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PRESS RELEASE – PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE ACTION ON 10TH JULY 2014

Letterhead/format: Internal BA​Appendix 1

Public and Commercial Services Union

PCS WIGAN BRANCH Branch Secretary: Steve Finch DWP Brocol House, 73 King Street, Wigan WN1 1EB.

PRESS RELEASE – PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE ACTION ON 10TH JULY 2014

On Thursday 10th July over 1.5 million workers will be taking strike action across the UK. Firemen,Health workers, teachers, lecturers, council workers, tube staff, immigration and passport staff, job centres and courts will be united to take part in in strike action on a mass scale. The 24 hour strike action covers the industrial issue of the public sector pay cap, changes to pensions and cuts to the public sector which affect every single member of the public who rely on its services.

There has been a suppression of wages in both the public and private sector and relentless driving down of living standards. Public sector workers have lost up to 20% of the value of their wages since the crash in 2008. Some public sector workers have been on an effective pay freeze for eight years.

Inequality in our society is deepening. 23% of working age adults are living in poverty - the highest level since 2000 and an average household incomes are down 8.5% in real terms since 2009/10. The bottom four-fifths are worse off in the last year – only the top 20% are slightly better off. However, since 1999 the minimum wage has increased by 75%, but top executive’s pay is up 380%. In 1998, directors’ pay was 40 times the average worker, now it’s 140 times as much.

This is in the context of the dismantling and privatisation of the NHS and Royal Mail, and introduction of much harsher benefit regimes which punish the sick and unemployed.

PCS believes that Britain needs a payrise. Current wages cannot keep up with the cost of living. After four years of a pay freeze and cap, with PCS members paying more into their occupational pensions, some have seen our incomes fall by 20%. Unequal pay is rife, with some paid £3,000 than their colleagues doing similar work in the same department and women paid up to 14% less than men. The so called economic recovery is not being felt by ordinary working men and women.

Steve Finch, PCS DWP Wigan Branch Secretary said “The meagre economic recovery is only benefiting the rich. The richest 1,000 people in the country increased their wealth last year by enough to give every working person a £2,000 pay rise. We need a recovery for everyone. Our members regularly tell us ‘there is not enough month left at the end of the money’. Enough is enough. Politicians of all parties say there is less money around but this is nonsense. The energy companies are taking it in higher bills, the rail companies with higher fares, landlords with higher rents, and banks and tax dodging companies are hoarding it in tax havens. These attacks all stem from the same source, the government. So in order to defeat them we must stick together and coordinate a joint response through taking strike action together – and keep taking until we win.”

Note to Editors:

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There are over 3500 union members from over 20 unions taking strike action in Wigan area on 10th July in unions representing health workers, council staff, jobcentre and courts staff etc.

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Picket lines will be at Wigan Jobcentre (King St), Makerfield Benefit Centre (Bryn),Leigh Jobcentre (Windermere Rd), Atherton Jobcentre (Market St) from 7.30am to 9.30am

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Following picket lines there will be a rally in the Market Place, Wigan town centre from11am to 12.30pm 

PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES Union

Wigan strike rally - 10 July

ALL OUT - July 10

Our general secretary Mark Serwotka is addressing a large rally in London on the day 1.5 million public sector workers are striking to demand fair pay.

Across the UK, pay cuts have damaged the economy and caused real hardship for millions of people. If pay had kept pace with inflation, average civil service pay would be £2,300 higher than it is now. But the government has announced that the pay cap will continue in 2014 and 2015 and possibly beyond.

We have submitted a pay claim to the Cabinet Office, which seeks a £1,200or 5% pay increase. We have sought central talks on our claim. Now is the time to get behind this campaign as we go from strength to strength in challenging the government’s low pay agenda. Working with other unions to take joint action on 10 July will only be the beginning, with targeted action and potentially more joint union action, as well as a mass TUC-organised protest on 18 October.

PCS members have voted to join members of other public sector unions in walking out on 10 July, in one of the biggest UK strikes for decades, including:

• Unite
• GMB
• Unison
• NUT
• FBU
• Nipsa.

Many public sector workers are facing the tightest living standards squeeze for nearly a century.

Members have voted to take action for fair pay, alongside colleagues from other unions, including teachers and local government workers.

There is also an overtime ban from 11-31 July.

Oppose the attacks

The event in Trafalgar Square is one of dozens taking place across the UK, from Edinburgh to Norwich, Wrexham to Plymouth and Glasgow to Birmingham.

London march and rally details: 

• Assemble at 11.30am, BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place
• March at noon to rally in Trafalgar Square from 1–2pm.

If you're a PCS member show you refuse to accept the attacks on your pay by striking on 10 July, or if you're not and would like to support the strike join amarch or rally near you. 

What can I do?

• Use the PCS pay squeeze calculator
• Recruit a colleague to PCS 
• Sign up for direct debit.

#WeAllNeedAPayRise  

#J10 

DWP begin formal negotiations on ending check off

The DWP have contacted PCS to open formal negotiations and consult the union about the possibility of ending check off.

Until now our concern about the threat of the withdrawal of check off has been based on the government’s continuing attack on PCS and cabinet office pressure on departments to end check off. However, the opening of formal negotiations by the DWP now makes the threat much greater.  

Make it your priority
Those members who have so far taken the view that they will not make the switch to direct debit a priority until the DWP say they are ending check off must now give their full support to the make the switch to DD campaign.

Failure to have direct debit details set up should check off end will result in your membership of the union lapsing and the union will not be a position to help should you need it.

Now more than ever in recent times staff are facing treats from management.

Contact Centre staff are being threatened with PIP's following customer claimplaints of rudeness, only for it to come to light when challenged the claimplaints not been fully investigated and staff have done no wrong.

Staff in jobcentres are being threatened with PIP's for not meeting sanctions targets that apparently don't exist.

NOW is the time to complete your direct debit details if you've not done already. Speak to a rep for a form, call PCS directly or complete the action online. Your details will be held securely.

Whistleblower predicts troubled start for new universal credit

A WHISTLEBLOWER inside one of the government’s pilot centres for universal credit has warned how numerous errors will make a smooth introduction of the new system “highly unlikely”.

Full story here...
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11308778.Whistleblower_predicts_troubled_start_for_new_universal_credit_system/?ref=rss#comments

Striking for fair pay on 10 July

Our national executive took the decision today to back joint action with other unions, following an overwhelming 73.7% yes vote of those who voted in a consultative ballot, which ended yesterday, asking members to back our 'We all need a pay rise campaign,' starting with a 1-day strike on 10 July.
The campaign will continue after 10 July with targeted action and potentially more joint union action.
We have sought central talks on our national pay claim of:
£1,200 or 5% for all civil service and related staff
We must force the government to end the pay cap, to succeed with it.
We have an existing industrial action mandate but our annual delegate conference in Brighton in May agreed to ask our members to vote 'yes' in a consultative ballot on our national campaign running from 12-30 June.
Strength of feeling
Members have voted to take action for fair pay, alongside colleagues from other unions, including teachers and local government workers. NHS workers and others will be balloting for joint action in the autumn.
Now it’s time to show your strength of feeling by joining one of the largest strikes for decades on 10 July:
End the government’s pay freeze
Win a fair settlement on our pay claim.
We have been campaigning for meaningful national negotiations on pay, jobs, and terms and conditions. Sending a clear, united message on 10 July is the best way to put pressure on the government to come to a fair settlement.
What can I do?
Show you refuse to accept the attacks on your pay by striking on 10 July
Use the PCS pay squeeze calculator
Recruit a colleague to PCS
Sign up for direct debit.
#WeAllNeedAPayRise