Do not fill in the DWP Staff Survey

The PCS DWP Group Executive Committee (GEC) met on the 27th September and agreed to recommend that all PCS members in the DWP do not fill in the staff survey and do not complete it. PCS colleagues in the HMRC are also being asked to boycott the staff survey. Completion of the staff survey is entirely voluntary. Talk to your PCS rep or email Leeds’pcs.org.uk if you are put under any pressure to complete it.  

Management misuse past surveys

This decision was taken because it has become clear to PCS that management pick and choose the results of the staff survey to bring in detrimental policies such as the hated and discredited performance system. For instance management have justified the ‘must improve’ category in the people performance policy and the increase in the use of ‘Performance Improvement Plans’ (PIPs) from the results of the survey is previous years. Yet the truth is that only a small minority of staff completing previous staff surveys support these hated policies. 

Management do not listen

The GEC recognises that some members feel the staff survey is an opportunity to express their view to management. In the past PCS has encouraged members to complete the survey. But the GEC believes that the survey has been manipulated to bring about poorer working conditions and should therefore now be boycotted.

It is a fact that all previous Staff Surveys have found that a large proportion of staff have no faith in senior managers. Management have done nothing about this. Staff are the most valued resource DWP has and their views should be listened to and acted on.

A message must be sent to DWP management that we have had enough of lip service being paid to members issues.

  

We need more staff not more pressure

The performance management system is being used to put unrealistic pressure on PCS members to meet targets despite cuts in staff numbers, whilst the DWP are claim that employment levels are increasing and workloads are dropping. We know this is nonsense. 

The DWP has cut over 20,000 staff since 2010. PCS believes there is a staffing crisis in the DWP and for that reason has submitted a staffing claim to the department to return to 2010 staffing levels. PCS members should not face continuing pressure and unrealistic targets because of the drive to cut public spending and services.

Don’t undermine negotiations

Over the summer PCS has been consulting our members and reps on our national campaign. It is quite clear from those meetings that job security, low pay and attacks on terms and conditions are what concern you.

PCS will continue to demand that the Government talk to the union at a national central level to deal with these issues. The staff survey will not win us better pay and conditions.

In the DWP over 75% of staff are members of PCS. Management know we are strong campaigning union. We are stronger when we speak with one voice. Don’t let management keep using the staff survey to undermine proper negotiations.

Say no to management pressure

It was reported to the GEC that management this year are being particularly pro-active in trying to get staff to complete the staff survey.

Local management are using scare tactics such as claiming offices would be under threat for closure if it does not get good results. This is not true.

The staff survey is voluntary

Remember - the staff survey is voluntary and no-one should be put under any pressure to complete it. If you are feel coerced or in any way forced to complete it immediately tell your PCS rep or email leeds@pcs.org.uk .

Stick together

By not completing the staff survey PCS members working in the DWP will be sending a clear message to DWP management that:

·         You have had enough of the manipulation of staff survey for detrimental change

·         You will not be pressured into filling in a  survey that gets misused and does not solve the key issues affecting you.

Please support the boycott and encourage others to do the same

PCS opposes Conditionality Week

PCS was outraged by the DWP decision to run a ‘Conditionality Week’, which was to be about ‘celebrating how far we have come since the introduction of tougher sanction levels last year’, according to the departments headline news page.  Across the country it was planned to hold events which could include quizzes, reward and recognition events and dedicated conditionality sessions.

The Group Executive Committee (GEC) discussed this when they met on 27^th September and unanimously agreed to oppose Conditionality Week. The GEC wrote to management to request that all events are cancelled. This is because the GEC believe that it is inappropriate for civil servants to celebrate controversial political welfare reform changes and it is abhorrent that claimants being left without benefit should be something anyone rejoices in. At best, this is poor taste, at worst these are cynical actions intended to pressurise staff to make sanction referrals and to normalise the impact that sanctioning has on claimants and their families.

The GEC therefore welcomes the department’s response that Conditionality Week has either been cancelled or very much scaled down. PCS is shocked that the DWP would think the concept of a celebratory Conditionality Week is

acceptable, especially given media reports of the rise in the number of families using foodbanks and in some cases claimants self-harming due to sanctioning.

We are also very concerned that even harsher changes to welfare programmes are being announced at the Conservative Party conference this week.

In line with conference policy the GEC will continue to oppose the conditionality and sanctioning regime including the pressure put on staff to make sanction referrals whether through targets, ‘expectations’ or the culture of fear in jobcentres. Arranging ‘Conditionality Week’ exposes that DWP are not serious in tackling the ‘target culture’ identified in the Couling report of 15^th May which the GEC is challenging.

Select Committee

To complement our campaign work PCS gave evidence to the Parliamentary work and pensions select committee on the role of jobcentreplus in the reformed welfare state on 11^th September. The transcript is now available online at - (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmworpen/uc479-iii/uc47901.htm) Members are invited to provide feedback on the information presented.  

PCS made strong points about the need for more staff to deliver a more holistic public employment service, and how the focus and direction of jobcentreplus service

delivery was very much on conditionality and ‘off-flow by any means’.

PCS stated that whether it is called a target or an expectation, that the reality for people who work in jobcentres is that it has the same effect on them.

The GEC will follow up this activity through additional evidence, parliamentary questions and MPs briefings in the coming weeks

Provide PCS with your evidence

The GEC will continue to explore how the union can collectively respond and actively oppose the conditionality regime and target culture that plagues jobcentres at present. We have agreed to continue to provide evidence to the employer of the ‘perverse behaviour’ on labour market decision making and appeals (DMA) activity.

Members have started to provide evidence and we ask that you continue to do so through your local PCS representative or to operational.tus@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.

The GEC do understand that some members may be concerned about confidentiality including those in the management grades. The GEC assures members that they will be not identified to management, and can approach their representatives discreetly.

Our work on opposing the sanctioning regime forms part of the union’s overall campaigning on welfare reform. Further updates will provided to members and representatives on the next steps in this in important area of work.

Hovis workers win – Zero hours contracts are toast

Other trade unions had been watching the Wigan dispute closely, as one of the smallest unions in the UK took industrial action against so-called "as and when" contracts which BFAWU said allowed management to push down wages and increase insecurity among staff. 

Hovis bakery workers in pre-dawn picket at Wigan site. 18 September 2013

Continue reading at http://union-news.co.uk/2013/09/hovis-workers-win-zero-hours-contracts-toast/

Fire chiefs issue safety advice ahead of strike

WIGAN fire chiefs have offered safety advice to residents ahead of strike action.

Stand-in crews will be in use across the borough tomorrow (Wednesday) although the service will be operating at a reduced capacity during the strike hours from 12pm to 4pm.

County fire officer Steve McGuirk said: “Local people need to start thinking about their own safety - make sure they have a working smoke alarm, know the main causes of fire, have a fire escape plan and carry out a bedtime routine.

“We have recruited and trained an Emergency Fire Crew to provide fire cover. This will be much reduced from our usual service with fewer engines attending a limited range of incidents and we will be prioritising calls.”

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is in dispute with the government about pensions plans.
The following advice has been issued by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).

ROAD SAFETY:
If you’re on the roads during the strike, take extra care - you can read advice for safer driving on our website www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/updates/take_extra_care.aspx.

By staying vigilant and following these simple tips you can avoid being involved in a crash on the roads:

Reduce your speed and give yourself time to react - you never know what’s around the corner.
Never use your mobile phone when driving, pull over somewhere safe before making or taking a call.

Always wear your seatbelt and make sure your passengers are wearing theirs.

Keep your distance - remember the two second rule. Leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.

If you are feel tired take a break - driving while tired can be lethal.

Drive for the conditions - in wet weather stopping distances are at least double those for stopping on dry roads.

HOME SAFETY:

Steps you can take to help yourself and reduce the demand on the basic fire cover that GMFRS is providing on Wednesday:

Get a working smoke alarm

Know what could cause a fire in your home and make sure you and your family know how to prevent it.

Plan your escape in case there is a fire.

Look out for family and neighbours.

Only dial 999 in a genuine emergency

DIALLING 999: 

GMFRS is asking the public to help by taking extra care and only dialling 999 if they need a fire engine, whilst the industrial action is taking place.

The priority of the Service on Wednesday afternoon will be to respond to priority calls where a life may be at risk or someone needs to be rescued.

If GMFRS responds to non-emergency calls then those most in need could be at risk.
A non-emergency call could be to someone who is locked outside their house or where debris has fallen in the road - there are other agencies and organisations that can help in this instance.

However, you should still call 999 in an emergency so that an experienced Control Room operator can deal with your situation and please don’t call your local fire station directly.

For further information on taking extra care during the strike, please visit http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/updates/take_extra_care.aspx



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Get the new PCS Wigan app via the Google app store (for Android smartphones & tablets)

Now available on the Google App Store

The official PCS Wigan app is now available on the Google App Store. Keep updated on PCS News, including twitter, flickr and youtube. Contact PCS directly via the app or simple check the weather for Wigan.

Finally, for entertainment we've included mobile gaming classic Snake and a live feed of Wigan FM.

The apps available FREE from the Google App Store on your android device.

Tory Conference - 29th Sept

PCS, as part of the TUC, is supporting a rally at the Conservative party conference on 29 September.  

An estimated 30,000 people are expected to attend.

The agreed themes of the day are:

• Save the NHS 
• Invest in jobs 
• No to austerity

PCS will be pushing its own 'Stop the cuts' agenda. 

Invite your friends and colleagues with our Facebook event listing.

Timings

• 11.00 - Assemble at Liverpool Road 
• 12.30 - Move off via city centre - including Deansgate and Lower Mosely Street - to Whitworth Park (approx. 2.5 miles)
• 14:00 - Rally with music and speeches 

We'd love you to come along. If your interested please speak to your office rep our contact the pcswigan@gmail.com email and we'll let you know what time we're travelling.

Thompsons Law

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