Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS)
Civil Service Compensation Scheme
NEW
Gus O'Donnell to all Civil Servants
Joint Statement (C.O & 5 unions)
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PCS Industrial Action UPDATED 26th February 2010
A majority of members voting in the national ballot have voted in favour of strike action by 63.4% to 36.6%, and in favour of action short of a strike by 81.4% to 18.6%. Please see the members briefing and PCS website for more information.
Agreement reached between the Cabinet Office, FDA, Prospect, POA, GMB and Unite. UPDATED 3rd February 2010
FC staff will today have received the letter from HR, a joint statement from 5 of the Civil Service Unions and letter from Sir Gus O'Donnell to all Civil Servants.
PCS continue to oppose the proposals and will ballot their members between 4th and 25th February.
Sir Gus O’Donnell, Head of the Civil Service, has called on PCS members not to vote ‘yes’ in the national ballot on action over the compensation scheme and has stated that other unions have accepted the changes to the scheme proposed by the government.
In response, PCS advise that:
"Despite previously saying that it had reached its ‘final position’, the government has, as Sir Gus says, moved from its original draconian proposals and offered some degree of protection to some existing civil and public servants. These concessions have been won by the resolute opposition of PCS members over 18,000 of whom emailed the Cabinet Office opposing the government’s plans to slash their entitlement to redundancy payments and by the lobbying amongst MPs carried out by the union, 138 of whom have signed an early day motion calling on the government to change course. The concessions would still leave many thousands of PCS members unprotected, however.
PCS represents almost three times the number of civil and public servants than the other unions combined. It is no surprise that the other unions have accepted the proposals. Some of them would have accepted even the original proposals and have since then argued for each new proposal to be accepted despite the detrimental effect on the majority of staff.
But the latest proposals leave a very large proportion of PCS members unprotected. The details will be available on the PCS website. As a union which stands for fairness and solidarity, we have decided that we must continue to try to find a settlement which covers all our members, not just some.
Moreover, accepting such divisive cuts in so many people’s entitlements, as the other unions have done, would weaken the whole union and make job losses and compulsory redundancy much more likely at a time when we know that the major political parties are planning such cuts.
The latest proposals made by Cabinet Office were, in fact, conditional on PCS giving up its right to seek legal protection in the courts. We cannot accept that and we will press ahead this week with a judicial review along with NIPSA, a sister union.
We must continue to build pressure on the government to come to a fair agreement. PCS has identified ways the government could save money while also protecting members’ entitlements. Sir Gus says he has moved a considerable way from the original proposals made last summer. If we are united we can move him further towards a settlement that will protect all PCS members from redundancy.
We urge you to vote `yes’ to both questions in the ballot and ensure that Sir Gus sits down with PCS and talks about how to avoid a dispute, without crude attempts to divide us."
The Time To Act Is Now UPDATED 8th December 2009
As you will no doubt be aware by now the unions have had further talks with Cabinet Office to see if a resolution to the proposed changes can be found. Unfortunately, no such solution has been forthcoming and the Cabinet Office therefore intends to proceed with the cuts to the compensation scheme with effect from 1st April 2010.
An impressive 115 MPs have signed an early day motion, which demonstrates that MPs are receptive to the lobbying carried out by our members, their friends, and the general public. As a result, union members are again asked to lobby their local MP so that this number can be increased even further.
PCS has decided to ballot its membership on a campaign of national industrial action, with the aim of securing an agreement that would protect members entitlements under the CSCS, and provide for acceptable protection for members in the “nuvos” pension scheme not covered by the CSCS.
PCS will be again instigating a judicial review to halt the process by which the government seems intent in removing members’ accrued rights under the CSCS.
Remember, that as unions, we were successful in protecting our pensions and that we also managed to negotiate a no compulsory redundancy agreement through the protocols agreed between the unions and the Cabinet Office.
If we act now to ensure that politicians are aware that these changes are about to be implemented against the will of a vast majority of Civil Servants we could possibly prevent the need for industrial action, which is for us always a last resort.
The impact upon the poorest paid civil servants will be immense if, as the two leading parties promise that, jobs in the Civil Service will be cut, and cut, and cut to offset the national deficit. We need to ensure that those true public servants are not asked to pay the price of others excesses.
It is vital that all union members in the Forestry Commission write to their Westminster Constituency MP as soon as possible even if they have previously. We need to tell MPs that the Cabinet Office is not listening; that if they continue on this course it could lead to industrial action by at least one set of trade union members.
Please support your fellow union members, it is such a small thing to ask that you write to your MP, please take the time to do it today because by tomorrow it might be too late.
PCS to Launch Legal Action and Hold Strike Ballot 17th December 2009
PCS decided today to launch legal action with other unions against the government over unilateral changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and hold a strike ballot amongst 270,000 PCS members working for the civil service and its related bodies.
The move follows a meeting of the union’s National Executive Committee who have written to the Cabinet Office minister, Tessa Jowell MP. The letter urges ministers to avoid legal and industrial action by ensuring officials honour ministerial promises to find a negotiated agreement.
The changes to the redundancy terms, which the union fears will lead to the government cutting jobs on the cheap, were unilaterally announced on 4 December and will see staff robbed of their entitlements if they are forced out of their jobs.
Ministers had promised to instruct officials to meet PCS and other civil service unions to discuss PCS concerns when they announced plans in July to cut the terms of the compensation scheme. But that ministerial commitment appears to have been undermined by senior officials, who have cancelled four scheduled meetings over the last two months.
If ministers press ahead with their plans and refuse to find an acceptable agreement that defends existing members’ entitlements, then they will need to lay an order before Parliament. This will trigger a ballot for industrial action of over 270,000 PCS members across the civil service and related bodies.
In the meantime, PCS in conjunction with other unions representing civil servants, will be mounting a legal challenge and seeking a judicial review over the changes.
Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "The government has an opportunity to avoid legal and industrial action by ensuring officials honour ministerial promises to make the changes through negotiation rather than imposition.
"Cancelling meetings with unions and unilaterally announcing changes has angered staff who will be robbed of their entitlements if they are forced out of their jobs. We have decided to mount a legal challenge with other unions representing civil servants and hold a strike ballot of over 270,000 PCS members working in civil and public services.
"Ministers need to honour their promises and come to an agreement with the unions to avoid a damaging dispute."
Changes Announced UPDATED 8th December 2009
Following the accouncement on 4th December, The Forestry Commission HR Department have issued a letter to all staff on further changes to the CSCS which are as a result of the Cabinet Office taking account of views expressed during the consultation period.
These unilaterally announced changes to the civil service compensation scheme which are be to be implemented in April 2010, have not been agreed with the civil service unions, despite the lengthy process of discussions and consultation that has taken place on this issue. All of the CCSU (Council of Civil Service unions) are outraged that the announcements have been made at the same time as a meeting was being held at the Cabinet Office.
No attempt has been made to reach an agreement despite previous ministerial commitments that talks would take place. This displays not only bad faith but a shocking lack of respect for civil service staff. In the meantime, we shall be consulting our lawyers on legal action to stop the process and demanding a meeting with Tessa Jowell, Cabinet Office minister.
As more information from the CCSU becomes available we will get it to you as quickly as possible. We would remind you about the previous e-mails that we have issued on this subject and would re-emphasis the need for you to write to your MP to express your anger at not only the original proposals but also this latest development in which your views have been ignored.
Writing to your MP 27th November 2009
We are calling on all members and supporters to write tol their MPs to oppose the proposed changes to the scheme. Please read this letter for advice on writing to your MP.
Update from FCTU Secretary UPDATED 26th November 2009
Allan MacKenzie has issued a letter to all staff in response to many members voicing their concerns on the lack of clarity on what is happening with the proposals.
Government Proposals Unacceptable
Members will be aware that Civil Service Unions have been in negotiations with the Cabinet Office about the scheme since the autumn of 2008. The published proposals have not been agreed with the unions.
PCS held a National Campaigns Liaison Group meeting in Clapham on 7th September to discuss the proposed changes to the CSCS. Nearly 200 delegates turned up which reflects the seriousness of this issue.
Mark Serwotka the PCS General Secretary confirmed the recent NEC recommendations: -
- The NEC formally rejects the proposals on the CSCS and communicates this decision to the employer (Cabinet Office), members and Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU).
- That a members’ circular on the CSCS proposal is issued immediately to ballot addresses
- That we seek to meet Cabinet Office ministers in order to make clear our objections and seek new proposals
- That we begin the process of challenging the Cabinet Office proposals in the courts by issuing preliminary letters to the employer in conjunction with other CCSU unions
- That the national campaign membership consultation proceeds, and we seek facility time for membership meetings
- That the consultation is preceded by a meeting of the National Campaign Liaison Group and by Regional reps briefings
- That membership consultation document is produced concentrating on the detrimental nature of the proposals
- That the September NEC considers a detailed formal response to the proposals on the basis of conference policy
- That a special NEC considers the results of the consultation and considers holding a ballot, either on the union’s policy or on industrial action if developments require that
Mark went on to say that PCS needs to move quickly to counter the employer’s propaganda and to begin the process of building a campaign aimed at upholding our policy, as agreed at the Annual Delegates Conference (ADC), of no detriment to members entitlements under the CSCS.
Furthermore the proposals amount to a cut in accrued and contractual rights to decent redundancy compensation at a time when we can clearly see that tens of thousands of Civil Service jobs are at risk over the next few years. We now need to make it clear that they are unacceptable and that we will match the threat they represent by organising a large scale campaign which mobilises members to defend their terms and conditions.
Currently in the Forestry Commission we have members who are facing the prospect of leaving under the current terms and other members who face leaving at a later date being severely disadvantaged due to these proposals. Any future redundancies will be at the proposed new rates and will be detrimental to all our members.
This is why you belong to PCS to fight to defend your jobs and your employment conditions.
Members' comments
Send your views to unions@forestry.gsi.gov.uk and if you like we can post them here for you.
I read a message from my union this morning in disbelief and wondered at first if it was some sort of hoax. I cannot believe that it would be possible for a Government to take unilateral action to change it's employees' conditions of service without putting a bill before parliament and undertaking a full and fair consultation with employees - and then actually taking notice of this.
At a time when the economy is struggling and many people are concerned about the security of the future for themselves and their families, it seems incredible that such a proposal to cut redundancy payments and conditions for early retirement - for the average employee - should be considered. If employees have to be made redundant, surely having a little capital to create small businesses and to continue to pay the mortgauge will help to bolster the economy and build it up from the bottom rather than create an increasing pool of needy unemployeed claiming off the state. This seems yet another example of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Responses to the Consultation
To date 2267 PCS members have copied their union into their responses to the consultation on civil service compensation scheme. Some examples of the responses PCS have received are listed below.
I find the proposal to change the civil service compensation scheme and restrict redundancy payments completely unacceptable. Civil service compensation scheme is a key part of civil service terms and conditions and it is unacceptable that employees should have those terms and conditions rewritten after many years of service.
As an employee of the civil service I have entered into a contract of employment and whilst I continue to honour my commitments to my employer I believe that my employer should honour their commitments to me. Whilst I understand the need to make the civil service more efficient I think this is a particularly cynical way of achieving staff reductions at a much lower cost.
I am writing to strongly object to your proposals to reform the civil service compensation scheme on the following grounds:
a) The civil service compensation scheme is a statutory scheme under Section 1 of The Superannuation Act 1972. I understand primary legislation such as this can only be changed by parliament. As there is no bill before parliament to change Section 1 of The Superannuation Act 1972 I believe the proposed changes are unlawful.
b) Any proposed changes to the civil service compensation scheme as contained within Section 1 of The Superannuation Act 1972 have to be agreed with the civil service unions. It is my understanding that the Cabinet Office has been unable to agree the proposed changes to the civil service compensation scheme with the civil service unions. I therefore believe your proposed changes are unconstitutional and cannot proceed.
c) I have accrued rights under the civil service pension scheme. I believe that the government’s intention to remove those accrued rights is unlawful.
d) The proposed changes are promoted as being fair to the employer, employee and the tax payer. I believe the proposals to be grossly unfair as the proposals will lead to a loss of benefits to the employee.
e) I insist that you honour my existing civil service compensation scheme agreement.
I have recently received information from PCS, advising me that the compulsory redundancy scheme is being reviewed. May I advise that after 32 years of loyal service, I am appalled that my employer is considering reducing my entitlement for redundancy payments by such a huge amount?
The contract I signed in 1977 provided me with preserved rights and this agreement should be honoured regardless of whether or not the entitlement is changed for newer members. I hope any changes will reflect the hard work and loyalty that is provided by long standing employees of the government. I object to the changes as detailed in the proposals and insist that all existing contracts should be honoured as well as negotiating a fair scheme for new entrants in the same way that the pension's scheme was renegotiated for new entrants in 2005.
This is not ‘Fairness for all’ it discriminates against those with long term service and it is yet another case of ‘changing the goalposts’.
Existing contracts must be honoured and a good scheme needs to be negotiated for new entrants in the way that pensions were negotiated.
I wish to record my views on the above subject, in that the government should honour existing contracts and negotiate a good scheme for new entrants in the same way undertaken in 2005 for the pensions. As someone who is in the criteria who began work before 1987 with reserved rights, now aged 46 with 26 years service is entitled to £106,000. My new entitlement would be £48,000. This is completely unfair and a breach of my existing contract.
I am horrified to read of the proposed changes to the benefits provided under the civil service compensation scheme. These seem very much designed for the sole purpose of making civil servants redundant on the cheap. I signed a contract of employment in good faith and trusted that my employer did likewise. To come along and change my contract of employment is nothing more than bullying, of the most perverse kind. The only reasonable course of action is to honour existing contracts and to negotiate an acceptable scheme for new entrants.