I’m on leave for two weeks after
today. The changes to lockdown may mean that I can see my grandson. I’m hoping
that third time lucky is true.
Here is the latest news.
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 should be in your bank today. Check SOP for details.
Please, please, please SIGN THE PCS PETITION. Ask your colleagues to sign, ask your friends to
sign, ask your family to sign. Drag the government to the negotiating table.
Pay Meetings
It is practicable to hold our normal
face to face meetings so PCS has arranged a Zoom meeting. As a union member you
get a 30 minute flexi credit for attending. It will be on Tuesday 4
August 2020 at 17:30. See the attached for how to join.
NB You cannot access Zoom from DWP equipment. Zoom works
well on smart phones, tablets and home computers. If you have any questions
about how to use Zoom and access the link on a personal device please get back
to me.
Changes to Lockdown in
Leicestershire
After the government bringing the
announcement forward from tomorrow to yesterday it got shifted to nearly 10 at
night and even then only as an afterthought in a Tweet. By the time there was
any clarity most sensible people had gone to bed and the deadline for the
Leicester Mercury had passed. Given that some changes started at midnight this
is not good communication. Here is what I think I know (but don’t hold me to
it). Check official government web sites for the full picture.
- Oadby and Wigston no longer have any restrictions other than the national ones. This brings them into line with the rest of the county.
- Leicester City come out of lockdown but in line with the restrictions of some areas in the North of England.
- Pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants & hairdressers can reopen from Monday
- Places of worship can reopen (social distancing must be observed) but not until Monday which is after Eid. And after Sunday.
- Non-essential travel is allowed so people can no go on day trips and on holiday
- You cannot meet up with people outside your household in your garden or house or indoors at a pub, café, etc. Single people and lone parents who have formed a bubble can continue with this.
This list is not exhaustive.
We are still working through how
this will affect working life for members who live and work in these areas.
Extended Working Hours in Jobcentres
We understand that the three city
sites will be the only Jobcentres in Leicestershire to which this will apply.
Please have a discussion with your rep if you have any concerns. This can
include travel, caring responsibilities, managing disabilities and health
conditions, etc. We have considerable experience of helping members and
managing this change in the CMG centre in Leicester.
Harassment, Bullying and
Discrimination
PCS reps
have had some discussions with a number of members on this issue. Please talk
to us if you have any experience of being bullied or experiencing bullying. We
will talk in confidence and support you if you wish to take out a complaint.
BAME Risk Assessments
Initial numbers suggest that uptake
is lower than expected so far. 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
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 plans to open
please contact PCS to ensure that the process has been followed and concerns of
members addressed.
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.
Eid
Mubarak to everyone who is celebrating. Whatever plans you made may need to be
revised in light of the changes to lockdown and video conferencing may need to
be used. Again. Stay safe.
Enjoy
your weekend and whatever you are doing make a difference.
I’ll
be at the seaside next Friday but I’ll send an e-mail and a virtual stick of
rock if I can get wifi.
Branch Secretary PCS DWP Leicestershire Branch
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