Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
Forestry Commission Trade Unions
Welcome to the website of the Forestry Commission Trade Unions (FCTU). This website is designed to provide news and information to Forestry Commission staff who are members of either the PCS, Unite, Prospect or GMB trade unions (About Us). We are regularly adding new content—so if you have any comments on the site or suggestions for improvements then please do get in touch.
Latest News
Scottish Climate Change Bill UPDATED 5th Nov 2008
Read our latest update on the Climate Change Bill, and find out what you can do to help protect Scotland's forests and Scottish jobs.
SEARS and SRDP Projects 13th Nov 2008
On 7th November Hazel Maclean and Edward Shephard met with Bob, James and Helen Paterson to discuss the impact that the roll-out of SRDP is having on the quality and quantity of work for some staff in conservancy offices.
PCS Day of Action on Pay - Suspended UPDATED 7th Nov 2008
The PCS national executive committee have decided to suspend the industrial action planned from Monday 10 November and the overtime ban proposed to commence on Tuesday 11 November. All PCS reps are asked to pass this message on to members.
Cambridge Office Closure Announced 7th Nov 2008
Staff at the Cambridge Office have reacted with astonishment at the news that the office will close by May 2010. The office is home for about 30 permanent staff and all posts will be relocated to the newly expanded office in Bristol by no later than May 2010.
Silvan House Christmas Opening Times 5th Nov 2008
We have today welcomed the decision to reinstate the concessionary half-day holiday on Christmas Eve in Silvan House.
Postfilling for JEGS Regraded Posts 31st Oct 2008
We have today welcomed the publication of revised procedures for filling JEGS regraded posts have been published. The new rules should enable more staff to develop there own rules without the uncertainty of reapplying for their own post.
Pay 2008 - Pay Talks Stalled UPDATED 22nd Oct 2008
With our pay implementation date now come and gone, poor processes within HM Treasury (HMT) again mean that we are unfortunately looking at a significant delay before we will receive our pay award.
FCTU Interactive Guides 17th Oct 2008
In order to further enhance the site we have begun to add a number of interactive guides: as part of our support of Ban Bullying at Work Day, view our new Members' Guide.
FCTU Events Calendar NEW! 13th Oct 2008
We have now added a meetings calendar to the website which we hope will provide you with much needed details of all our forthcoming events. An additional RSS feed for the calendar has also been added.
Discipline and Grievance Procedures UPDATED 10th Oct 2008
Progress on the revised procedures has been slow over the last few weeks, but is now moving toward a conclusion. So far we have reached an outline agreement on the principle of delegation to unit managers, but have yet to agree on some process stages.
MES Workshops in Scotland UPDATED 10th Oct 2008
The FESMB have asked that MES conduct a review of its operations and workshops in Scotland. This will take account of the Forest District review and the review of Direct Production and operational areas in Scotland.
Review of Performance Management 1st Oct 2008
The review group had their second meeting on 30th September at which the results of the survey were considered. It was felt that the level of response to the survey was extremely good and the quality of the comments indicated that those that responded had put a lot of thought into filling it in.
FCTU Secretary Post UPDATED 1st Oct 2008
The joint unions have today elected Allan Mackenzie as our new secretary. Allan is currently a planning forester at Lochaber FD as well as the PCS Group President; he will take up his new role towards the end of the year.
Pay 2008 - What's Wrong with our Pay? 26th Sept 2008
The Government aims to cap Civil Service pay rises to 2%. Find out What's Wrong with our Pay and what you can do to help.
Review of FR - New Science Centres Announced UPDATED 26th Sept 2008
The unions have expressed a cautious welcome to the announcement of three new 'Centres' in FR, though the ongoing review remains a serious concern.
FE Scotland Direct Production Review UPDATED 17th Sept 2008
In the last update we advised that it was our intention to hold a consultation exercise with the machine operators. This is still the case, although due to the negotiations being a little more protracted than originally anticipated, they will not take place until later in the year.
Whole Body Vibration 17th Sept 2008
The FC has recently issued Operational Guidance Booklet 39 on whole body vibration. This OGB gives guidance on the application of the new regulations to reduce exposure to WBV. The regulations will have a significant impact on machine operators within the FC and their working practices.