PCS Latest News

Summer is turning to autumn as we move towards the dark days of winter. It feels like this is also the pattern for the coronavirus pandemic in England. It is certainly true that there have been several confirmed cases of members of staff having coronavirus in CMG and Jobcentres both in the city and county. This does seem to be a worrying cluster. All cases must be reported to PCS and we will work with managers to ensure that the correct procedures are followed. If you have any concerns please contact a rep. We don’t need to panic but we do need to be careful. Please follow the advice of your PCS Health & Safety reps. Here is the latest news. Pay Please, please, please SIGN THE PCS PETITION. Do it NOW. Ask your colleagues to sign, ask your friends to sign, ask your family to sign. Drag the government to the negotiating table. We have had a fantastic response but we still need more signature Reopening Jobcentres DWP Group officers of PCS have been meeting with DWP management. We have asked that Jobcentres are not further opened to the public and that extended working hours are put on hold until the coronavirus pandemic is over. There are some promising signs but negotiations are still continuing. PCS is also asking sympathetic MPs to raise the issue in parliament. The push to get more staff into the office who are working from home seems to directly contradict the Prime Ministers statement which he made on Tuesday. And getting more customers to come in increases risk for them, anyone else on public transport travelling with them, and our staff. PCS think that this is unnecessary and, in some cases, reckless. I along with a number of other branch reps participated in a PCS Zoom meeting last night where the latest position was outlined. It is no comfort to know that the whole country is in a similar position. Some areas are reportedly worse. I am not allowed to give details here about the full PCS response to our safety concerns because of Employee Relations policies. You will have to find out through other means. PCS have been approached by a number of managers who share our concerns and are implementing policy reluctantly. We understand that pressure for these changes is coming from a very senior level. Managers are our members, too. If you are a manager we will support you. PCS Health & Safety reps are trying to get as many mitigations in place to make your workplace as safe as it can be. For your own safety, the safety of your colleagues and the safety of our customers, please make sure that you strictly adhere to these mitigations. If you have any ideas for improvements or there is a breakdown in procedures (for example cleaners not being available) please report this to your manager and PCS. While PCS advice is still to not volunteer to work face to face the guidance has recently been changed to remove this. Your manager will still need to discuss your concerns with you. If your Jobcentre plans to open further or change working practices please contact PCS to ensure that the process has been followed and concerns of members addressed. We need to know all the problems and potential problems so we can try and get mitigations put in place. PCS will continue to monitor the situation. 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. Extended Working Hours in Jobcentres PCS advice is here. PCS locally have tried to use the experience of our PCS colleagues in CMG to make sure that the relevant policies and safeguards are in place. We have discussed any issues as soon as possible with management to try and avoid problems for PCS, management, and members. We have had a couple of bumps in the road but hopefully we have got most of them evened out. There are still a few individuals who have not reached a satisfactory solution. We will continue to support members and management to get a resolution. If this applies to you and you have not contacted PCS yet please do so ASAP as the earlier we can intervene the easier it is to get a resolution. Time is running out to sort out problems on this issue. PCS Black Members Seminar There is a PCS Black Members Seminar using Skype on Saturday 3 October 2020 from 10:00-15:30. See here for details. 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. 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 Most reps are now back either in the office or working from home. The peak of summer leave has also passed. For obvious safety reasons support will be, in many cases, done by e-mail, phone and Skype. We continue 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. 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. PCS National News PCS News in DWP The branch blog, www.pcsdwpleicestershire.blogspot.co.uk. 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. The Leicester lockdown review is due today. I’m not holding my breath. Have a good day if you are taking part in the Jewish fast of Yom Kippur. Stay safe, look after yourself, and whatever you are doing make a difference. Chris Willars Branch Secretary PCS DWP Leicestershire Branch