The Coalition Government is pushing ahead with private finance initiative (PFI) projects despite branding the funding model as "discredited" and "dodgy" before the 2010 election.
Monday 18 April 2011
Coalition Increases Discredited PFI Contracts
Send support to Jobcentre strikers
Thousands of Jobcentre Plus call centre workers are on strike today (Monday 18 April) in protest at draconian working conditions that make people sick and stop them from giving the public a proper service.
PCS members on 37 picket lines all over the UK would welcome visits from fellow trades unionists.
Messages of support can be sent to a central point from where they will be passed on to the strikers.
Messages make a huge difference to people’s morale and can be sent by email to leeds@pcs.org.uk or texted to 07624 806296.
oday's strike has been solid.
Martin John, group secrertary of PCS in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) - which includes Jobcentres, said: “PCS DWP group is delighted at the level of support for today’s action and calls for the pressure to remain from 19 April onwards in action short of a strike.”
PCS DWP group president, Jane Aitchison, said: “Management have been given every opportunity to settle this dispute and we are ready to negotiate at any time. However, they should be in no doubt as to our members' resolve”.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka described the working the conditions of the 7,000 strikers: “Staff are monitored every minute of the day. The computer dictates start and finish times and tells them when to go for a break, with staff hauled up if they are 40 seconds late back or go over the time allowed for a call. Toilet breaks are monitored and constantly questioned.
"These call centres are a vital lifeline for members of the public when they need to claim benefits, when they're sick or disabled or need help getting back into work. Enquiries are often complicated and many callers are understandably desperate and upset - some of them have no one else to turn to.
"Our members are not numbers, and neither are the unemployed. Jobcentre workers want to help people, but often they're encouraged to just get the caller off the phone as quickly as possible and this cannot be right."
My Civil Service Pension (MyCSP) campaign
The government are planning to privatise My Civil Service Pension (MyCSP), the administrative body responsible for the management of civil service pensions.
PCS is concerned about our members working in MyCSP who stand to lose their public sector /civil service status and pension if plans for privatisation go ahead. The union is also concerned about the impact on security and reliability of the service and the lack of clarity around theses plans.
Please contact your local MP and urge them to take action.
Thursday 14 April 2011
FOI responses 'too slow'
The Cabinet Office, which oversees the government's transparency drive, has been criticised over its handling of Freedom of Information requests.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13050137
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Government signs over civil service pensions to private-sector mutual
The pension scheme for 1.5 million civil servants in Britain is to be run by a new joint venture in the biggest sell off of a government service under plans to devolve power.
Francis Maude, the cabinet office minister, will announce that handing My Civil Service Pension (MyCSP) to a mutual shows that the government is wedded to its political choice outsourcing and rewarding the private sector, with no consideration of service, that value for money can be generated in-house or that risk and liability remains with the government.
The decision flies in the face of what My Civil Service Pension staff say they want and goes against Francis Maude's claim that he would not do anything without the consent of the workforce – a commitment given to representatives of PCS and other unions at a meeting with the cabinet minister on 31 March.
The union says this is not a mutual venture – there has been no consent or co-operation and it does not involve co-ownership – it is being branded as such to make privatisation sound more attractive.
Unlike the government, PCS has consulted MyCSP staff about what they want, holding meetings at all MyCSP offices. Overwhelmingly, members have said they do not want to go down this route, and want to retain their civil service status.
The government has refused to allow staff to retain this status, which would include having access to the civil service pension schemes they administer, and the union has not ruled out balloting for industrial action.
Unlike the government, PCS has consulted MyCSP staff about what they want, holding meetings at all MyCSP offices. Overwhelmingly, members have said they do not want to go down this route, and want to retain their civil service status.
The government has refused to allow staff to retain this status, which would include having access to the civil service pension schemes they administer, and the union has not ruled out balloting for industrial action.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The government claims this will be innovative and beneficial to staff, but it is not a mutual organisation and there are no benefits for our members who will be forced out of the public sector.
"This would be privatisation by the back door, with our members' civil service contracts ripped up, and we will do everything we can to oppose it."
"This would be privatisation by the back door, with our members' civil service contracts ripped up, and we will do everything we can to oppose it."
Sunday 3 April 2011
New paternity leave rules affecting men come into force
New paternity leave rules have come into effect legally entitling parents to share time off work during their baby's first year.
Additional paternity leave allow an employee to take up to 26 weeks' leave to care for the child, on top of two weeks of ordinary paternity leave.
This can only be taken 20 or more weeks after the child's birth or placement for adoption, and once the mother has returned to work from statutory maternity or adoption leave or ended her entitlement.
To qualify, the father must have been on a continuous contract with his employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby is due.
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