TUC Rally - 18.10.14

PCS NW Regional Office has supplied the following information:

The TUC is calling for a huge march and rally in London on Saturday 18 October 2014 to support our claim that: BritainNeeds A Pay Rise.

As you would expect PCS is fully supporting the demonstration and we will again be looking to arrange transport to the event from various locations across the North West.

Inevitably places will be strictly limited and allocated on a first come first served basis - once again, more details will follow as soon as we have a clearer idea of what is available.

Regards

Lee Hammond

Administrator

PCS North West

If you would like to attend the rally please contact

us in the Branch office on x62858 or email us.

Civil Service-Wide Overtime Ban

OVERTIME BAN FROM 11TH JULY TO 31ST JULY 2014.

The purpose of this post is to inform members of the overtime ban following on from the PCS strike action across the Civil Service and many other Public Sector areas on the 10th July 2014 that there is now a Civil Service wide overtime ban in place from 11th July to 31st July 2014.

Across the UK, pay cuts have damaged the economy and caused real hardship for millions of people. If pay had kept pace with inflation, average civil service pay would be £2,300 higher than it is now. But the government has announced that the pay cap will continue in 2014 and 2015 and possibly beyond.

PCS have submitted a pay claim to the Cabinet Office, which seeks a £1,200 or 5% pay increase. Further details of the claim are set out below.

PCS have sought central talks on our claim. Now is the time for members to get behind this campaign as we go from strength to strength in challenging the government’s low pay agenda. Working with other unions the joint action on 10th July 2014 is only be the beginning, with targeted action and potentially more joint union action, as well as a mass TUC-organised protest on 18 October 2014.

PCS has submitted a pay claim for 2014 demanding:

• An end to the government imposed pay freeze/cap
• A Minimum 5% or £1,200 consolidated pay increase
• Short pay scales and pay progression as a right for all staff
• Closing the pay gaps within and across departments
• No discriminatory performance pay
• The Living Wage to underpin all pay policies and contract

SUPPORT THE CIVIL SERVICE-WIDE OVERTIME BAN UNTIL 31st JULY 2014

Diredt Debit - Make the Switch

Important Information – Please take a few minutes to read this.

 

PCS is asking all members to sign up to pay their union subscriptions by Direct Debit. Currently almost all of you have your union subs deducted from your salary.

This is called ‘check off’

 

OK but why do it now?

Because the government is threatening to end check off and we have to be ready and not caught on the hop. Because 97% of our 260,000 members pay their union subs by check off it is how the union gets its money to represent and campaign for you. If check off is stopped we must have a quick ready way of collecting your subs. PCS must be financially independent and free to represent you. 

PCS will keep your details safe and secure

PCS already holds a lot of personal details about you as part of your membership records. We keep all personal data completely secure and confidential. PCS has signed up to the legally binding Direct Debit Guarantee scheme to give you data protection financial security. It is no different from any other Direct Debit you have for insurance, gas or electric. 

What will happen once I have sign up to DD

PCS HQ will upload your direct debit details onto the PCS computer system alongside all of the other details we already hold for you. But your direct debit won’t be activated until the removal of ‘check off’ is notified to us by the DWP or PCS nationally decides. You will not have two deductions in one month; PCS will ensure all payments are correct. You will be told when DD will begin.

Is it easy to do?

YES you can do it quickly by going to the PCS website and do it on line - there is a contact number if you get stuck but it is very easy to do (and quick).

Why should I stay in PCS

Because being in the union means you are protected. If you have to have an interview about your sick record PCS will help you. If you are not happy about your appraisal report PCS will help you. The union offers legal advice and an excellent personal injury compensation scheme in case you or a member of your family has an accident at work or at home. But these benefits are only for union members.

Because being in the union means you have a strong voice at work. Strike action won improvements in DWP contact centres. Just a YES vote for strike action forced the DWP to drop the threat of compulsory redundancies. PCS won over £1 million pounds for fixed term staff made redundant by the DWP. Every time we campaign and take action we win improvements. Because PCS is now campaigning for fair pay for us all.