Polls

It would appear that the polling facility available with this blog doesn't work too well for people on DOI machines. Therefore I have removed the poll started last week. Apologies to anyone who tried to use take part but had problems.

National Ballot on Job Security – Protocols

The Branch held a workplace meeting on the 14th August at which Mike Jones from PCS gave the GEC’s position of support for a ‘Yes’ vote in the ongoing ballot over job security.
In brief, there are two related aspects to what has been agreed.
Firstly, greater job security for all those employed in the civil service and related organisations. For the first time we have a formal and binding national agreement between the government and PCS which significantly reduces the risk that any of our members will be forced out of employment.
Any member who is declared surplus but wishes to continue to work in the Civil Service or associated areas will be made an alternative job offer.
Those under threat in one department will take priority when there are vacancies in other departments.
We do not have an absolute guarantee of job security. But the agreement will provide strong protection from compulsory redundancy. PCS remains opposed to any compulsory redundancies and the national executive committee has restated its intention to reconvene and decide on further industrial action should and compulsory redundancy notices be issued.
Secondly: more protection for those whose work is threatened from privatisation or outsourcing.
Now, for the first time, we have national guidance on good practice for dealing with staff where their functions are being outsourced or privatised. Departments will have to consult with PCS and make attempts to avoid transferring staff to a private employer who intends to make them compulsorily redundant. Departments will also have to justify any decision not to consider in-house bids.
Because we now have a formal agreement PCS is entitled to be consulted about how the protocols are being implemented, and we will be fully involved in reviewing their effectiveness.
The details of the Protocols can be found on the PCS website, http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/

VOTE 'YES' FOR JOB SECURITY

PCS Members Meeting, Thursday 14th August at 10:00am, in TOMMIES.

PCS has been campaigning over job security, privatisation, pay and working conditions.
We have reached an important national agreement with the Cabinet Office on stronger protection from compulsory redundancy for our members in the civil service and related organisations.

We have organised a meeting to discuss what the agreement means to you and why you should vote 'YES' for greater job security. All members ballot runs from 6th August to 1st September 2008.

At the meeting there will be an update on your pay, and Mike Jones National Organiser for PCS will be at the meeting to answer any of your questions.

Facility time has been applied for.

Update on non-industrial performance related pay

We are pleased to confirm that the Department has received authorisation from the Treasury to pay the performance awards (the bonus) for 2008.

The payment will be made with August salaries, providing that Award decisions have been inputted to HRMS. Members should therefore ensure that their performance award outcome is recorded on HRMS.

All those in receipt of a Performance Award will also receive the additional £100 one-off payment.

Values of the awards will be included in a desk circular in the following days.

Apologies

Apologies for the lack of activity on the blog over the recent weeks. There has been so much stuff worthy of comment that I've been in the throws of some sort of apoplexic siezure blog wise. Hopefully there will be plenty of updates over the course of next week.
Please feel free to use the comment facility to request information/comment/policy on pertinent issues.