pcs union midlands regional newsline winter 2012

7/27/2019 PCS Union Midlands Regional Newsline Winter 2012

1/8

COVENTRY SAYS NO MAUDE ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHTS AT WORK In October, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude was met with a

15-minute walkout by more than 250 staff as he visited Revenue

and Customs offices in Sherborne House Coventry.

The rank and file protest, organised by local activists, has

caught on spreading across the union on the 14th November on the

day of the European General Strike against austerity and was

inspiration for the 30th November on the national PCS day of action.

Maude, who is spearheading attacks on civil servants' terms

and conditions and looking to drastically cut the amount of time

union representatives can spend on vital work such as negotiating

with employers, representing members and dealing with health and

safety issues, had previously suggested unions could hold 15-minute

stoppages instead of full days of action. Thousands of civil servantsare angry about the government's plans to review all their terms

and conditions, including hours, holidays and family-friendly policies

such as flexible working and part-time.

This is on top of cuts to jobs, pay and pensions already hitting

many public sector workers. PCS rep Ian Hough, who helped to

organise the walkout with fellow rep Pat Cowling, said members

wanted to show the minister their anger about the plans to rip up

terms and conditions. Ian said:

"In November last year, Francis Maude kindly suggested that

instead of strike action, it would be OK for people to do a walkout for

15 minutes. So we followed his advice and showed him we can let

him know how we feel in 15 minutes. It was a fantastic turnout,

especially considering we only found out he was visiting on Monday.

We thought we couldn't let this pass as if we hadn't done anything

he (Maude) would have taken it as a green light, so we had a quick

meeting and got together a leaflet to publicise what we were

planning. The walkout sent a message to him (Maude) that we don't

want you messing with our terms and conditions. We have got whatwe have got and we want to keep what we have got. I think any

worker in the country would have been there to let someone like

that know how we feel about the attack on our terms and

conditions."

Three reps also had a 10-minute 'question time' with the minister

during which they raised their concerns about the attacks.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/D0868BCC-8A08-421C-B833061B0A460B9Fhttp://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/D0868BCC-8A08-421C-B833061B0A460B9Fhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704451http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704451http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704451http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704451http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/D0868BCC-8A08-421C-B833061B0A460B9Fhttp://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/D0868BCC-8A08-421C-B833061B0A460B9F


2/8

100 picketers took part in a load, vibrant and

militant protest outside a Conservative Party Conference

fringe meeting, which was organised by the Coalition for

Marriage (C4M), an organisation dedicated to the

opposition of equal marriage.

The protest was called as a result of an open statement

initiated by PCS PROUD and West Midlands Love Music Hate

Homophobia and was also rapidly backed by local LGBT

community groups, Birmingham City Councillors, trade unions

and student unions.The (C4M) rally was addressed by Ann Widdecombe, Lord

Carey (former archbishop of Canterbury) and David Burrows

MP, drawing attention to the disquiet which exists amongst the

Tory right and prominent figures in the church over equal

marriage for same sex couples.

PCS union activist Jan Baxter who is also the LGBTexecutive member for the Midlands Trade Union Congress said

We believe allowing same sex couples the opportunity to

marry will have a positive impact on wider public attitudes

towards LGBT people and ultimately contribute to a more

inclusive and accepting society. Despite massive strides in legal

reform, LGBT people continue to find themselves under attack.

This rally is a sharp reminder of the backwards bigotry and

homophobia which still exists in society even among senior and

prominent figures. It calls into question whether the

Conservatives were ever really serious about equal marriage

and comes at a time where LGBT people find themselvesbearing the brunt of vicious cuts and austerity

All three speakers have defended gay cures, a practice

widely condemned by medical professionals including The

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

David Burrows MP is reported to be linked to the

Andrew LloydRegional Secretary Picket the bi

Debbie Elson

wins first TUCMidlands award

for Learning

is the season of goodwill or lack of it!

The DWP ballot for action against the 43 compulsory

otices is in my opinion is about as important as it gets.

ompulsory redundancies in our biggest department is the

ne in the sand. If the DWP get away with this, then it will

ean that no PCS member job is safe from the threat of

ompulsory redundancy.

PCS has often been the stand alone union fighting

dundancies, we have given the lead to many other unions to

hallenge redundancies, that is why we have to win this ballot,

youre not from DWP please support your colleagues, often

aid but never more true, their fight is definitely our fight.

This week the NEC will decide on the next stage of the

ational Campaign, it is already known that there will be a

-focus of the campaign that will look more closely at the

ajor threat to Terms and Conditions. 30th

November was the

art of this re-focus, and whilst there were some who were

ot convinced about the impact of the 15 minute demos, it

annot be ignored that it caught the imagination of many

cluding that of the media, covered by both Nottingham and

erby BBC Radio stations, the Derby Telegraph and also on

e front page of the Birmingham Mail. Added to that at many

aces the walkout meetings led to discussions about our

ture industrial action strategy and how it could be more

novative.

I started to list the events that have occurred since the

st newsletter, but they began resemble the festive 12 days

f Christmas song. This newsletter covers most of the events

at have happened in the last three months, this region is

credible in what it has delivered. 150 activists to Pay &

ensions Briefings, 300+ members to the Tory Demo in

rmingham, 700+ to London for the A future that works

arch, and 1000+ at meetings on 30th

November.

There are too many activists that I want to thank for

eir efforts over the last couple of months, but I do feel I

ave to mention Debbie Elson for not just winning the TUC

ward for learning, but in amongst the sea of other activities

he organised another awards night for over 70 members at

MRC to pick up their NVQs from their apprenticeship

egotiated by PCS with Dudley College, it was a privilege to

and out the certificates. I also want to pay tribute to Nigel

ayton who was also nominated for an award at the TUC

vent. This was for the campaign he led to ensure the

hainmakers Festival was twice the event it was last year. Two

ther reps that I believe have made a major impact are Pete

ollier, stalwart of both the Nottingham Town Committee and

e DFT group, a group that continues to lead on industrial

ction, and finally to Ian Hough the inspiration behind No

aude cuts event at Coventry HMRC.

Finally I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a

appy New Year, and look forward to 2013 where hopefully

e can give this Government the kicking it deserves!


3/8

ristian charity CARE which sponsored a London event in

09 offering healing for gay people. According to the charity

onewall, Anne Widdecome has opposed 93% of LGBT

gislation in support of LGBT rights. This ranged fromualising the age of consent to the prevention of bullying in

hools. Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury describes

ual marriage as amounting to one of the greatest political

wer grabs in historyKirat Raj Singh from Vice President of Birmingham City

niversity Student Union said David Cameron claims the Tories

e different from the homophobes who introduced Section 28

der Thatcher. Yet, since poor local government election

sults, the bigots have been allowed to come out of the

oodwork. Some Tory ministers now oppose marriage equality.

meron is giving Tory MPs a free vote so homophobic Toriesll vote against it. We are concerned that the Conservatives

e not prepared to take on homophobia in their party or at

nior levels of the church as they believe this would alienate

eir traditional voting base.

Midlands City in Focus: Nottingham

Broxtowe Save Our NHS campaign calls for the general

election to be a referendum on the NHS

100 people attending a local campaign meeting in

Boxtowe on the 2nd November, heard how the Health and

Social Care Bill would open the door further to the

marketisation of the NHS which started under new Labour.

This has been accelerated by the Con-Dem coalition towards

a privatised health care service where quality of care is

dependent on ability to pay.

The Notts Trades Council sponsored Broxtowe Save

our NHS campaign was officially launched at the meeting

with funding coming from the TUC Midlands Region as a

direct result of a PCS motion.

Notts Trades Council have chosen Broxtowe the marginal

constituency of Tory MP and ex-Central TV presenter, Anna

Soubry, who was recently promoted to junior Health

Minister. An NHS campaign offered a great opportunity to

bring together different unions, campaign groups and local

people under a united banner.

Notts TUC president Liam Conway said that success

depends on the ability of the trade union movement to

build a genuine community campaign. He added that

Notts Trades Council want the 2015 election in Broxtowe

to be a referendum on the future of the NHS.

Ex-Broxtowe Labour MP, Nick Palmer, gave a chilling

vision of a health service to come. He stated should he be

returned to Parliament, he would oppose any further

privatisation but not seek to undo the restructuring of the

NHS allowed by the Health and Social Care Bill. He believes

a future Labour Government should end the pressure on

hospital managers to open services up to private patients

and introduce a presumption against private providers in

the commissioning of health services.

Sharon Vasselin speaking as a Unison shop steward at

Nottingham City Hospitals gave a history of the creeping

privatisation of health services over the last 10 years and

sketched out a post-Bill future of increasing private

ownership, increasing costs, and a driving down quality and

leading to abuses like that at Winterbourne View.

Anne Pridmore, a disabled user of the Independent

Living Fund and Disabled People Against Cuts activist, talkedabout the proposed closure of the service would jeopardise

the independence of thousands of disabled people across

the UK and that the privatisation of the NHS will

disproportionately affect 10 million disabled people in the

UK today.

Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Arun Chopra, speaking in a

personal capacity, described a publically owned NHS as a

statement of social solidarity adding, most people dont

understand the severity of the threat of privatisation.

Further activity is planned in Broxtowe throughout the next

six-months and, it is hoped, will build into a public show-down between Soubry and Labour shadow Health Minister

Andy Burnham sometime next year.

GBT cuts wreck lives

30% of young homeless people in urban areas identified as

LGBT according to the homeless charity Crisis.

Twice as many LGBT people are forced to work after 70 which

will only be compounded by the recent cuts in pensions and

rise in pension age.Research suggests trans unemployment could be 3 times the

national average and 60% of those working live on less than

10,000 per year.

The Stonewall charity last month found that 3 percent of gay

men have tried to take their own lives in the last year. That

compares to 0.4 percent of men in general.

The national union of students states recent cuts Education

maintenance allowance and a rise in tuition fees

disproportionately impact on LGBT young people as they are

more likely to be estranged from their parents or receive no

financial support from them.

ots

e TUC awards dinner was attended

unions across the Midlands and

liticians including Margaret Beckett

d Birmingham MP Jack Dromey

ee pic right).

Debbie was won her award for

r exceptional work on

prenticeships in the Midlands.Join the alternative Christmas carol singing event on

Beeston High Street, 10am Saturday 8th December


4/8

OCT 18thFrancis Maude was metwith a 15-minute walkout by more

than 250 staff as he visited Revenueand Customs in Sherborne House

Coventry.

NOV 14thHfor 15 minutethe Europea

14th NOVPCS RNottingha


5/8

ndreds walk outon the day ofGeneral Strike

NOV 30th One year on from the largeststrike since the 1926 General Strike,thousands of PCS members protest.Department for Transport members

strike. A reminder of the need for nationalco-ordinated action against austerity

30 NovemberDepartment for

TransportNational Strike

East Midlands Branchstle Meadow

30 NOVPCS DWP Derbyshire

0 NOVPCS R&C West Mercia Wolverhampton Deansgate

30 NOVNottingham DSA and DVLA strikers


6/8

A day in the life of a regional organiser

Wed 14th

November

7.45 am arrive at the Department

for Education office on the

University of Nottingham campus

(see photo). Probably the best view

I have had when leafleting for PCS

over the years. This is the office of

the National College for School Leadership which has been

brought into the Civil Service by the Government yes holdthe front page an office previously outside the Civil Service

now a part of it!!

The day before DfE had announced the closure of its linked

office at Ruddington about 8 miles away. The Ruddington staff

would have to move here. I was leafleting about the PCS cam-

paign against the performance management changes that DfE

are bringing in. Plenty of members and non members stopped

to talk and seemed interested in what we had to say. After a

while a facilities manager from Sodexo came to see me and

suggested I move on! I politely refused. He wanted to knowwho had given me permission and I pointed out that I was only

giving leaflets out and that nobody seemed to mind. He went

off to talk to someone to see if he could get me removed.

After this a member came out and offered me a coffee and

told me to ignore the man from Sodexo - staff had said they

did not mind being leafleted. I

suspect the events of the

previous day showed who really

look after staffs interests.

9-30am arrived at Apex Court

in Nottingham to deliver 300

leaflets for the first PCS all

members meeting to be held

thereits a new office com-

bining a lot of different depart-

ments and agencies.

Managed to contact national

press office and DfE group

about the closure news I had

picked up that morning.

11-00am Visited Castle

Meadow site of the HMRC HQ

in Nottingham who were having a 15 minute protest about the

changes to Term and Conditions. (see pages 6&7). This was

the day of the general strikes in parts of Europe and whilst we

were not on strike it is great to see members here (and in

Wolverhampton HMRC) making a protest against our own cuts

and in solidarity with others.

11-30 am back to Apex Court to get the photos of the

protest sent off to the local paper and to PCS HQ. We now live

in the age of instant communication so was keen to upload the

photos to Facebook and Twitter too hopefully this gets

information directly to activists who follow PCS on these

platforms.

PM the rest of the day was spent catching up on emails and

messages, the most important of which was the case of a

member working for MITIE in Telford who was rightly pointing

out that MITIEs promises around pensions have proven to be

false I contacted the PCS branch and the Commercial Sector

group to agree a way forward. Finally I finished the day

preparing a presentation I was giving the following day to a

public meeting in Derby on austerity. Note to self when I got

the job no one told me I needed to be an expert on econom-

ics! However re reading the recent PCS booklet on Austerity

helped enormously and I now felt able to give the speech a

good go. Just then an email from the meeting organiser arrives

and reminds me that I have no more than 10 minutes for the

presentation .. So back to the drawing board

Steve Battlemuch

Organising to Win

Check your factsa guide to PCS pamphlets

This vital pamphlet

examines the impact ofausterity on everything

we hold dear in our

welfare state from

cradle to grave. It

concisely highlights the

dangers but also

presents an alternative.

Two years ago PCS argued

there is an alternative tothe cuts. This pamphlet

not only argues how we

need this now more than

ever but damningly

illustrates how the

ConDem austerity

programme is not working.

With simple illustrations of

how income inequality haswidened this pamphlet not

only tackles head on the

impact of massive bonuses

and pay increases for the

rich but the impact of

regional pay, cuts and

austerity on the rest of us.

Steve Battlemuch, Regional Organiser


7/8

Originally published in 2010. Over 250 000

copies of this pamphlet

have been distributed

with many more readingonline. Whilst sadly the

concerns it has raised

have proven to be right

and credible so too are

the alternatives, making

them all the more

important to fight for.

Jointly produced with UNITE, NUT, UCU and

the national pensioners

convention this pamphlet

thoroughly addresses theissue of fair pensions.

Whether state, private or

public there should be

fair pensions for all

tackling the argument

one should not be at the

expense of the another

If history has taught us anything, it is never

to turn our back on the

threat posed by racism

and fascism.This pamphlet tackles

the challenges of the

cuts, defends a

multicultural UK,

highlights PCS policy,

campaigns and our

partners.

To organise a brief training session for workplace activists on Count me in

or a 1 day Organising for branches course for your branch please contact the

Midlands Regional Office on 0121 643 4342 today.


8/8

PCS MIDLANDS REGION ROUND UPth OctoberExcellent turnout for the

Demonstration at the Tory party

onference, 300+ PCS members mainly

rom the region, with delegations from

he North West and London regions

toke Public Meeting Tuesday 9th

OctoberThe region sponsored a public

meeting held jointly with local trades

ouncil reps, but in chief organised byhe Stoke town committee, Mark

erwotka was one of the main gust

peakers, the meeting attracted over 150

eople from Stoke, at least 40 of these

were PCS members.

October 20th - 15 buses sent from theregion, with an 700 + members at the

march, good reports from across all town

committees about the day. Regional

Banner and Town banners carried on the

march.

7th

NovemberCorby By Elections

HustingsA successful event with 4

candidates attending, two others sent

in statements, the only no-show the

Labour candidate! Over 30 inattendance, 25 of these PCS members.

The newish Town and County committee

Northampton were very pleased. Details

of the evening and the answers were

placed on the website.

CS Organisers and Learning Reps

ote to suspend standing orders at

he Midlands O&L Conference to hold

n emergency discussion in theirnchtime to discuss the attacks

nnounced at the Conservative Party

onference on Civil Service terms and

onditions and facility time.

The conference held Leicester in

ctober saw 59 ULRs and branch

rganisers meeting to discuss the learning

genda.

Challenging ULRs and organisers

ike to consider their role in the engaging

otential of the learning agenda both to

p skill and empower. Lay activists

rought alive the national Count me in

ampaign in a way that was practical and

eaningful for workplace activists and

e conference reinforced, clarified and

celebrated a concept around learning

that is not about acting in isolation but

has always been part of the union

tradition.

This was concretely illustrated by

examples from an excellent MOJ project

by Helen Penn Berkeley and Mark

Robinson which resulted in 6 new ULRs, 6

new H&S reps and the reinvigoration oftwo moribund branches.

Debbie Elson held a session on

apprenticeships in the workplace, and

delegates fed back from the various

learning events and networks in their

localities

What does your job

involve? - As part of the

Midlands team my role

is to provide support to

the officers. I am

currently assisting the

Learning Organiser on

the trade union

education programme.

Tell us something about yourself that

your colleagues dont know? - I can

sometimes be very quiet!

What makes you angry? - Laziness -

especially my husband!If you had a fantasy dinner party,

which 6 people would you invite and

why? - My colleagues from the Regional

Office

What is the best bit about working for

PCS? - The staff and being able to help

members.

If you were granted 3 wishes what

would they be?Working full time,lose 20lb and give health to everybody

What is your favourite book? - I read

lots of books, particularly crime novels.

What is your favourite film? - Twilight

The conference agreed to organise

headline Learning events around:

Black History Month in October

Disabled History Month in December

LGBT History Month in February

International Womens Day in March

International Workers Day in May

Chainmakers Festival in June

Help with Count me in aims for:

2% increase in density in 2012

Increase ratio of reps 1:26 to 1:25

+150% or +60, 000 members with

personal contact details on Commix

An introduction to...

Agnieszka Grulkowska

Bargaining UnitAsst.

pcs union midlands regional newsline winter 2012

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