PCS members at the EHRC are fighting plans to cut 50 posts from its public helpline, and close the Manchester helpline altogether, where 36 highly trained staff are at risk of losing their jobs.Helpline and knowledge staff would be reduced from 115 to 65 staff, with a planned restructure in Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. All staff would have to compete for jobs - no-one’s job would be safe. The plan was kept secret from the union until a 90 statutory notice of formal redundancy consultation was served on the union on 12 February, the day after staff were informed. This was a bombshell.
Helpline workers are the lowest paid in the EHRC, but they provide an essential public service advising ordinary people of their rights if they are suffering from discrimination at work or in society.
Since the recession has deepened calls to the helpline have increased, particularly from workers facing redundancy because they are on maternity leave, are disabled, black or have caring responsibilities.
Voluntary advice bodies are already struggling to cope with increased demand as the recession bites, employment tribunal claims are rocketing and there is no legal aid available. The EHRC helpline is an essential public service.
The plans come at the same time as Harriet Harman urging women to seek advice on their employment rights, as well as James Purnell looking at whether minority groups are suffering disproportionately in the recession.
The EHRC’s first response to the recession was to produce a pamphlet for small businesses on how to follow the “right processes” when making staff redundant. (But not how to retain them!)
In contrast, until recently the EHRC has refused to advertise its public helpline. A recent promotion on a small part of the service has shown call volumes triple, yet this has been ignored in the plans to cut the service.
A full Equality Impact Assessment of the proposals has not been completed, in breach of the equality duties to which the EHRC is subject. EHRC is the statutory body charged with enforcing the equality duties - so who enforces the enforcer?
Stakeholder groups, service users and staff opinions and expertise have not been sought when drawing up the proposals to cut jobs and the service.
PCS at the EHRC is well organised with a very high membership. There have been angry union meetings at every EHRC site, and we shall ballot immediately for strike action if even one redundancy is announced. A public campaign has already been launched.
We work for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. We believe in fairness. Our employers don't.
What you can do?
Raise in your trade union, community group, equality group, and ask them to complain to Trevor Phillips at EHRC, Harriet Harman, Minister for Women, Maria Eagle, Equalities Minister, and Hazel Blears (Salford MP and minister with responsibility for race equality).
Write to your MP and ask them to sign the Early Day Motion (to be laid in the House of Commons next week).
Refer people to our helpline. The contact details are: Telephone: 0845 604 6610; Textphone: 0845 604 6620, Email: info@equalityhumanrights.com
