Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
Spending Review 2010 (SR10)
The Chancellor will set out the Government's four-year public spending plans in the Spending Review at 12:30 on Wednesday 20 October.
The Spending Review is a Treasury-led process to allocate resources across all government departments, according to the Government's priorities. Spending Reviews set firm and fixed spending budgets over several years for each department. It is then up to departments to decide how best to manage and distribute this spending within their areas of responsibility. The 2010 Spending Review will cover the four years from 2011/12 to 2014/15.
We are beginning to feel the force of the cuts and changes across the organisation. We will be actively engaged from the outset in working with Senior Managers (who have given the commitment work with the Trade Unions throughout) to ensure that union members are protected and that the interests of staff are taken into account at all times. The joint unions will also do everything that is possible to stop the cuts, fight for jobs and oppose the selling of land.
We will make sure that you, our members are kept up to date as quickly as possible however we cannot stress enough that these are seriously challenging times and we urge everyone to keep up to date too and to contact your Union Representative about any concerns that you may have.
Contact the FCTU office to give feedback on the SR10 proposals.
News
New Forest Policy Direction in England 29th October 2010
Today we heard the Minister’s statement, which the DG shared in the update sent to staff today. In it are two very telling sections that nail this government’s intention to the wall beyond any doubt.
They are going to sell off England’s Forest Public Estate and the government has even created a tailor made bill allowing them to do it.
Full measures will remain in place to preserve the public benefits of woods and forests under any new ownership arrangements.
This will be a new approach to ownership and management of woodlands and forests, with a reducing role for the State and a growing role for the private sector and civil society. At the same time, it reflects the Government’s firm commitment to the continued conservation of the biodiversity and other public benefits which forests and woodland provide. These aims are not incompatible with alternative models of ownership, or ourcommitment to the natural environment.
The woodlands and trees managed and owned by the Forestry Commission represent a living cultural heritage, a natural equivalent to our great churches and castles. They are also our richest wildlife habitat and are highly valued by people as places of tranquillity and inspiration.
Our objective therefore, remains steadfast; we will oppose this government’s monstrous plan to sell the Forest Estate in England and work tirelessly to protect the jobs, working conditions and futures of our members. It is now time to look to the constituent unions of the FCTU partnership Unite, PCS, Prospect, GMB and FDA to campaign together and for them to enlist the help of their political affiliates; I shall be talking to each one to formulate a coordinated action plan.
We also urge you to support the union you belong to and if you have as yet still to join a union please do so today.
Ministers Plan Huge Sell-off of England's Forests 26th October 2010
Many of you will have already seen the recent press coverage of leaked information surrounding the ConDem government’s plans to sell if not all, then the majority of the FC’s land in England. This briefing from Allan MacKenzie was issued to union reps today.
Allan was asked by the media to give a statement and he reiterated our fundamental opposition to any sale of publicly owned forests, no matter where in GB.
We opposed the leasing scheme in Scotland and campaigned successfully to stop the proposal in its tracks; this time we will be looking to campaign against plans to sell any of the FC’s forests in England. Our objective here is very clear. We must oppose the government in Westminster who are the architects of this monstrous plan; we need to challenge DEFRA who will act as the executioner and we must convince the FC that other solutions exist and that selling the land is not an option.
It is our belief that the Spending Review may well have identified what is yet an undisclosed figure, for a quick short term return that will be of a scale that we have not seen in the past. Beyond that it must be inevitable that the ConDem government will sell whatever is left as quickly as possible and the vehicle for doing that will be shrouded in the need for having the ‘Big Society’ to convince the public that it is necessary.
The threats to us at this time are enormous; be under no illusion that the FC will shed staff not just because of the cuts to budgets but because the land will be disappearing from under our feet. Many commentators speculate that the private sector will fill the gaps left by the reducing Civil and Public services. This may well be true but the land will disappear into private hands never to return and so will our jobs.
There is a callous coldness about this government in that it only sees quick fixes and a fast buck to solve today’s challenges. Forestry is a much longer term and vocational enterprise that requires patience, prudence and protection to fulfil its ultimate potential. We have striven for almost 100 years to bring public forests to a place that the public in general terms want them to be and they are asking for more of the same. The Westminster government refuse to listen to the people and decide ideologically to start a chain of events that could see and end to the FC as a GB body.
We are awaiting a ministerial announcement on the plans and to counter any planned sales, the FCTU must take action to save the woodlands and forests of England to secure them for future generations in the decades to come.
DG Note - Spending Review Figures Announced 20th October 2010
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced in Parliament the Spending review settlement figures for government departments and for the devolved administrations. Budget reduction measures are severe with the administration budgets of main Whitehall departments cut by one third, and up to 490,000 public sector job losses projected over the next four years. In this note from the DG, it is stated that we have not yet reached agreement on our budgets with Defra or the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments although we expect to have these finalised soon.
Thousands to Protest Against Cuts 19th October 2010
Union members and other campaigners are set to join protests later against government spending cuts. The FCTU are in attendance at the TUC Rally in Westminster Central Hall and intend to report back on events.
FCTU's Update on Spending and Organisational Reviews 15th October 2010
‘If you think that you or the role you undertake will remain unaffected by change, we in the FCTU are certain that that will not be the case - it may not happen straight away; it may not happen for a period of time, but be assured it will happen.’
That was a thought we shared with you back in November 2009; reading the recent letters from the DG it is clear that we are about to begin to feel the full force of the changes soon...
Allan MacKenzie's Letter to Members - 15 October
Arms Length Body Review - FC England to be Retained 14th October 2010
Following the news of the leaked list of Quangos/Arms Length Bodies under review, it was confirmed by the DG that Ministers have decided to retain the Forestry Commission in England, but subject to reform. It is said that Options for reform are being explored, and more information will be set out later in the autumn as part of the Government’s Strategic Approach to Forestry in England.
DG's Note on the Arms Length Body Review
DG's Update on Spending and Organisational Reviews 13th October 2010
Staff were today issued with an update on spending reviews, making it clear that the impending annoucements will have significant impact on the funding and future role of the Forestry Commission.
BBC News - Leaked List Suggests 180 Quangos and Other Bodies to be Abolished - FC 'Still to be Decided' 24th September 2010
Proposals to abolish 180 quangos and merge a further 124 have been seen by the BBC's Politics Show. In the leaked list, the Forestry Commission is listed under DEFRA on page 7 as 'still to be decided'.
FCTU Campaign - It's Time... 8th July 2010
Many of you will be aware of the enormous media frenzy that is being directed at those of us who work in the Civil Service and the public sector, where the UK’s financial problems have become something we are responsible for.
It’s time for the Forestry Commission Trade Unions to campaign to protect our jobs, our standards of living, and our future pensions.
Please see this letter from Allan MacKenzie, FCTU Departmental Secretary.