J10 and the battle for fair pay

Ofwat, the water industry regulator, with its main office in Birmingham is set to make more redundancies. Ofwat is already in the process of making some admin staff redundant, and if a further 46 posts are removed as is proposed, more staff will face redundancy. These redundancies come under the guise of yet another full scale internal reorganisation.

PCS has expressed their concerns on a number of levels. Andrew Lloyd, PCS Midlands Regional secretary said:

“Ofwat have talked to us about these proposed redundancies but not in a meaningful way and without giving enough detail for the union to

represent members properly. It appears that the motive for these job cuts is to spend less on

permanent staff and more on using consultants.”

“There is no reason for any redundancies. Ofwat should be looking to save money spent on expensive consultants and instead invest in its existing staff to

build on their existing knowledge and skills.”

These redundancies will add to growing fears that Ofwat are looking to close its office in Birmingham. Birmingham, once the head office for Ofwat, is no longer considered that. There are those that believe ultimately Ofwat will in future employ very few civil servants and will instead spend almost its entire budget on consultants.

PCS members have told Ofwat that they have had enough of this situation and are threatening to raise their concerns with politicians as well as with the Cabinet office.

OFWAT SEEKING TO MAKE EVEN MORE REDUNDANCIES

Victory in Land Registry

Justice for Palestine

INSIDE

Andrew

Lloyd PCS Midlands

Regional Secretary

10th July Fantastic Response

It is estimated that as many as 10,000 union members attended demonstrations on the 10th July across the region.

There were demonstrations in at least 10 towns and cities across the Midlands, the largest being in Birmingham where both Dave Prentis and Christine Blower, the general secretaries of Unison and NUT respectively spoke alongside Chris Baugh our AGS.

The message from all three was that Public sector workers were not going to accept any more cuts; to their pay, their pensions, their jobs and the services they provide.

This message was not only for the current government but to all political parties with aspirations to run the country. This message is one that has been ‘rammed’ home at every opportunity. This message will continue to be delivered with more action together with other unions, and at the TUC ‘Britain needs a pay rise march’ in London on Saturday 18th October, and for us in this region at the demo at the Tory conference in Birmingham on Sunday 28th September.

PCS Town and City coordinators have already been asked to start to build for the two demos. We have to ensure that the demo at the Tory conference is massive, we should be seeking to get at least the same number at this that attended the rallies and demos last week, a small turnout could send the message that ‘ we support the cuts’. I rarely say this but there must be no excuses for pulling out all the stops to have a massive vibrant march in our largest city.

Marching and strike action do make a difference, just look at what has happened at Land Registry, a fantastic victory against privatisation after an excellent two days strike. Had the privatisation gone ahead we could have felt a disproportionate effect in the region, with Land registry offices in Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Telford; more offices in the Midlands than any other region, so a big win for PCS and our region.

Andrew Lloyd – PCS Midlands Regional secretary

Chair : Sian Ruddick

Vice Chairs: Clara Harmer Steve Thorley Mike Veric

Committee Members:

Martyn Collins Debbie Elson Joseph Foster Mick Mace

Harminder Lothian Martin Page Nick Parker Viv Perkins

Pete Rofe Dave Vickers Steve Collington

Midlands Regional Committee 2014/15 elect

Sian Ruddick PCS Midlands Regional Chair

Sian Speaks Out! From Dolly Parton to Dave Prentis—that’s been my Summer, and I am not ashamed to say that I applauded both with equal enthusiasm after listening to what they sang and said. It was obviously great to be at Glastonbury but it was equally great to be on the picket lines and at the Birmingham demo on the 10th July, and incredibly enough I needed suntan lotion for both as well! Dolly Partons ‘9 to 5’ has given inspiration for women’s rights in the workplace, and Dave Prentis’s speech at the Birmingham Demo gave inspiration to public sector workers about their rights. What really struck a note in Dave Prentis speech more than anything was the fact that he said, ‘that if the government didn’t listen then there would be more action.’ Of the other leading speakers, the statistic that stood out the most and shows the massive disparity between the rich and public sector workers is the one from Chris Baugh, our AGS, when he pointed out that, “in this year alone the 1000 richest people wealth has grown by £7 billion, enough to give every public sector worker a pay rise of £2000 a year.” What we have faced of course is not a pay rise but a pay cut,

and in real terms has seen most of us lose £2000.00 over the

last 4 years. We cannot afford for this to continue.

Forthcoming course in the Midlands - Representing members (advanced personal cases,

negotiation skills and a day visiting tribunal)

2, 9, 10, 23 and 30 September

- New reps (full induction to the union plus and introduction

to personal cases)

21 October plus 4, 11, 18 and 25 November

Geoff Dexter Regional learning Organiser

The PCS Midlands Region

has just successfully organised

two courses—Nothing unusual

there but the recent New Reps

course was a real joy. All 12

participants were from different

departments making it one of

the most diverse courses we

have ran for sometime.

Reps had a fantastic

induction to the union thanks to

the input of professional tutors

from Shrewsbury College and

some one to one time with

Andrew Lloyd our regional

secretary. Particular thanks are

due to our two voluntary lay

tutors Steve Smith and Sandra

Durkin who sacrificed their own

time to make the course the

best possible experience for everyone taking part.

The course took place in the lead up to the J10 strike so

I took the opportunity of doing lunchtime leafleting and

campaigning. Reps put what they had learnt into practice,

taking on real arguments with staff around the attacks on our

pay and conditions and the need to take action.

Sweety, a new rep in the Insolvency Service was

boosted by the support of 4 reps leafleting her members one

lunchtime—it gave her the confidence to hold a picket line for

the first time.

Conscious of the need for constant updates in the

legislation on Health and Safety, we also organised a 3 day

course for existing reps. Many commented it had been some

of the best training they had been on.

Please think now about what courses you and other

reps in your branch need this Autumn and apply to one of

them. Remember I am always happy to visit your branch and

workplace and can devise bespoke training to meet your

needs also.

PCS will nationally be conducting a trade union

education review in the next few months. Every branch will

be surveyed. Please take part to shape our programmes for

years to come.

geoffd@pcs.org.uk | 0121 643 4342

Victory in Land Registry!

Land Registry decision a victory for staff, professionals and the public

On 14th July 2014 the government an-nounced plans to shelve the privatisation of the Land Registry (LR). The overwhelming number of responses to the BIS consultation on the Future of Land Registry opposed any change in status.

This is a victory for the campaign spear-headed by PCS, that saw an unprecedented coalition of trades unions, property industry professionals (including solicitors, property search companies and lenders), a former Chief Land Registrar, members of the public and politicians.

Over 100,000 people signed a 38 Degrees petition calling for Land Registry to remain public, and the vast majority of PCS members supported a highly successful two day strike to ‘Keep Land Registry Public’ on May 14-15.

PCS Solidarity statement on Palestine

Ahead of further demonstrations and rallies calling for an end to the killing and to the siege of Gaza, the PCS international committee has issued a statement condemning the Israeli military strikes.

Israel’s collective punishment of the people of Gaza following the tragic and deplorable abduction and murder of 3 Israeli teenagers is untenable and disproportionate.

Palestinian lives are not being treated of equal value, which is compounded by the world's media, while the discrimination and the apartheid regime of the Israeli state goes unchallenged.

Unlawful oppression

The oppression of Palestinians in the occupied territories, and the divisive character of Israel are not only barriers to a peaceful settlement, but are unlawful, and prolong instability and violence in the region.

It is time to step up the political pressure to call on the UK government and the international community to secure lasting peace through a negotiated settlement, based on mutual respect and self-determination, on justice for the Palestinians and on security for Israelis.

The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories must end, along with the removal of the separation wall and the illegal settlements. PCS is campaigning for disinvestment by companies associated with the occupation, as well as engaged in illegal settlements and the separation wall.

We urge members and branches to support the fight for justice for Palestinians; the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign; and an end to military assaults.

We support all those campaigning for a just settlement, and peace in Israel and Palestine.

Get involved

Lobby your MP—http://act.palestinecampaign.org/lobby/crisisaction

Back the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions Campaign—

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/campaign/bds/

This included the Land Registry Offices in Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Telford in the Midlands Region.

These actions prove that, if Unions campaign and fight, we can beat privatisation. These proposals were totally ideological – Land Registry is a well-respected organisation that underpins the state guarantee of title that protects the rights of property owners in England and Wales, valued at £1.3 trillion. Land Registry returns money to HM Treasury on an annual basis (£98 million in 2013-4) and continually lowers its charges.

Adding, Tony Conway PCS Land Registry

Official said: “This is a great victory for our members and the public. By any measure, Land Registry is a success story that rests upon the dedicated, independent and impartial Civil Servants that provide great service to the public. This can only be guaranteed while it remains a public service.”

Tony Conway went on further to say, “I have been asked is this a total victory, I believe we have only won a battle, not the war. We need a commitment from Labour that they will not privatise LR if they win the next election. We also need to campaign to stop proposals that will fundamentally change the way that LR delivers its services, and move responsibility for decisions affecting property rights away from independent Civil Servants, to paid representative who may have a vested interest. These fundamental changes represent a threat to the integrity of LR and to the service we provide the public.”

This campaign has seen more Land Registry staff join PCS and gain significant support from MPs, conveyancers, solicitors and members of the public has made maximum use of social media and you tube in getting the message across. The two day strike was supported by over 90% of PCS members over 60% of LR staff.

The tenth Women Chainmakers’ Festival took place in Bearmore Park, Cradley Heath on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June. The festival kicked off on Friday night with Sandwell Rock School and local artists and the rain failed to dampen interest on Saturday as hundreds of people came to look at stalls, listen to speeches and generally have a good family day out. Low pay, long hours and the importance of collective action are principles that are as relevant today as they were in 1910. After the commemoration at the Mary MacArthur Memorial Gardens, there was a banner procession that took place along Cradley Heath High Street to the festival. Local artists performed in the Left Field Marquee and many local organisations and trades took up stalls in the Community Tent which continues to grow each year.

Over two hundred people attended a counter protest against the Nazi Britain First organisation in Coventry on the 18th July. The protest was called at short notice by Coventry Trade Union Council, with full support from Unite against Fascism and Coventry against Racism. Many of those present were from the city's Muslim population and attended straight after a Gaza protest nearby. Others present included students, pensioners and a wide range of trade unionists from Unite, Unison, PCS, NUT and other local unions. The demonstration was angry but peaceful, with local people determined not to allow the fascists a foothold in the city. Speakers reminded those present that Britain First hide the fact they are a BNP splinter group behind populist 'patriotic' causes on social networks. It was therefore recognised that the group will need to be exposed in local trade union

branches, colleges and community organisations. Speakers also pointed out that fascists have no answers to the real problems facing working people around jobs, housing, education and austerity. In the end a small bunch of less than 20 Britain First supporters met at a local venue, the Royal Warwicks Club, who had lied to the local TUC that they were not holding the meeting. This lie compounded the fact that they were breaking a pledge they had signed in 2012 not to hold further fascist meetings, after they had hosted BNP meetings in the past. A city wide boycott campaign will now be launched against the Club in Coventry.

In April, hundreds of local people attended a Love Music Hate Racism festival in Dudley town hall—an opportunity to celebrate multicultural-ism and for the voices of the anti-racist majority to be heard in the lead up to the local government elections.

Racists and fascists challenged by unions in Coventry and Dudley

USEFUL FACTS

In January Oxfam produced the shocking statistic

The richest 85 people had as much wealth as half of the whole world—3.5 billion people!

Since January as our pay, pensions, benefits and standard of living is being

smashed by a government of the rich for the rich, the rich have got richer!

In just 6 months, the figure of 85 people has dropped to just 66 people—How many will it be in 6 months time?