It’s been another interesting week
for PCS
Here is the latest news.
Harassment, Bullying and
Discrimination
DWP does not tolerate any
form of bullying, harassment and discrimination as noted in the DWP
Diversity and Equality Statement. PCS also have a zero tolerance
approach.
It is to the credit of the
Jobcentre District Manager that she is trying to confront the issue head on. If
you have not heard the telekit replay from Carly Chapman I suggest that you do.
I found it brave and moving. PCS are committed to working with her on this
issue.
The
DWP information and procedures are here. If you need help and advice please
contact a PCS rep. If you need support to take out a case please use the
procedures at the bottom of this e-mail. The procedures do have safeguards
against recrimination and victimisation and in my experience these do work.
BAME Risk Assessments
It has been recognised that people
with a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background are affected by
Covid-19 disproportionately. After a period of negotiation there is now an
individual risk assessment for staff who identify as being from a BAME
heritage. See
here for details.
The
process is here. If you are BAME
or if you manage BAME staff please read the procedure.
Reopening Jobcentres
PCS nationally have concerns over
the haste with which Jobcentre face to face services are being opened up and
the full and proper consultation on Health and Safety. However as the process
has been imposed on us we will continue to seek safeguards and agreements that
protect our members and try and get the best risk assessment as possible at a
site level. PCS have submitted a Health & Safety Union Inspection Notice
(UIN). National negotiations are still ongoing.
In my regional negotiations PCS were
given assurances that Leicester City Jobcentres would not open further due to
the local lockdown, but would continue to deliver the same service to the
public in the same way that we have been doing since national lockdown started.
For county offices we were given
assurances that the offices would not open unless everything is in place. This
includes:
- Full consultation with PCS locally
- JCFRA (risk assessment) completed
- Adequate stocks of PPE for staff, claimants, and visitors (face covering for all plus visors for staff)
- Screens for desks fitted in a suitable, agreed location
- A maximum capacity for each site agreed
- An adequate workable method of crowd control assessed
- No one forced to work interviewing customers.
This list is not exhaustive.
If your Jobcentre opens or you have
any concerns, such as being forced to work on front line, please raise these
with PCS and your manager so we can try and address them.
Please keep up to date with PCS
advice. You will find the latest bulletins including information of JCFRA, the
legal position, not volunteering for front line, etc. on
the web site here.
Pay
PCS has submitted a pay claim of
10%. This goes nowhere near restoring what we have if pay had kept pace with
inflation over the last 20 years. The pay offer doesn’t get close to meeting
our request. See the PCS position here. The management
take on the offer is here. Management have imposed their offer
and it will be paid at the end of July.
Reopening Schools
The largest teachers union, NEU, the
Leicester and District Trades Union Council (L&DTUC), the Safety First
Parents Campaign and others have called an online public meeting on Zoom
tomorrow, Saturday 11 July 2020 starting at 11:00. Details are on the branch
Facebook page. If you don’t have access and would like joining details please
get back to me.
JOIN
PCS
REMEMBER in times of crisis it is more important than ever to join
a union. Ask all your colleagues, friends and relations to join a union and if
any of your colleagues are members but don’t get this e-mail ask them to e-mail
me and ask to be put on the list.
Availability of reps
We now have more reps
available to help members but for obvious safety reasons this will be, in many
cases, done by e-mail, phone and Skype. We have now set up regular
communications with managers at CMG site level and Jobcentre District level
feeding in issues from reps and members who are at home and those in work as we
still represent all of our members.
Please be patient at
this time. We ask managers to defer HR issues where possible so as to enable
managers, staff, and reps can concentrate on safety and business continuity.
The following is now in
the coronavirus guidance:
You should be flexible and
practicable in applying deadlines in any procedures, not just Grievance. Your
discretion should be applied, based on the circumstances, to allow reasonable
additional time for things to get done in the current situation. This might
apply to deadlines for submitting grievances, notice of meetings and time
allowed for trade union reps. or note-takers to be obtained. To the greatest
extend possible, travel between sites for meetings should be avoided, with
participants expected to agree telephone, VC or Skype meetings.
PCS
Branch Reps
There is a list of reps on the Branch Blog. Please find out your
local one. If you don’t have one on site why not volunteer?
PCS Records
It’s a good idea to
make sure that your details are correct, both to comply with GDPR and so that
PCS can contact you. You
can use
the update function, here and or log on to the PCS web site to
register or check and update your details. If you cannot update your
details please get in touch.
If you get an e-mail,
a text, or a call from PCS to check your details and ask about your
participation it is genuine. Please say hello from me and help our PCS team.
Communications
It is essential that
members know what is going on in the union. Please talk to your colleagues and
your nearest rep (if you have one on site). There is also information of the
web sites. If you register as above you will receive information about
campaigns and what is going on in PCS.
Recruitment
The more members we
have the stronger we are. We are planning an extra push on recruitment.
If your colleagues are
not members ask them to join. If they don’t receive these e-mails ask them to
drop me a line and I’ll put them on my distribution list.
Facebook
PCS also has a
national and local branch Facebook page but you cannot view these on DWP
equipment. Log on to your Facebook account and search for PCS DWP
Leicestershire Branch. If you are not a recognisable member of the branch
you won’t be added so let me know your real name if you use an alias on
Facebook.
Other News
Other news is, as usual, on the relevant web site.
How to get help with a personal case
Please follow the
instruction on the branch blog. Do NOT contact me personally or
it may slow down your case. DO NOT SEND THE FORM TO THE PCS LEGAL E-MAIL
ADDRESS.
In order for us to effectively negotiate on your behalf please let
us know of the issues in your workplace by replying to our PCS branch mailbox
or by clicking reply to this e-mail.
It’s
my grandson’s third birthday today. Under normal circumstances I would be off
to North Wales to see him. But these are not normal circumstances. I’ll have to
make do with a video call later.
Enjoy
your weekend and I’ll be back next week. Whatever you are doing make a
difference.
Watch
out for my e-mail next Friday.
Branch Secretary PCS DWP Leicestershire Branch
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