The action on 30 June was at that point the best ever supported by PCS MoD members. Today, we have eclipsed that and by some margin. From myself as group secretary, can I thank every single member of our group who took action today.
Below are some reports from MoD establishments throughout the country with the same message repeating itself over and over again – very few, if many PCS members went to work in the MoD today. Indeed, we signed up numerous new PCS members either on the picket lines today or in the days preceding today’s action. Reps saw a particular swell in membership after the Chancellor once again attacked public sector workers yesterday.
From the feedback we have had from picket lines at almost every main MoD location, we estimate that in excess of 15,000 members have taken action today and supported our union and the wider labour and trade union movement in the fight for fair pensions.
Across the country, we have been part of a three million strong band of brothers and sisters who have told this government that enough is enough. Your action today will send a clear message to the government that our union will not allow them to tear up our contracted pension entitlements without a fight.
In the coming days, we will get full details of all the picket lines across the Ministry of Defence. The following is just a quick snapshot of what has happened today –
Merseyside – Only 14 went into work and none of these were members.
Leconfield - 60 members on 2 picket lines. Virtually closed the whole establishment staff car parks virtually empty.
Yorkshire – Picket lines at five different sites, reps reported that no members had crossed the picket line on 4 out of these 5 sites.
Bath – Picket lines at all 3 sites with Ensleigh reporting hardly anybody at work. DBS management board was changed at last minute from Imphal barracks in York because they heard we would have a strong picket line there. They held the meeting at Foxhill and were met with an equally strong picket line!
Scotland West - 5 picket lines. Kentigern House – 1 member went in out of over 600 members (99.8% out). 20 pickets at Faslane who stopped every car and caused gridlock around Faslane. At Coulport, it was only contractor staff and they had to be kept in the canteen all day for health and safety reasons. The march in Glasgow had in excess of 20,000 trade unionists marching, more than 5 times the STUC expected.
Cosford – 60+ on the picket line, the place “was virtually deserted” PCS, Prospect and NASUWT members there.
Cheadle Hulme - 10 on the picket line Approx 97% of the site out.
West Midlands - 2 picket lines. 95% support. At Donnington we had 60 pickets at one entrance and 150 at the other.
Salisbury Plain – 4 picket lines with 34 pickets in attendance.
Greater London – St Georges Court closed. Joint picket lines at Main Building with Prospect and FDA, “Significantly less people crossed the picket line than in June 2011”. Chinese television and Spanish TV filmed the pickets.
Abbeywood –Picket lines set up jointly with Prospect and Unite on several gates. Estimate that it is about 75% out with 40 pickets. Avon and Somerset constabulary had to order the MoD to open the gates after members did not turn up for work. Gridlock almost reached the M4 and took hours to clear.
Rallies have been held all over the country and addressed by hundreds of speakers to literally millions of trade unionists striking, but I wanted to finish by quoting a teaching union rep who spoke at one of the rallies today –
“They want us to work longer, pay more and get less – GET STUFFED”
It may not be the most eloquent statement ever made, but it is straight to the point and I think it sums up exactly the mood of the three million plus public service workers today. Once again, many thanks to every PCS member in our group who has taken action today. You have made a stand and should rightly be proud of yourself by doing so.
Bob Rollings
PCS DSg Group Secretary
