Update on talks with SSCL
Our key demands – stop the
clock!
Members are very angry, concerned and have many questions for SSCL on the redundancy and site closure programme. PCS are in talks with Steria doing our best to get answers to member’s questions and ensuring that job protocols aimed at avoiding compulsory redundancy are followed.
We have sent a letter to SSCL
setting out our key demands of no compulsory redundancies, no off shoring, and
no site closures. So far we do not believe consultation has been meaningful
because SSCL decided at the outset what sites they intended to close. For
consultation to be meaningful SSCL need to halt what they are doing and put the
timetable back.
Stop the clock! We need the
time to thoroughly explore all alternatives to compulsory redundancy. At the
moment SSCL, because they have such a rushed timetable, are not acting in the
spirit of the special protocol we have in place designed to avoid compulsory
redundancy.
Steria is a large French
multinational the idea that financial constraints and the needs of share
holders prevent the timetable being put back are ridiculous. They can afford to
put on hold their site closure programme and they should do it so that we can
find alternative work for all those who want it.
PCS has written to SSCL setting
out our key demands. If we do not get a positive response to our letter PCS
will be in dispute with SSCL.
The talks so far
PCS secured a special agreement
with the Cabinet Office and DWP, Defra and HMRC before transfer which allowed
for staff in a redundancy situation to be redeployed back into the civil
service. PCS have been working on the logistics of this to make sure it
happens. Staff are supposed to be able to access civil service jobs at stage
two of the recruitment process. Some members are saying they still can’t access
these jobs; we need to know of any problems so please speak to your rep.
immediately if you have any problems.
As a compulsory redundancy
avoidance measure PCS have secured a voluntary exit scheme (VE) and then
following on from that a voluntary redundancy scheme (VR). This means that
staff who have decided to leave can do so right away and take VE, but, those
who want to attempt redeployment have an opportunity to do so without losing
the chance to opt for voluntary redundancy further down the line.
Or at least this is how it
should work. The problem is that the gap between the VE closing, which is 24
March and the VR scheme opening is way too short; applications for VR open on
the 28 March and close on the 17 April. Will we ask for confirmation of these
dates at our next meeting but this is what we believe
to be the case. This is far too soon and does not allow for a long enough
period for staff to attempt redeployment before the window for VR ends.
SSCL want those opting for
voluntary redundancy to have left SSCL by 31 July 2014 (there will be some
exceptions to this if a member of staff is needed for longer). PCS do not
accept this timeline.
If SSCL are serious about
wanting to avoid compulsory redundancies they will extend their timescales to
allow for a thorough going process of re-instatement or re-employment back into
the civil service, for redundancy swaps to be organised or for staff to
relocate or work out travel arrangements to a new site, if that’s what people
want.
The VE scheme
PCS set out a number of things
we want for the voluntary exit scheme, these are; early access to your pension
benefit if you are over 50 or 55 depending on which pension scheme you are a
member of; staff who are paid under £23,000 to have their packages calculated
as if they are earning £23,000; and waving the two year qualifying period. PCS
have so far secured the first two of these; SSCL are currently looking at and
considering further waving the two year qualifying period. We meet again this
week and as soon as we have an answer to this we will inform members. PCS also
asked SSCL to increase the tariff rate for VE redundancy payments but that has
so far been refused.
Timetable
PCS will continue to challenge
SSCL on their timetable not just because staff need time to look for
alternative employment but also because My CSP won't be geared up to provide
quotes due to their back log.
Redundancy selection
criteria
SSCL shared with us their
redundancy selection criteria. PCS will discuss this with them again at our
next meeting. So far SSCL have opened up applications for the VE scheme to all
staff but those whose roles which are considered business critical will not get
redundancy or their exit will be timed for a later date. PCS will update
members fully on the redundancy selection criteria after our next meeting.
Questions from members
Our attempts to push back
SSCL’s timetable will continue as will the campaign to protect jobs. We also
recognise that members have questions that they need answered. If members have
any other questions please contact your rep.
How will exit packages be
calculated?
They will be calculated in the
normal way through My CSP. Staff will have had their pension statements through
recently and this should form the basis of what they would receive under an
exit package; members should use the calculators to give them an estimate of
what they will receive. Please see the Attached
information sheet explaining the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
Should I wait for voluntary
redundancy (VR) rather than opt for voluntary exit (VE) now?
Members will have to decide if
they leave now and take VE or wait a little longer to test out whether they can
secure alternative employment back into the civil service. At the moment for
those opting for VR their last day of service will be the 31 July 2014. As
already stated there will be some exceptions to this; some staff will stay
longer for business reasons.
Do we have confirmation of
reinstatement terms as opposed to returning as a new starter?
Yes. The special protocol which
PCS secured on the eve of transfer to SSCL sets out clearly that staff will be
re-instated or re-employed back into the civil service. Re-instatement means
returning to the civil service at the same grade as before and re-employment
means returning at a higher or lower grade. In both cases staff will be treated
as if there has been no break in service.
Do we have a time scale for
VE and VR? How much gap is there in between the two schemes?
We do have a timescale for the
VE and VR schemes but PCS does not accept this timescale. As stated above we
are trying to get a longer period between the launch of the VE scheme and the
VR scheme. We want the VR scheme to remain open longer than is currently
planned. At the moment the gap between the VE scheme closing and the VR scheme
opening is just four days. This is just too short and we are challenging it.
What is the difference
between VE and VR?
With a VE scheme the employer
can name the day staff leave and the employer does not have to give the three
month notice period set out in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme for VR.
The employer can also use some discretion in a VE scheme in terms of
calculating redundancy payments at £23,000 salary for those earning below that.
Will individuals get written
notice that they are in surplus/redundancy situation?
We don’t know the answer to
this yet but will ask SSCL what they intend to do when we meet them and report
back to members.
Is the whole of SSCL the
redundancy unit?
Yes the whole of SSCL is the
redundancy unit. All staff at closing sites will be able to apply for VE and VR
and will get it except for business critical roles or least this is what we
understand to be the case. We will ask SSCL to confirm this when we next meet.
We will be discussing what business critical means with SSCL in more detail.
Staff at sites which are not earmarked for closure will also be able to apply
for redundancy.
Do staff at Newcastle,
Blackpool, York and Alnwick have the same rights to apply for jobs as staff at
Cardiff and Sheffield?
Yes
they do as the redundancy unit is the whole of SSCL. These sites are not
completely secure because if SSCL win new contracts their site rationalisation
programme could change. Alnwick has a temporary reprieve until next June and is
reliant on new work being sent there. The York site will be relocated elsewhere
in York.
Please read this briefing
carefully and if you have any unanswered questions please contact us. Pass this
briefing to non-members and ask them to join PCS. Follow the links below
Sign up to our shared services face book page
Come to your local union
meeting
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