Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk

About the FCTU

The Forestry Commission employs over 3000 people, about two-thirds of whom are members of a trade union. The trade unions currently recognised in the FC are:

• Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
• Unite
• Prospect
• GMB
• First Division Association (FDA)

The FCTU is a democratic partnership, formed by these unions, to represent the interests of all union members who work in the FC. The FCTU coordinates the work of the unions in areas such as:

• negotiating changes to the staff handbook and other terms and conditions of service
• promoting good health and safety, as well as the welfare interests of members
• representing members' interests during organisational changes, such as changes in; working patterns, staff numbers, office locations etc.
• external representation with outside bodies, other government departments and government ministers.

At a GB level the FCTU works through monthly meetings of the FCTU Departmental Committee (DC) which is made up of the FCTU Chairperson (Robert Beaney), the FCTU Secretary (Allan MacKenzie) and one representative from each of the unions*.

Since UK devolution the FCTU has also operated through a number of Area Committees one each for England, Scotland, Wales, Silvan House, FC Business Units and Forest Research.

Formal relationships with senior FC managers are maintained through a Staff Council† which meets once per year. Similar staff councils operate for each part of the FC.

FCTU Office

The work of the FCTU is supported and managed by the FCTU office based in Silvan House. The FCTU office team are:

• Robert Beaney - FCTU Chairperson
• Allan MacKenzie - FCTU Departmental Secretary
• Sue Gillingwater - Operations & Communications Manager
• Sam Telford - Web Editor/Operations & Communications Officer

The office’s main responsibilities are:

• representing and promoting the interests of Union members across the organisation;
• working with FC management to promote good ‘industrial’ relations;
• overseeing the development and delivery of union policy within the FC;
• providing support and guidance to constituent unions, representatives and their members;
• providing comprehensive, up to date and appropriate information to Union members and robust mechanisms for members to engage with the FCTU.

Key work areas

Some of the office's likely main areas of work for 2009-11 are:

• Deliver against the FCTU Strategic Issues Programme 2009-2012.
• Maintain and develop the Area Committee structure to meet the challenges that face the FC in the Countries, Agencies and Business Units.
• Increase the recruitment of union membership.
• Improve communication.
• Use the results from the 2009 FC Staff Survey to provide information for reps and Union members on the issues affecting members.
• Continue to support the People Strategy where appropriate.

*The FDA only has a few members in the FC and is not directly represented on the committees.
†The Staff Council is part of the Civil Service Whitley Council structure.

Copyright © 2008 Forestry Commission Trade Unions, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT. The FCTU Website is intended to inform FCTU members about the activities of the FCTU and its constituent unions (PCS, Unite, Prospect, GMB, FDA). Any views expressed within this website are not necessarily those of the FCTU, its constituent unions, the Forestry Commission or of any individual member. Whilst we attempt to keep the information on this website accurate and up-to-date, neither the FCTU nor any of the above organisations accept any liability for any errors or omissions and as such cannot accept any liability for actions arising from its use. M