VOTE NOW in the NEC and GEC elections

It's your union, have your say in who runs it!

Our members elect their representatives from the most local to the most senior national full-time officials.

These include their representatives in branches and groups right through to those on the national executive committee and senior union officials.

Ballot papers for the NEC were sent out by independent scrutineers on 18 April and the deadline for receipt of completed ballot papers for the NEC Elections is noon on 9 May.

Not received a ballot paper?

If you do not receive NEC ballot papers by Monday, 29 April email balloting@pcs.org.uk or call on 020 7801 2810.

Group elections open 24 April and end on 15 May. If you hav not received your ballot paper by 7th May please ring 0113 200 5300.

Group election results will be announced on 16 May with group conferences taking place on 20 and 21 May, followed by annual delegate conference, which runs from 21-23 May.

It's up to you who you vote for, your branch Annual General Meeting agreed to make the following nominations for the NEC which we would advise you vote for:

President: Janice Godrich       
Vice President: Kevin McHugh, Sue Bond, John McInally, Paula Brown
Committee members: Ian Albert, Mark Baker,Clive Bryant, Ian Crossland, Alan Dennis, Mike Derbyshire Mary Ferguson, Helen Flanagan, Cheryl Gedling, Jackie Green, Kevin Greenway, Sam Hall, Elenor Haven, Zita Hobourne, John Jamieson, Andy Jennings, Adam Khalif, Neil License, Marion Lloyd, Dominic McFadden, Lorna Merry, Chris Morrison, Marianne Owens, Andy Reid, Dave Richards,  Glenn Siddall Butchers, Derek Thomson, Karen Watts, Paul Williams, Hector Wesley

GEC recommendations to follow shortly

International Workers' Memorial Day - 28th April

Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. 

Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers.

Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day. The day is also intended to serve as a rallying cry to “remember the dead, but fight like hell for the living”.

Today, as much as ever, it's important to remember that the so called 'red-tape' which supposedly holds back business was long fought for and saves lives. Still, over 170 people went to work in 2012 and did not come home, often through preventable accidents. 25 of those deaths were in the North West Region. Many more are injured or suffer long-term, fatal illnesses as a result of just trying to get by in life.

Your local union branch attended the service in Wigan on 28th April in Mesnes Park. Wigan has a long industrial history in mining. Many families lost lives and loved ones over the years.

 PCS DWP Wigan Area Branch believe we should remember those who have died, but we have a massive battle ahead to stop the Tory led government rolling back our rights at work. Already, they have attacked our employee rights and want to literally work us till we drop with the changes to our pensions. They also attack government bodies which offer safeguards to employees such as the Health and Safety Executive and Equality and Human Rights Commission. In addition they are attacking the facilities of PCS representatives, preventing them carrying out essential duties to help members in all areas of their working lives.

Defend your union - defend your rights - Fight Austerity!

See the PCS video

Have a look at PCS "Action Now" video. Join us in action tomorrow.

Support the action - advice for union members

This week members will have received a letter informing them of a further increase in pension contributions, this follows a measly 1% pay increase whilst the government is still thinking up more plans to attack our terms and conditions. Enough is enough. 

Your local PCS representatives in DWP Wigan Area Branch are urging you to follow the democratic mandate of your fellow unions members and support the action on 5th April.

We have received further questions from members on the practicalities of the walkout, and we've published specific guidance for Makerfield members on the timing of their walkout if they are scheduled to work beyond 4.42pm.

What do to in a call or interview at 1pm

PCS would advise not begin interviews or calls immediately before the action is due to start, however sometimes this cannot be helped. As you will be now taking industrial action you are under no obligation to finish the call/interview, disciplinary action cannot be taken against you for taking part in legal industrial action. Our advice is to inform the customer that industrial action has now started and you will need to terminate the call/interview, advising them to call back or that the interview can be re-arranged at a later date. 

Duty of Care - Health and Safety

Some PCS members, particularly at HEO grade and above, have raised concerns about health and safety and their duty of care as a manager as a possible reason for not supporting the industrial action. PCS recognise that this may be a genuine issue raised by members that usually support action. However, the duty of care is on the DWP, not individual managers, and it is for the DWP to make necessary arrangements during industrial action. Where there is not sufficient cover, or a nominated manager in place then the consequence is that the site will have to close. Please seek union advice if you are being pressured to not take part in industrial action.

Overtime ban

An overtime ban began from 20th March to 20th June. For the purposes of clarity overtime is classed as additional hours of paid work, usually at double time or time and a half. Overtime is not hours worked in addition to your contracted hours during the week. Contact Centre management appear to refer to access to flexible working as 'overtime', it is not. PCS will consider picketing overtime where it is worked in the branch. 

Picket lines - show solidarity

PCS local representatives will be picketing workplaces on 5th April. In Makerfield, the picket will be there till 2.30pm to cover those scheduled to work later. We are asking that you show solidarity and join the picketers (who are normally there from 7.30am on very cold strike day morning!) and join the picket, even if just for a few minutes. PCS representatives will be in the Tudor House from 2.30pm should you want raise any issues or join them socially. 

Hardship Fund

Please remember that Wigan Area branch has a hardship fund that you can apply to for the action on 20th March and 5th April. Please speak to a PCS representative for a form.

Not a member - join today

It's never too late to join the union! Wigan Area branch has 85% membership density, non members can pick up a form or speak to a rep at any time. We'd ask all union members to ask non members in their workplaces to join and encourage union members to support the action.

Any questions - please e-mail pcswigan@gmail.co.uk 

Please provide us with your home e-mail address to receive information on issues that we can't contact you about in work.

What time should I strike? - Advice for Contact Centre workers

Calling all PCS Members in Makerfield Contact Centre.

PCS has called a half day strike/walk-out this Friday (05 April). For most PCS members this strike will begin at 1pm. But, for us contact centre workers who are scheduled via WfM, we need to strike in line with our schedule.

As the strike has only been called for 3 hours and 42 minutes, you need to make sure that you do not strike for longer than 3 hours and 42 minutes.

Also, the strike can only start from 1pm at the earliest - DO NOT STRIKE BEFORE 13:00! 

CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE ON WFM FOR 05/04/2013:

**If you are scheduled to finish work anytime before 16:43 then you should strike from 13:00**

If you are scheduled to finish work anytime after this then you need to calculate 3 hours 42 minutes back from your scheduled end time. Examples:

End Time - Strike Time

16:45 13:03 17:00 13:18 17:15 13:33 17:30 13:48 17:45 14:03 18:00 14:18

Support the Action on 5th April!

A long weekend of industrial action involving all PCS members is taking place from 5-8 April.

All union members in the DWP will show their anger at the government by taking part in a strike starting at 1pm on 5 April to defend our pay, pensions, and terms and conditions. The government refuses to sit down and negotiate, so we must act. The latest action will build the pressure on the government after the tremendous success of the national PCS strike on budget day. Strike action on Friday afternoon will cause enormous disruption for the DWP.

Build for a solid strike

The sight of union members collectively walking out together is a powerful image, it sends a strong message to the DWP and the government, it builds solidarity among union members and sets an example to non members.

DWP PCS representatives and activists must give clear and confident information to members and ensure that you organise a disciplined mass walkout at 1pm. PCS have produced a guide to organising your walkout. To help you organise for the 5 April and get non-members to join us please read the, “organising a workplace walkout guide” on the PCS website at –
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/national-campaigns/action-now/index.cfm

Walkout guidance

The vast majority of members in the DWP will walk out at 1pm. There are some exceptions. For example members scheduled to work on a rota or a shift finishing for example at 6pm or 8pm should calculate 3 hours 42 minutes back from the end of their shift and walk out at that time. Branches need to ensure that groups of members in these circumstances have a PCS rep to help organise and coordinate their walkout just as at 1.00 pm.

Members in contact centres on the phone at 1pm should end the call in the same way they would at the end of a shift, by telling the caller at the beginning of the call that they are only available until 1pm. Members in jobcentres dealing with appointments starting shortly before 1pm should also tell the customers that they are only available until 1pm.

Detailed guidance about these issues is in the April FAQ’s Guide on the PCS website at –
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/national-campaigns/action-now/index.cfm

The impact of Friday 5 April on members pay

The DWP have published HR guidance on deductions from pay. It says – “A half day walkout is classed as unauthorised absence and an appropriate pay deduction must be made for any employee that takes part. On this occasion the pay deduction should be half of the net contracted hours for the day. This is the same for both full and part time staff. The half day deduction is regardless of the hours already worked on the day.”

This guidance contradicts longstanding policy which indicates that the department should revert to conditioned hours and deduction of pay should be calculated from, “the time the unauthorised absence commenced until the time the employee was contracted to finish work.”

The Group Executive Committee (GEC) has raised concerns about this with the DWP who have responded that this longstanding policy is only guidance not legislation and that it is in their view out of date because there are now so many different working patterns. The GEC will pursue these concerns with the DWP.

The impact of the guidance published so far by the DWP is set out below –

Members should flex on when they arrive. Go on strike at 1.00 and input a 3.42 credit for the afternoon. They will lose 3.42 pay. For example -

Flex on 8.00 am - 1.00 am = 5 hours credit
1.00 - 4.42 on strike = 3.42 hours credit
Total credit = 8.42
Loss of pay = 3.42 hours

Members working for example till 6pm or 8pm should walkout 3.42 before their finish time and enter a 3.42 credit. They will lose 3.42 pay.

The GEC has raised particular concerns about the impact on pay for part time working members working on 5 April but due to leave shortly after 1pm. It is clearly unfair for example if staff due to start at 8am and work till 2pm who walkout out at 1pm then lose half a days pay (3 hours) when they are in fact only on strike for 1 hour and could only get a 1 hour flexi credit. DWP have agreed to look at our concerns and the GEC will issue any further guidance as it becomes available.

Leaflets and demonstrations

Leaflets have been sent to workplace distributors from PCS HQ. Please ensure that they are given out to all members.

Branches should make every effort to organise demonstrations and rallies wherever possible with other PCS members in the town and with other unions show the alternative to the government’s mad austerity cuts.

If you need any help, advice or support please contact the PCS DWP Group office on 0113 200 5300 or at leeds@pcs.org.uk 

APRIL 5TH - ALL OUT FROM 1PM!

PCS has called further action starting at 1pm on 5th April in defense of pensions, pay, terms and conditions and services.  By keeping up the pressure on the government we hope we can bring them to negotiations and prevent civil servants being made to pay austerity measures for a crisis we did not make.

20th March was extremely well supported in the Wigan, Leigh jobcentre was closed and most sites were only opened by a hardcore of non-members or those refusing to stand by their fellow workers.

At 1pm, members should be united in walking out together - in the same week that our pension contributions increase when our pay has been held back, we need to show the government that we are not willing to take these attacks.

Many members have queries about how the walkout will work. Half day strikes used to be common but have not been utilised on a national level recently. Half day walkouts were used very successfully in Merseyside jobcentres recently which helped the members make real gains in their dispute. Here's some frequently asked questions that we hope will help:

5 April national industrial half day strike action: Q&A guidance

When to strike and pay deductions

Q 1: When should I strike?

 Strike action starts at 1.00 pm (or 1.30pm) and finishes at 4.42 pm (or 5pm) on Friday 5 April for all members involved - except HMRC members (see below).

 It is important that you take strike action in the way PCS has told the employer that you will. This is so that you are protected by being part of official industrial action which complies with the legal requirements.

 The notice says that everyone will be called out for ½ a day strike on 5th April.

 For most members this will be a strike from 1pm to 4.42pm on 5th April

 In the unlikely event that management withdrawal of flexi arrangements or impose fixed hours which means that people are forced to work until 5pm – then the strike will be from 1.30pm till 5pm for those members.

 The minority of members on other work patterns will be asked to strike for the final 3 hours 42 minutes of their shift or rota.

Q 2: What should I do if I'm in the middle of an interview in person or on the phone when the strike starts?

We recommend that you politely terminate the interview or phone call by saying that you have been called by your union to take part in official industrial action which has just began, then leave (without further explanation or discussion). The strike action is legal and the employer has been duly informed and therefore you are protected in a similar manner to any other strike action.

Q3 What strike action should I take if I am on shift work?

The purpose of the action is to collectively walk out with you colleagues at 1.00 pm and this should be the action that by far the majority of members should be aiming to take. If however you are genuinely a shift worker and your normal shift on 5th April is due to end after 4.42pm then you should begin strike action 3 hours and 42 minutes before the end of your shift.

Q4 What if my shift crosses over from the 5th into the 6th April.

If your shift falls in such a way as it means that taking the 3hrs 42 minutes strike action called would fall into the 6th April then PCS is not calling you out on strike. The notice is only for strike

action on Friday 5th April so if your shift crosses over into the 6th April you should not take strike action

Q 5: I'm not due to work on Friday afternoon -- can I take part?

 Don't strike if you're not due to be at work between 1.00 pm and 4.42 pm

No, unless you are due to be on duty that afternoon at those times you should not take part in this particular industrial action. This is just one part of a rolling program of industrial action and is designed to try to ensure an equality of sacrifice so although on this occasion you are not being called on to strike there will be other opportunities if the Government refuses to talk to PCS

There are other ways you can support the campaign. See the PCS website for more information.

Q 6: I'm a nightshift worker, due to begin work at 5 pm. How can I support the strike?

You should not take part in the strike action if your shift crosses into 6th April. If you are due to end your shift during 5th April then you should strike for the last 3hrs 42min

Q 7: When should I take my lunch break?

You should take your lunch break in the usual way -- either when you are told to take it (if that is usual in your workplace) or when or how you generally choose to take it.

There might be specific guidance on this relevant to your group.

Q 8: Can I use flexitime working to reduce the amount of pay that is deducted? For example if I start at 7.00 am then I would have done more than half the day before the strike begins at 1.00 pm. Will this mean that my pay will be deducted less?

No, this is very unlikely, and flexitime cannot usually be used to minimise pay deductions.

PCS expect that most employers will deduct half a day's pay calculated in the usual manner they operate on a full days strike.

Q 9: Will my employer suspend flexitime for the day?

We don't know whether this might happen. If it does and staff are forced to work until a set time later than the 4.42pm (5pm in the example above) then people will be asked to strike from 1.30pm to 5pm. PCS centrally or the Group will issue further guidance should it be required, To suspend flexitime and impose conditioned hours or fixed hours will be very complex for the employer and PCS does not expect this to happen in many departments so most members should be out on strike between 1pm and 4.42pm on 5th April.

Q 10: I work flexitime, and would usually have finished before 4.42 pm on Friday. Do I have to return to work?

No. If you are not usually expected to be back at work, then you would not need to return.

Q 11: I am on flexitime. Should I start work at a time that ensures I only do a half day before the 1.00 pm strike?

The purpose of the request for 3hrs 42 minutes is to ensure equality of sacrifice but given this is rolling action this may vary slightly on the margins. PCS recommends that you work half a day in the morning calculated as 3hrs 42 minutes and strike from 1pm to 4.42.

Q 12: I work full-time. How much pay will be deducted for the Friday afternoon strike?

We expect that most employers will deduct half a day's pay calculated in the usual manner they operate on a full days strike.

Q 13: I work part-time, and I am due to work only on Friday afternoon during a period that falls within the strike period (1.00 pm to 4.42 pm). How should I take part in the strike, and how much of my pay will be deducted?

You should take part in the strike by not working during the strike period, 1.00 pm to 4.42 pm on the 5th April. This is an ongoing rolling series of action so although this time you are being called out on Friday afternoon it is unlikely that this will be repeated and should strikes be called when you are not working then you will not be required to participate.

Q 14: I work part-time, and I am due to finish work at 2 pm on Friday afternoon. How should I take part in the strike, and how much of my pay will be deducted?

You should begin your strike at 1.00 pm. The deduction of pay should be calculated as in the question above.

Q 15: Can I be sacked for going on strike?

It would automatically be unfair dismissal if you are sacked for going on strike in a properly organised and legal dispute during the first 12 weeks of the strike.

Q 16: I am an agency worker. How can I support the strike?

You would not be able to go on strike because you have a different employer. There are other ways you can support the campaign. See the PCS website for details

Workers Beer Company

Would you like to help raise funds for the Branch Hardship fund.? The fund allows us to make small payments to members suffering financially as a result of strike action.

Do you like festivals? Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds?

Are you reliable and can you be vouched for?

Then you could be part of the bar teams working at festivals this year!

All your earnings go to the hardship fund, but you do get free entry to the festival, meals and access to showers. You work between 6 - 8 hours per day but the rest of the festival is yours.

So far we have raised over £1200 for the hardship fund using the Workers Beer Company. Check out www.workersbeer.co.uk for general information and email pcswigan@gmail.co.uk to register your interest.