 

We start with various administration things and then will discuss pay. 

Tuesday morning - DWP Group Conference

We kick off an overcast Tuesday with our very own Bash Chilwan presenting the group accounts. 

All motions were carried unless otherwise indicated. 

A165 calls for Employee Deal (ED) terms to be adhered to & to oppose any extension to working hours without real customer demand. 

A171 calls for opposition to perverse implementation of ED that creates demand later in the day rather than responds to it. 

EM5 calls for hours to only be extended where there is demand & to not have more staff required to work than needed. 

A178 calls for decisions of the ED independent panel to be binding. 

A181 calls for part year workers to increase hours without losing their ED opt out. 

A198 calls for defence of the two members made redundant in Plymouth. 

EM7 calls for an increase in staffing including making FTAs made permanent. 

EM10 calls for working with PCS HMRC Group to increase DWP staffing and avoid redundancies in HMRC. 

EM8 calls for opposition to the recruitment ban and support for an increase in staffing. 

A200 calls for support for branches in their staffing campaigns. 

A202 calls for enough staff to cope with legacy benefits especially given the slowdown in the rollout of UC. 

A209 calls for an increase in staffing in Pensions Directorate.  

A213 calls for a full Service Centre method of working but with full appropriate safeguards for staff. 

A98 calls for protections for ex LA staff who transferred over as part of fraud changes. 

A100 calls for a fair system of  voluntary transfers. 

A121 calls for guidance on overcrowding and over-occupancy. 

A122 calls for counselling & support for staff suffering from stress. 

A124 calls for health & Safety guidance for staff in outreach sites. 

A125 calls for defibrillators to be installed in DWP offices. 

A126 calls for better bomb alarms & guidance on assembly points. 

A127 calls for better guidance for JCFRA and CHRA. 

A128 calls for guidance for staff on using mobile phones while driving. 

Margaret Greenwood, Labour’s Shadow Employment Minister was guest speaker and that’s the end of the DWP part of conference. 

Monday afternoon after break session - DWP Group Conference

I had time to nip out for an ice cream. Again all motions are carried unless noted otherwise. 

A117 calls for implementation with safeguards of Mental Health First Aiders. 

A118 calls for training in use of extinguishers and scenario testing. 

EM2 calls for improved procedures following a stabbing incident in a Jobcentre. 

A119 calls for developing an acid attacks policy. 

A132 calls for a halt to office closures.

A140 calls for local consultations when office closures are proposed. 

A142 calls for opposition to privatisation of telephony & benefit delivery. 

A152 calls for a staffing campaign in Working Age Directorate. 

A157 calls for an enhanced specialist role for DEAs.

A158 calls for better training for staff for UC rollout. 

A159 calls for better training for team leaders. 

A160 calls for a halt to behaviour champions. 

And that’s it for today

Monday afternoon- DWP Group Conference

The afternoon session is starting. We carry on with motion. Again all carried unless stated otherwise. 

A74 calls for reduced workloads and regrading for Presenting Officers. 

A79 calls for an investigation into Work Coach Accreditation. 

A85 calls for scrutiny of  using an external learning company to deliver learning for NINO staff. 

EM9 calls for opposition to unpaid traineeships. 

A86 calls for improvements to apprenticeships & for recruitment to be permanent. 

A88 calls for more political freedom for DWP staff. 

A91 calls for better training and clarity about social media posts. 

A92 calls for a new fairer performance management system. 

A96 calls for better guidance for managers to support members who have been bereaved. 

A97 calls for better implementation of flexi time for telephony staff. 

EM4 calls for support for the welfare focussed attendance management policy. 

A110 calls for all disability related spells are disregarded even if a DETP is not in place. 

A111 calls for equality & diversity training for all staff. 

A113 calls for special leave to help support members who have children with mental health problems or undergoing gender reassignment. 

A114 calls for DWP to ensure that all departmental systems are compatible with assistive software. 

We now have a break. 

Monday morning DWP Group Conference

We are off. The conference started with some administration and moving the annual report and then we are straight on to the motions. All motions were carried unless otherwise noted. 

A1 calls for us to make more efforts to recruit more members. The GEC acknowledged the success of our branch in recruitment. We can still do better so please ask your colleagues to join PCS. 

A6 calls for UC to be suspended & for various improvements to social security benefits. 

A21 calls for protections for DWP staff  who claim UC themselves. 

A28 calls for STBA decisions are not made face to face as this could put our members in danger. 

A35 calls for more staff in CMG and a campaign on stress levels. 

A41 calls for a split into front office & back office functions in CMG. 

EM6 calls for a pay bid & a campaign to support the national pay campaign & plan of action. 

A58 calls for improvements in the quality of decision making in harassment, bullying & discrimination complaints. 

A68 calls for better safeguards to ensure that appeal managers are truly independent. 

Eve of Conference

Noel, Alan & I have arrived in Brighton & we are preparing for conference by listening to our PCS General Secretary, Mark Serwotka. I’ll keep you all posted on what is happening as the week progresses. 

May Day

PCS DWP Leicestershire Branch was well represented on the Leicester International Workers Day event. 

Workers Memorial Day

Workers Memorial Day took place on Saturday hosted by me on behalf of Leicester & District Trades Union Council. We remembered those who died or were injured at work and celebrated 40 years of Health & Safety reps having legal rights and powers. Remember the dead - fight for the living. 

NEC Elections

Ballot papers have arrived. 

The branch nominated & therefore recommends that you vote for Democracy Alliance candidates. 

The list is here.

You can, of course, vote for whoever you choose. But please, please, please, do cast your votes. 

Branch AGM

Our Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 27 February 2018. Thanks to everyone who came. I appreciate that many more of you would have liked to attend but were not able to.

We elected a full committee to continue the work of the branch. We negotiate with site, district and CMG Centre managers on all matters of interest to our members and send members of the branch to negotiate at CMG Midlands level and Central England for WSD. We also feed information to our negotiators at national level. If things are happening that you do not agree with or things are working really well please tell your local rep. A list is to the right of this post.

If you have a personal issue we will help you out. Please click on the How to get help with a personal case link for instructions towards the top of this page on how to get a rep to support you.

Here's to another successful year.

Solidarity!

Heart Unions Week

As part of the TUC Heart Unions Week Leicester & District Trades Union Council is outside the Clock Tower McDonalds with BAFAWU to try & get people to join a union. 

Alice Hawkins

On Sunday Leicester’s leading suffragette was honoured with the unveiling of a statue in the new market square. She was a working class, socialist who worked in a shoe factory by day and raised 6 children & campaigned on women’s suffrage in her time off. There were about 500 people at the march & rally.  Women may have the vote but there is still a lot of work to do before we get full equality. PCS will continue this work with all of our members, women and men. 

Fix the NHS

A huge demonstration was held in London on Saturday calling for adequate funding and to renationalise the service. For those unable to get to London there were demonstrations in towns and cities throughout the country. That, of course, included Leicester. Our very own Tony Church spoke on behalf of the Trades Council as people in passing vehicles waved & honked their support, including an entire double decker bus.