DWP will end check off by February 2015 or earlier

The Group Executive Committee met DWP management again last week about the government’s political attack on check off for PCS members. The DWP have now formally stated, “we intend to remove check off with appropriate notice”. The GEC will continue to fully oppose the ending of check off.

Hypocrisy

Management argue that check off is old fashioned and not appropriate in a modern workplace. Yet when questioned by the GEC they have confirmed that they are not stopping check off for any other organisations. They will continue to operate check off for HASSRA. So what they really mean is that the government hate PCS because our union has challenged their failed austerity programme and they are ending check off in a political attack on our union’s finances. They have even approached PCS to ask if they can promote our credit union and allow staff to pay into it by check off. The government’s hypocrisy is breathtaking.

Waste of Money

Following the privatisation of Shared Services DWP check off is now done by the private company SSCL. SSCL will charge the DWP to end check off. We know that it will cost much more to end check off than it would to carry on with check off. This is what happens when you sell our work to a private company. Naturally they want a profit for implementing a change. The GEC has made clear that this is a misuse of taxpayer’s money on a political whim.

In line with national union bargaining policy the GEC has offered to pay to keep check off. This charging option has in fact always been in the national civil service code. DWP have agreed that they will include this offer in their final report to the DWP Ministers.

Pension changes risk

SSCL also have to implement the 2015 civil service pension changes next spring. The DWP say they believe that SSCL can cope with both jobs; administering the end of check off and the civil service pension changes, at the same time. Whilst PCS is opposed to many of the civil service pension changes the GEC have nevertheless told DWP management that it is wrong to force SSCL to do both jobs at the same time and they should be allowed to focus on the changes to the civil service pension scheme. The GEC have told DWP management that it is wrong to take any risk with the civil service pension changes by asking SSCL to do this extra job.

Equality impact

Some reps have raised concerns with the GEC that some BME members are expressing worries about paying by Direct Debit. The GEC have pressed the DWP for an equality impact assessment and they have agreed to let us have a copy.

Appropriate notice

The final meeting with the DWP is on Wednesday 26 November. In the meantime the GEC have written to management again repeating in full all of our opposition to the ending of check off. The DWP have agreed to include the full wording of our opposition to the end of check off in the report that goes to DWP ministers for a final decision.

In terms of “appropriate notice”, PCS would expect the DWP to give 90 days’ notice for such a fundamental change but no specific commitment has been given. However, we anticipate that the last check off in the DWP will be at the end of February. The GEC is continuing to argue for a later date or for check off to carry on.