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/
