Why you should vote yes in the
DWP Strike Ballot
As
you should have received your strike ballot over the announcement of compulsory
redundancies in the DWP its worth looking here at the issues. In the DWP it’s always been the case in the
past that there have not been compulsory redundancies but with this fanatical
anti public service government it’s clear they intend to try and set a new
precedent.
So
what’s the likely outcome if we do nothing? It’s very clear this is testing the
water for much larger numbers of compulsory redundancies later. So its
important people understand we need to stop this now otherwise in the not too
distant future a redundancy notice could be coming your way soon.
Like
the Pensions dispute which we in PCS
are still fighting two other union leaders caved after just one day who shall
remain nameless, this gave the government the confidence to come after us all,
your reps for example are facing massive cuts in facility time and there are
increasing reports of harassment of reps in other areas, and of course not to
forget the attack on terms and conditions.
It’s
important we need to draw a line in the sand while we can delay and hold off
some attacks there is no guarantee under a labour government that these will be
reversed given they support many aspects austerity as well, and look at how
they failed to reverse the anti union laws and the housing issue they ignored
for 13 years not to mention all the other issues. That’s why it’s important to fight back now
and send a clear message to any new incoming government.
We
would further put the case it’s no good calling action off just because the
government want to pretend to negotiate; action should and must continue even
if they request to talk only when a serious proposal is on the table not a
token gesture should we suspend action.
In
fact the latest news on Ministers is it appears they actually are refusing to
talk to us on the Independent Living fund minister Ms Mcvey commented.
I firmly believe that
it is incumbent upon each and every once of us, individually and as a society
to do all we can to increase disabled people’s dependence,
Then
she went on to announce the scrapping of the Independent living fund she then
informed PCS she is too busy to
meet us even though we represent 80,000 staff in her department, Similar to
this was Mark Hoban diary coincidently full, He told our industrial officer
Miranda Harr he is unable to meet up to discuss key issues such as the new
sanctions regime, concerns over privatisation, resources digitalisation and its
impact on our members.
This
of course is on top of transport minister’s refusal to meet us to receive a
72,000 named petition. All these
examples just add to the case for strong radical resistance to these attacks.
Latest Announcement
Running
alongside the compulsory redundancy issue is the latest attack on your rights,
by cutting the notice period for redundancies halved to 45 days. Mark Serwotka
the General Secretary commented
While handling tax breaks to millionaires this Tory
led government has announced policy after policy designed to make it easier and
quicker the throw ordinary people out of work, and then ministers seek to blame
them for being unemployed,
“Given almost everyone can now see that austerity
isn’t working, instead of these policies of despair and division we need
investment in our economy and our public services to create jobs and
opportunities to help our communities.
The Truth behind the government’s ideological rhetoric
is that undermining peoples basic employment rights will not create a single
job and will do nothing to improve our economy.
Just
to note on employment rights and general Human rights the government is
currently trying to pass an act of parliament called Rights for Shares
basically it’s a bribe another way of eroding our rights by dangling a carrot
in front of people to sign away their rights for small shares in company’s
which are not guaranteed anyway given the unstable stock market.
If we care about the
future their can only be one vote yes to strike action and yes to action short
off strike action.
PCS DWP Head Office Sheffield
Branch
20th November 2012
Home briefing End of year message from Mark & Janice
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