Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
March outside Fill every coach the Conservative to London 20th Party Conference October for the 7th October national TUC march Birmingham for a future that works
Support groups strikes such as those in the DWP Contact Centres, DVLA and DSA to build momentum
DATE
LOCATION
VENUE Midlands Regional Office Central Library APEX Court Meeting Point House Secular Hall CWU offices Unite offices Labour Club Derby UNITE offices Sherborne House
TIMES 113 113 113 113 113 113 113 113 113 113
17 Sept BIRMINGHAM 19 Sept DUDLEY 20 Sept NOTTINGHAM 21 Sept TELFORD 24 Sept LEICESTER 27 Sep STOKE
It is important that every branch sends 4 delegates to the nearest briefing. To book a place or call the Midlands Regional Office on 0121 643 4342. Lunch will be provided.
Helen PennBerkeley has taken Learning at work day to a new level with a rolling roadshow around the Midlands MOJ workplaces. For all Midlands Branch Organisers, Branch Learning Attracting high numbers of members, non members Co-ordinators and Union Learning Reps and surrounding workplaces, the events have also drawn This one day conference will focus on how the high praise from management and training providers wherever they go. The events offer a fusion of learning learning agenda can be embedded into the day to day tasters including Local Colleges, Unionlearn, Community work of the union. It will be an opportunity for branch Learning opportunities, Tasters of leisure/aspirational organisers, BLCs and ULRs to develop a shared agenda learning, Health and Safety Spot the Workplace Hazards to take learning forward as part of a wider campaigns competition and Skills for Life assessments. and organising strategy for the region. This successful approach has resulted in hundreds of staff being engaged with the union project, new members to the union and workplace representatives. Helen who has recently become the Regional learning Co-ordinator for the Midlands PCS in MOJ will be sharing her ideas at the Midlands Learning and Organising Conference.
Held a training session with Jack Dromey MP Organised a budget day protest outside Birmingham Council House in conjunction with local anti cuts groups, student groups and union branches. Supported Birmingham workers memorial day Held a candidates Question Time for the local government elections with over 40 people. Supported a demonstration to save our NHS outside a health conference attended by Andrew Lansley Helped to organise and co-ordinate pickets lines and action on the May 10 strike organising a joint protest and rally with UNITE and UCU at the QE hospital Joined hundreds of students and trade unions at Birmingham Pride to ensure it was a protest. The parade was watched by over 50,000 people. PCS helped to ensure that over 4000 leaflets and 100 placards were distributed highlighting the disproportional effect of the cuts on LGBT people.
Organising to Win
Steve Battlemuch, Regional Organiser
I am often asked what is the most important thing a new rep can do to help the Union. My answer is simple TALK TO MEMBERS! I know this seems obvious but it is the most fundamental skill that any rep can develop and older more experienced reps need these skills too. In the age of increasing reliance on social media and electronic communication we can be forgiven for thinking that having a good website and being a wiz on facebook and twitter is the key to a healthy branch. Clearly we all need to make sure we are up to date with the new media opportunities but the best form of communications is still face to face. Allocating a clear section of members to reps in each workplace is the first step. These reps then build a relationship with the members on their patch. Over time the members will come to rely on good information and support from the rep and trust will be built. When it then comes to key issues of Industrial Action or support for the union on other issues then this trust should be paid back in droves or that is how the theory works! Good Rep / Member liaison should mean no surprises when it comes to a strike day or an indicative ballot as you will have had detailed feedback from the reps on the members views. It can be daunting at first to talk to members on a 1:1 basis and also at workplace meetings but good preparation is the key and once you feel confident about the key issues then it really is no different than talking to a friend in the pub or your neighbour at home. In my opinion the key is not to think that you need to have the answer to every possible question you may get asked if you think this you will never talk to anyone! If you dont know the answer just say so and that you will find out. Then make sure you do and get back to them as quickly as you can again this builds trust and shows you are reliable. Most people reading this article know all this the key is to ensure that all the reps in your branch have the confidence to operate in this way. Linked to this article are some bullet points drawn from a national leaflet make sure this is discussed at your next Branch Committee and contact me at steveb@pcs.org.uk if you need any assistance or training on these issues.
Originally published in 2010. Over 250 000 copies of this pamphlet have been distributed with many more reading online. Whilst sadly the concerns it has raised have proven to be right and credible so too are the alternatives, making them all the more important to fight for.
Jointly produced with UNITE, NUT, UCU and the national pensioners convention this pamphlet thoroughly addresses the issue of fair pensions. Whether state, private or public there should be fair pensions for all tackling the argument one should not be at the expense of the another
If history has taught us anything, it is never to turn our back on the threat posed by racism and fascism. This pamphlet tackles the challenges of the cuts, defends a multicultural UK, highlights PCS policy, campaigns and our partners.
Steve.Thorley@cps.gsi.gov.uk07776226148
I am currently the Vice Chair for the CPS East Midlands branch & President of the CPS Group. I have been a rep for 20 years starting as a H&S rep in the Nottingham office
Peter Rofe
Peter.Rofe@Jobcentreplus.gsi.go
DWP Branch Secretary for North Stafford Union experience. Holds TUC Diplomas Occupational Health & Safety. Interest Political Lobbyin
I am Joseph Foster (PCS Ofwat Branch and have a long standing association experience across nume
201213
Mike VericRegional Vice Chair
Responsible for Education and Learning
michael.veric@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk03000 573777
A member of PCS and predecessor Civil Service unions since 1974. Since 1976 Ive held various union positions in MoD & HMRC at Branch, Regional and Departmental level.
Ashley.woodstock@cps.gsi.gov.uk01902872493
I work for the Crown Prosecution Service, I am currently a CPS West Midlands Branch Ordinary Member, but I am also CPS Group Vice President.
ordshire
ov.uk07740 868319
dshire with 20 years of Trade s in Employment Law and t areas: Campaign activity, ng.
city committee
ter wat.gsi.gov.uk
h) am Secretary for my branch n with PCS, with many years of erous campaigns.
Dudley & StourbridgePick up Dudley College, The Broadway, DY1 4AS & Stourbridge Labour Club & Institute, The Lawns, Hagley Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1QR. LeicesterPick up from Humberstone Gate, Leicester Times to be confirmed. Contact nigel.bayton@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk LE1 1WB 07.30. Contact Martin Page by texting COACHES to 07951 638814. Wolverhampton & WalsallPick up Wolverhampton Falkland Street 07.30 & Walsall Bradford Mall WS1 1YT 07.45. LincolnPick up Railway Stop, Wigford Way, Lincoln LN1 1VX Contact debra.elson@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk 06.00. Contact nicktparker@gmail.com / 07793682201. CoventryPick up Leigh Court, Torrington Avenue, Coventry CV4 9XZ 08.00 & Sherborne House, 1 Manor Drive, Coventry CV4 9XZ. Contact james.molloy@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk NorthamptonPick up from The coach station, The Mount at 08.30 hrs. Contact Martyn Collins at mdjcollins@btinternet.com or 07963 794549.
6:30 pm 9th October 2012Potteries Museum Theatre Free entry but booking essential.
To reserve a place please email your name and address to northstaffstuc@gmail.com or 01782 201724
According to Government figures there are 4000 spare places, many of these are in privately run prisons such as HMP Oakwood (run by G4S) in the West Midlands to which many of the prisoners in Wellingborough are being transferred. In 2009 it was decided to market test the Prison. This was later abandoned we are told because private prison providers were not willing to invest in the refurbishment required. Wellingborough has steadily improved due to the hard work of management and staff and understandably staff and The Government has announced its intention to close management are devastated, but for some this is the second HMP Wellingborough with the loss of 600 prison places and time they have faced uncertainty over their future having over 200 jobs. NOMS management list prisons 1 to 120, with moved to Wellingborough from Ashwell when that closed 1 being the prison most likely to be closed if a drop in prison recently. population allows, not surprisingly the 13 private prisons all There is a local community based campaign, Locals fall at the end of the list. This means only public sector prisons against Wellingborough closing, (LAWS) supported by the POA will close. and PCS. This comes at the same time as the Prison reform trust Peter Bone MP has secured a debate in Westminster reveals that prisons such as Leicester are holding more Hall and has supported a demonstration/presence prisoners than they are designed for. In Leicesters case nearly outside the House of Commons on September 5th. 100 more. Instead of using the spare capacity in the system to PCS have launched a petition calling for an urgent relieve this problem, prisons are being closed to save money. independent review of the impact of privatisation of prisons. Where a prisons population is lower, staff have more time to www.pcs.org.uk/prisonspetition address offending behaviour and reduce the risk of Dave Vickers, Vice Chair of PCS NOMS East Midlands reoffending. Surely in the long run preventing reoffending will Newsline is produced by Midlands PCS Regional Office save more money not just for the tax payer but business as New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, Birmingham B2 5UG well who fall foul of criminal activity.