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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International Brigade

I went to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the death of one of the International Brigade. They were fighting fascism in the Spanish Civil War as volunteers.

I think we owe those brave people to continue to oppose fascism and racism in this country and throughout the world.





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OVERTIME BAN

The new overtime ban starts on Monday 1 July 2013.

Overtime just masks staffing deficiencies and a lack of basic pay.

If we all refuse to work overtime the whole system would cease to function.

DON'T WORK OVERTIME.

Show Cuts the Red Card

Some protesters from around the branch.























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