Branch report back from Conference

Privatisation Shared Services

Our own Shared Services Motion was passed and now the campaign will begin we will be holding members meetings within the next few weeks. We also held a fringe meeting with other branches and groups affected by the privatisation plans in Shared Services.  One Motion was guillotined due to time but all our other motions where carried.

Occupations and Benefit Sanctions

These are the two items where I think we’ve really turned a corner. Group motion 192, moved by Bootle Taxes Branch and focussing on the campaign against office closures, includes the paragraph:

Conference further instructs the GEC to support members at affected offices who take independent action, including occupations such as those undertaken by factory workers at Visteon in 2009 and MMP in 2012. Such support should include, where possible, Group-wide strikes and industrial action short of strike.

Our sanction Motion along with another branch with a similar one was originally x marked that means it won’t be heard in this case it was deemed being illegal however we looked at it again and supported this motion that was re worded, Motion A533 with this important paragraph.

Conference instructs the NEC to work with the DWP GEC to explore the possibility of including non-cooperation with benefit sanctions in the next ballot for industrial action which arises from an appropriate and legitimate trade dispute with DWP management.


Both these two motions show a new level of solidarity and militancy both very welcome when you look at other certain public sector unions


We are now in a position to seriously consider much more disruptive action to supplement the next action


On Merger with Unite

There was a very passionate but comradely debate on this one. During the course of the debate there concerns raised about Unite’s political ties with the Labour Party and the danger that we could be subsumed in to their structures and lose some of our democratic autonomy.


One speaker raised the issue of some Unite branches being wound up at short notice with no consultation and the Branch Secretaries being notfied by letter once the decision had been made.
Others pointed out that as part of Unite we could join with their current public sector members and organise a larger fight against austerity.


Both sides of the argument raised good points but for me personally, and a few of the speakers, the most telling part of one of the motion (A30) was this line:


Conference believes that, ultimately, the test to be applied to any merger proposals is the extent to which they can assist our members in fighting to defend their jobs, pensions, pay and public services against the Tory/Lib Dem government’s brutal and damaging cuts programme


Note it does not mention fighting Labours austerity plans
Anyway, the other motion which was passed, A31, does make some very clear and specific demands that have to be adhered to if Unite were to approach us. This was a very tight vote, indeed it went to a card vote, and is likely to remain contentious. Motions can be view on the main PCS website People performance Must Improve, must go

Delegates spoke with passion and anger over this one
Motion A18, moved by Revenue and Customs Criminal Justice Branch, described the move as ‘a real threat to the job security of our members’.


Managers would now be required to rate staff through a moderating process that would require them to find about 10% of staff who would fall into the ‘Must Improve’ category.

Speaking in support, Ian Pope of South East Essex revenue branch, said: “This is yet another attack by a hostile employer. It’s time to bite back. Let’s stop the bullying and let’s fight this together.”
He explained that in the workplace many managers themselves didn’t understand the system and were upset by the demands it put on them. 

It was also explained that the 10% move was affecting minorities disproportionately, and that some people were being ‘despicably targeted’ simply because their face didn’t fit and they didn’t go for drinks with colleagues.

A ballot will be held for ‘blanket non-co-operation’ with the policy.

  Other issued debated

• Performance Management,
• Office closures,
• Enquiry Centre closures,
• Mental Health training for HMRC managers,
• Reducing national working hours to match London’s,
• Industrial action strategy

 ADC Reports