CMG Latest

Things are moving really quickly at the moment with plans being drawn up for training and knocking floors 3 & 4 about. The branch is trying to get some more detail on these and other issues. We are trying to set up a meeting with CMG management and the Leicester Pensions Branch ASAP to smooth the transition. If you have any particular concerns please contact a rep.


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A FURTHER ATTACK ON YOUR RIGHTS AS A MEMBER BY AN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE GOVERNMENT

*****This is critical***** Please read, please share on your own networks , switch yourself to DD and get others to do so. URGENT AND IMPORTANT: CHECK-OFF - SWITCH TO DIRECT DEBIT TODAY! Due to a new threat to check off facilities that has emerged, and the need to ensure independence from an increasingly hostile employer, the NEC at its meeting last week made the decision to move existing members on to direct debit as quickly as possible. All new members will additionally be recruited to PCS on direct debit. This is going to be a major exercise and will involve deploying all available resources to ensure maximum impact. The initial materials for the first phase of the campaign are attached: National branch briefing BB/07 A generic switch over form for existing members to change to DD. This is editable so members can use it to type in their contact details. A form for members to supply personal contact information. It's important that we collect as many members' contact details as we can which do not rely on employers. We are again offering a prize as an incentive to members to give us contact information, noting the success of this approach in the context of the December organising activity. Stocks of all materials will be sent to all branch distribution points and to regional/national offices for collection. Please ensure that action begins immediately on this work, which is now the priority for the union. Further detailed briefings and guidance will follow, in the meantime, please visit the website for more information and encourage members to make the switch today!

Leicestershire Against the Cuts

This year there will be a number of events organised by LAC, which is an organisation supported by the branch.

The first one is a lobby of the city council in the Town Hall Square on 23 January 2014 starting at 16:00.

For further information see the web site. There is a link on the right hand side of this page.


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Happy New Year

Last year was a hard struggle for the whole trade union movement including us.

We had below inflation pay rises made even more miserly by increases in our pension contributions, more and more changes to bring in and fewer staff to do the job.

The new year promises more of the same but with a worse pension scheme, even more radical changes and the threat of large job losses just over the horizon.

The change from a Benefit Centre to a CMG Centre with only a fairly short term future is particularly worrying as is the impact of Universal Credit on the future of WSD.  The people in the branch who currently don't work for BCD or WSD can take little comfort as there are huge changes everywhere to FIS, DWP Visits, CMG court presenting, OED, etc.  On top of all this there are further changes to our terms and conditions and attacks on the time available for PCS reps to represent people.

As a union PCS has fought back.  We have had some wins in knocking back some of the worst changes to terms and conditions and have many wins on personal cases, particularly over People Performance end of year markings.

It's not going to be easy but we cannot just lie down and surrender and together we can win if we only realise how strong we are.

Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number -
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you
Ye are many - they are few

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Benefit Centre to Become CMG

Today's news that Leicester Benefit Centre is to become a Child Maintenance site has come as a shock to most members.

Although it is not contact centre work, it will involve a lot of telephony work with many of the restrictions on flexible working & breaks that can involve.

PCS locally and nationally will continue to oppose any negative changes to your terms and conditions, and the service to our claimants, through negotiation and campaigning.

And remember the more we all support our union, the better it can support us.

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Teachers Dispute

I managed to catch some of the well attended NUT rally in Town Hall Square here in Leicester today.

They are striking because they are being asked to pay more & work longer for less pension.

They are striking because pay restraint means that their pay is being cut in real terms.

They are striking because their jobs are being privatised.

They are striking as they don't have enough staff to do the job effectively.

They are striking because idealogical changes introduced by their Secretary of State are making it harder for them to help the people that they serve.

If this sounds familiar, then the case for a united and coordinated programme of action by ALL public sector unions is unanswerable.

Unity really is strength.


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Manchester Rally

50,000 trade unionists from all over the country, including many from Leicester, are in Manchester today. They are protesting outside the Conservative Party conference against austerity and for the NHS. Those of us not there in person are there in spirit.


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