Greetings from lockdown Leicester.
I’m not annoyed with any of you that live outside the red line but I am
jealous.
Here is the latest news.
Statement from The Branch Chair
We are in truly unprecedented times due to Covid-19. Our branch, like so
many across both the region and DWP, has been seriously impacted by the C-19
issue since approximately mid-March.
You will be aware we have an ageing BEC. Many reps have significant
underlying health conditions. As a result of this a large proportion of our
most experienced reps have had to go into isolation due to being in the
prescribed vulnerable group following PHE, DWP, and national government
guidelines.
In addition to this some of our remaining office-based reps have had to
deal with their own issues including hospitalisation, sickness, bereavement,
child care, other care, term time, and self-isolation as well as the many other
restrictions C-19 has brought.
.
The CMG part of the branch was fortunate to have a good number of reps
based in a single site, with reps on nearly every floor. Due to C-19 this is no
longer the case. Equally we have WSD reps also in the vulnerable group and this
has impacted our city and county JCP sites. Clearly, due to this, your reps are
not as visible as before. We all also need to observe social distancing
measures so how and where we conduct meetings will be impacted - a lot of
our own internal PCS meetings are now via telekit or Zoom.
Like for other staff it has taken several weeks or longer for our home
based reps to get DWP IT sorted. As you can imagine, having no access to DWP
intranet, emails etc. leaves you very isolated. In many cases reps, like our
other members, only had their mobiles or landlines and could only access very
limited official DWP information.
Nearly 4 months in, nearly all our reps now have DWP IT. This is replicated
across the region and wider in DWP. We need to ensure all members at home
have the requisite risk assessments and specialist furniture and can work in a
safe manner that is not detrimental to the individual’s personal health, safety
and welfare. This is a legal requirement and the employer has the duty of care.
PCS will ensure this is followed.
It is a real credit to the branch that we could continue our communications
to all members both at branch level and by business unit in CMG. A lot of the
communications will be generic for DWP as nearly all of the key C-19, HR
issues, etc. are negotiated at a national union level.
The branch has a clear process to seek help in this weekly email. As well
as this many members approach reps directly. No member seeking help has been
declined. In fact some of our reps work well beyond normal business hours in
supporting members.
Your elected reps at home and in the office have:
Taken on dozens of personal cases supporting
members formally and informally. Due to confidentiality we cannot identify
individuals
Undertaken meetings via Zoom / telekit especially
in relation to Health and Safety issues
Undertaken informals with CMG and WSD management
Held weekly regional PCS telekits, more if
urgent issues come up
Cross business unit OSN level negotiations are also
held on a regular basis
Supported follow up for suspected Covid cases
Undertaken risk assessments across the branch (the
recent decision by DWP to open Jobcentres created intense work for a few
trained H+S reps)
It is important to remember -
- DWP as the employer nationally made the decision to designate our members as ‘key workers’. PCS has and continues to push for more home working for all
- There are a number of Working From Home pilots. These have been selected nationally across DWP business units again this was a DWP decision on which site was selected, clearly we are all disappointed Leicester was not on the list – this decision was made weeks before the local Leicester lockdown, it is a pilot and if it rolls out we should all get a chance to work from home.
- The concerns of BAME members is being vigorously pursued by PCS at DWP and national civil service level. PCS has sought and after many weeks got DWP to have a bespoke BAME risk assessment. PCS asked for this to be mandatory for all who identify as BAME but DWP refused this. We are now actively asking all BAME members to have the risk assessment. PCS will issue more on this imminently.
The current C-19 pandemic has created immense anxiety for
ALL whether at home or in the office, working from home has its own challenges
we know some at home would like to be back in the workplace with friends and
colleagues. No-one will be untouched in some way by C-19. We must make it safe
as possible. The local Leicester lockdown has clearly added to this anxiety.
PCS locally, regionally, and nationally is doing its best to protect all our
members and workplaces to make it safe.
We generally have very good industrial relations in CMG
and WSD. This is positive as we all work towards a common goal to do the very
best in a difficult situation. We know our members are aware of the local
picture but this joint message was to ensure all members know of the important
work being done in the background.
Bash Chilwan
Branch Chair
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.
Following last week’s call we
have listened to the accounts of a number of members. If you wish to speak to a
rep please do so. What you say will be treated in strictest confidence.
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. We strongly recommend
that managers encourage their BAME staff to have this risk assessment.
Reopening Jobcentres
PCS nationally still have concerns
over Jobcentre face to face services are being opened up. We have now concluded
negotiations nationally. The draft national risk assessment has not been signed
off as the PCS view is that there is no need to open up Jobcentres further to
the public. Our Health & Safety reps will fully engage with the process and
build in as much mitigation as possible but we won’t formally sign off the
assessments.
Leicester City Jobcentres will still
not open further for at least another fortnight 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 have
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.
PCS advice is still to not volunteer
to work face to face.
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.
My
planned trip to see my grandson next weekend is now off due to the extension of
the Leicester lockdown. Whoever is telling the truth (the statements of Matt
Hancock and Peter Soulsby appear to completely contradict each other) we need
to comply with the lockdown to try and minimise the spread of the virus.
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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