Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
General News
This page contains small selection of general news. If you wish to see news specific to your union or area, then please use one of the links to the right.
On this Page:
> Postfilling for JEGS Regraded Posts
> FCTU Secretary Post
> Area Committees - New Name for NOC's
> New Agreement on Job Security
> Call for increase in Mileage Rates
> New Union Presidents
> New T&S and CAPES rates for 2008
> Homeworking Allowances Agreement
> MPs criticise Civil Service Job Cuts
Postfilling for JEGS Regraded Posts
31st Oct 2008
We have today welcomed the publication of a revised version of Staff Notice 14 which outlines amended procedures for filling JEGS regraded posts. The new rules should enable more staff to develop their own post without the uncertainty of having to reapplying for their own job.
Prior to the publication of this revised notice, staff who were successful in growing their post into a higher grade were required to reapply for their own post through open competition. The uncertainty caused by this process disuaded many from applying to have their post regraded; despite the fact that in almost every case the original incumbant has been successful in the competition. The new rules remove the requirement for open competition in most cases, and represent a common sense approach filling these posts.
FCTU Secretary Post
1st Oct 2008
The joint unions have today elected Allan Mackenzie as their 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.
On accepting his nomination Allan said: I am very honoured to have been elected into the post of Departmental Trade Union Secretary. I understand that I have a steep learning curve ahead of me and I look forward to the challenges that this role brings with it.
It is my intention to emulate the past successes and will always strive to ensure that the FCTU operates effectively and efficiently; and remains fit for purpose. I will remain focused on achieving the maximum possible improvements in the employment conditions for all union members in the FC.
I am acutely aware that this remains very much a team effort not only through the dedicated staff in the FCTU office, Sue and Sam, but in working closely with lead representatives from each of the constituent unions and those tireless reps across the breadth of GB. It is my sincerest hope that the next few years see greater benefits for our members, fair pay for all, security of employment and total equality throughout the many sections of the Forestry Commission.
10th Aug 2008
After nearly nine years Edward Shephard has decided that it is time for him to leave the post of FCTU Secretary. In a letter to Robert Beaney (FCTU Chairperson) Edward thanked everyone who has worked hard for the unions over the last few years and looked forward to another challenge elsewhere in the FC.
Consequently the search for a new FCTU Secretary has begun. The post is filled by an election amongst senior reps which will take place at the next meeting of the FCTU Council on 1st October 2008; and each of the FCTU's constituent unions are able to nominate a candidate. If you are interested in being considered for the post then please speak to a senior representative within your union as soon as possible.
Further Information: Calling Notice.
Area Committees - New Name for NOC's
16th Jul 2008
After a lengthy consultation we have decided to rename our regional committees to better represent the joint unions' name. The proposal to change name of the NOC's was endorsed along with several other recommendations by Council at its February 2008 meeting. The acronym ‘FCTU’ has quickly become synonymous with the work of the joint unions, which is being built on through our communications strategy, for example in the name of our website. Therefore, the name of the NOC's has been brought under the same label as FCTU Council and FCTU Office, their generic term has been changed from Regional to Area Committees: thus, the ‘England NOC’ will become the ‘FCTU England Committee’. Click here for further information.
New Agreement on Job Security
12th May 2008
In the last couple of weeks the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU) have reached a national agreement with the Cabinet Office which provides members in the Civil Service and related bodies with improved protection from compulsory redundancy. The new agreement seeks to ensure that staff who do find themselves made surplus will be given priority for any vacant posts right across the Civil Service. Conversely, departments which are seeking to employ more staff will be obliged to consider surplus staff from other departments, through the CSVAC's system, prior to opting for an external recruitment.
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary: In 2004, the government announced massive job cuts as part of its ‘efficiency programme’. In response we launched a major campaign including a national strike in November that year. Now, for the first time, we have national guidance on good practice for dealing with staff where their functions are being outsourced or privatised. Departments will have to consult with unions over outsourcing. They will have to take steps to avoid transferring staff to companies or charities only for them to be made redundant and justify any decision not to consider in-house bids. It has been agreed that this process will be overseen by the union and the Cabinet Office.
Protocol for Handling Surplus Staff Situations | FAQ
Cabinet Office and CCSU agreement on handling surplus staff situations (2008).
People Consequences of Privatisation | FAQ
Good practice for managing the people consequences of outsourcing and privatisation.
Call for increase in Mileage Rates
10th May 2008
In light of dramatic increases in fuel costs the FCTU have called on the FC to review the current mileage rates: Letter to HR. The current mileage rates of 40ppm and 25ppm were introduced in July 2002, since when the cost of running an average diesel car has increased by 26%. It is the FCTU's view that at the very least T&S rates must reimburse staff for any actual costs which they incur on behalf of the organisation. In recent negotiations we have been content not to increase the mileage rates on the understanding that HM Revenue and Customs were reviewing the relevant taxation thresholds, however in light of the increase in fuel costs unless an outcome of the review is imminent we believe that the mileage rates should be increased to 60ppm and 40ppm with immediate effect.
New Union Presidents
9th Mar 2008
Congratulations go to Lorraine Adams
from Alice Holt who has been elected as the FC Branch President for Prospect, and to Allan MacKenzie who has been re-elected as the FC Group President for PCS.
Lorraine was elected at Prospect's FC Branch AGM held in York earlier this year: she replaces Tony Cousins and our thanks go to Tony for all his hard work in recent years. Allan, who is based in Lochaber, has been PCS's FC Group President for a number of years. Allan has been re-elected unopposed, after being nominated to the role at all of the recent branch AGMs.
New T&S and CAPES Rates Agreed
19th Jan 2008
After several weeks of discussions new T&S rates have been agreed. The new rates see reasonable increases on most subsistence elements (based on the higher RPIx rate rather than the CPI rate used in recent years) and include continued increases in many of the old central civil service rates which were unchanged for many years.
However as part of this year's agreement we have agreed to the withdrawal of the caravan and equipment allowances. The reason for this is that last summer HMRC undertook an audit of our T&S systems and one of their findings was that both the caravan and equipment allowances were too high and claimants should be liable for tax. As the number of claims for these rates is quite small we were content to agree to their withdrawal on the condition that current claimants of the caravan rate can claim the 'family and friends' and 'incidental expenses' allowances as well as any caravan site fees, and in addition current claimants of the family and friends allowance can now also claim the incidental expenses allowance.
One of the areas which we did fail to agree on this year was the difficult area of the standard and public transport mileage rates. Again these are rates which are 'dispensed' by HMRC and any increase will make claimants liable for tax - something which HR wish to avoid as it will also incur extra cost for the FC. It is the FCTU's view that taxation is a personal matter and any reimbursement should be set on the basis of the actual costs incurred by the employee and not on whether or not a particular rate might be subject to tax. However we are expecting HMRC to revise these rates later in 2008, so in the end we concluded that they could remain unchanged pending the HMRC review.
Separately we have also agreed revised mileage rates for CAPES users based on the contract calculation. (It should be noted however that these rates may also be taxable from 6/4/08, and MES have signaled their desire to review the scheme later in the year.
Further Information: New T&S Rates | New CAPES Rates
Homeworking Allowances Agreement
UPDATED 10th Jan 2008
A copy of the revised Staff Notice is now online: FC Documents.
New Allowances agreed 13th Dec 2007
Following strong representation from the FCTU the DG has agreed that the allowances paid to staff who work from home will be increased by 35% from 1st January 2008. Although this increase is less than we had hoped for, we are pleased that the EB recognised that many homeworkers do incur additional costs on behalf of the FC, and that these costs have increased in recent years.
We have also agreed to a further review of homeworking at some point in the New Year (2008). With an increasing number of staff taking advantage of flexible working arrangements it is important to ensure that we are maximising the potential benefit in a consistent manner across the FC, and that those who do incur additional cost are properly reimbursed.
FC reneges on agreement 14th Sept 2007
On Friday of this week we received written confirmation that HR have decided not to adjust the homeworking allowances in line with our written agreement. The homeworking facilities allowance (HFA) agreement which was drawn up several years ago, provides allowances for staff who set aside part of their home as FC space. The agreement also also makes clear that the allowances should be adjusted in line with changes in house prices, as well as mortgage and fuel rates. Since drawing up the agreement all of these these factors have increased but the HFA has has remained unchanged.
Several weeks ago we wrote to HR on behalf of members in receipt of the allowance asking that it be adjusted, and they have now written back saying that the FC's funding position is too severe to warrant increasing the allowance. Not only does this represent a significant breach of trust on the part of HR, but will also be strongly resented by those staff who have set aside part of their homes for FC business. The unions have now written to the EB asking that they urgently reconsider the matter. We'll update you when we have further news.
MPs criticise Civil Service Job Cuts
Article by Mark Serwotka and Janice Godrich 7th Sept 2007
The PASC report, Skills for Government, published 6 August by the cross party committee says that the recently conducted departmental Capability Reviews paint a "bleak picture" of performance. One reason the MPs give for this under-performance is the job cuts. The report says these are a "poor tool" for efficiency savings since they lead to de-skilling of the workforce.
Tony Wright, the committee's Labour chair, said: "Few civil servants will have forgotten the apparent auction between the government and the opposition in the run-up to the last general election over who could cut the most jobs in the service."
Though the report criticises both parties, the job cuts were set in train by the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, after the 2004 Gershon review he commissioned set a 2008 target of £21.5bn of Whitehall savings. The cuts of over 100,000 jobs have led to two national strikes and an ongoing national campaign by PCS.
In an echo of former home secretary John Reid's now infamous indictment of his own department, the report says "no department seems to be exactly 'fit for purpose' ". The capability reviews, it goes on to say, "... suggest a lack of leadership and serious deficiencies in the service deliveries".
The committee said a lack of recognised qualifications for civil servants' skills made it difficult to assess gaps and how to fill them. This could mean staff losing jobs in one area while an expensive recruitment drive was under way elsewhere. Meanwhile, external recruitment, unless targeted correctly, could "cause as many problems as it solves", the committee said.
PCS put in a submission to the PASC, and will be looking at the detail of the report (which is mainly about skills issues). The full report can be found on the internet.