DWP Union News

6 January 2012

The latest news for members in DWP and CMEC.

Sticking together to win on pensions in 2012

PCS has stood firm over the government’s latest attempts to get us to agree to work longer, pay more and get less on our pensions. Several Unions meet in the next few weeks to decide their position. UNITE voted this week unanimously to reject the offer in their Health Sector. UNISON meet next week. The PCS National Executive also meets next week to decide the next steps in our campaign plan.
The government has tried to drive a wedge between private and public sector workers over pensions. It has not worked. No one believes our pensions are gold plated and no one believes they are not affordable either.
The public support our campaign – everyone wants a decent pension. No one wants to work until they drop or to live out their days in pensioner poverty. Unilever reps meet this week to call more pensions strikes. Shell workers have reacted furiously at the announcement that their final salary pension scheme will close. Private and public sector workers can win on pensions if we stick together.

Merseyside needs more staff

PCS members across Merseyside Jobcentres are being balloted for strike action this week in a row over staffing. It is clear that more staff are needed there, as in many parts of the Country. Instead managers are compulsorily transferring staff from one office to another to try and address the problem. PCS is arguing that the real solution is more staff. Permanently transferring staff is not the answer and just shifts the problem about.

Proud Scousers

Members in Liverpool are rightly proud of the service they deliver and protective of their customers. Merseyside has experienced hard times in its history and recent revelations in Cabinet Office papers released under the 30 year rule show it has not always been treated fairly. PCS members are determined that now they will get the staffing levels they need to deliver the services people depend upon across Merseyside. Rightly so – full support to them.

Good news on staffing in DWP

For many months PCS has argued that instead of shedding staff, DWP should be staffed up to help to deal with the effects of rising unemployment. We have also argued consistently that all of the hard working loyal FTA staff who helped to get us out of the last recession are still very much needed and should be made permanent.
PCS therefore welcomes Terry Moran’s message to all staff today confirming the intention of DWP to recruit at least an additional 4,000 permanent staff and to start by making all EO Band C Staff permanent.

Permanent jobs for Band B FTAs

It is very clear that we need all the staff we have and more. PCS is demanding that all Band B FTA staff are now given permanent jobs too.

Promotion needed

All DWP staff have gained vital experience during the last few difficult years. PCS are demanding promotion exercises for Band A to Band B and Band B to Band C to help fill those vacancies quickly. We must take on extra permanent staff to help get people into work quicker and take thousands off the dole queue at the same time. All our FTAs who have reverted or lost their jobs should be contacted and offered reinstatement.

No compulsory redundancies

It is essential that we now take on more staff. This will be a great relief to all surplus staff who should now see their future guaranteed in DWP. PCS is now demanding that management give a no compulsory guarantee to all DWP staff who are desperately needed.

Together we can win