DWP has today declared 140 AA staff surplus. Managers will be holding meetings the AAs today who are directly affected.
The AAs being declared surplus today are spread over all parts of DWP Operations, but the two areas with the largest numbers are Pensions with 59 and Network Services with 46.
DWP maintains that the numbers of AA staff that they require is continually reducing due to new processes and increased digitalisation. They also say that the reductions in DWP staffing budgets has forced them to make work processes more ‘efficient’ that has led them to designing AA roles out of some parts of Operations. In practice this means making more senior grades do the AA role as well as their own.
PCS has made it clear to DWP management that we oppose making any AA staff surplus, not just because we want to protect the jobs of our members, but also because it is simply unnecessary. We believe that there remains more than enough work for all of the AAs in DWP and that, with a little flexibility on their part, management could easily find appropriate AA work for everyone.
AA numbers reducing
The numbers of AAs in DWP has reduced rapidly in recent months. 711 AAs left DWP last March under the Voluntary Exit Scheme and a further 460 have been successful in the recent AA to AO promotion exercise. As a result the total numbers of AAs in DWP has reduced to around 1,300.
The numbers of AAs in DWP has reduced rapidly in recent months. 711 AAs left DWP last March under the Voluntary Exit Scheme and a further 460 have been successful in the recent AA to AO promotion exercise. As a result the total numbers of AAs in DWP has reduced to around 1,300.
This sudden loss of AAs has in some areas created significant AA shortages, particularly in the Benefits Directorate, to the extent that AAs have had to be transferred into those areas. In one office where a lot of AAs left, their work has even been given to Work Experience Placements, completely contrary to DWP rules on how such placements should be deployed.
PCS suggests alternative options
PCS has made a series of suggestions to DWP as to how the remaining AA staff could productively be deployed and so avoid anyone being made surplus. While some of these have been taken up by DWP, such as moving more AAs into Benefits, other PCS suggestions have not been taken up.
PCS has made a series of suggestions to DWP as to how the remaining AA staff could productively be deployed and so avoid anyone being made surplus. While some of these have been taken up by DWP, such as moving more AAs into Benefits, other PCS suggestions have not been taken up.
This is extremely disappointing. If DWP had been prepared to show the small amount of flexibility and imagination that PCS proposed, then there would be no need for a single AA to be declared surplus today.
Surplus Status
Being surplus means that staff have priority in applying for vacancies in DWP and, importantly it also provides for priority in applying for vacancies in other civil service departments. Management are keen for the AAs who are being declared surplus to consider doing this, though they cannot be forced to do so. Management have told PCS that, in some areas at least, there are some AA vacancies in other government departments that may provide a long term role for our AA members.
Being surplus means that staff have priority in applying for vacancies in DWP and, importantly it also provides for priority in applying for vacancies in other civil service departments. Management are keen for the AAs who are being declared surplus to consider doing this, though they cannot be forced to do so. Management have told PCS that, in some areas at least, there are some AA vacancies in other government departments that may provide a long term role for our AA members.
Threats of compulsory redundancy?
DWP have repeatedly told PCS that declaring these AAs surplus today is not a precursor to commencing meaningful consultation for compulsory redundancy. They maintain that is being done primarily to give them priority in applying for AA jobs, particularly in other departments.
DWP have repeatedly told PCS that declaring these AAs surplus today is not a precursor to commencing meaningful consultation for compulsory redundancy. They maintain that is being done primarily to give them priority in applying for AA jobs, particularly in other departments.
They have also stressed that they will do everything they can to find long term positions for the AAs, both within DWP and in other departments.
However, having said this, they have also said that DWP is not able to give a commitment they would never move to meaningful consultation on compulsory redundancy for these AA members.
However, having said this, they have also said that DWP is not able to give a commitment they would never move to meaningful consultation on compulsory redundancy for these AA members.
There is no doubt that being declared surplus is very unsettling and stressful for the members involved. Given what DWP have told PCS the possibility of meaningful consultation for compulsory redundancy at some point in the future cannot be ruled out. It is particularly frustrating that management have decided to move to surplus status given that, in PCS’ view, there is more than enough AA work for the relatively small numbers of staff who are being declared surplus. Surely an organisation of the size of DWP can find work for 140 AAs.
PCS is of course absolutely committed to doing everything possible to defend the jobs of our AA members. PCS has an excellent record of avoiding compulsory redundancies where these have been threatened before. Members can be assured that PCS remains as determined as ever to ensure all of our AA members, who want to continue their career in the civil service, are able to do so.
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