Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
PCS Forestry Commission Group News - February 2008
Welcome to another of our newsletters which are published after each meeting of the Group Executive Committee. The newsletters are not intended as a definitive account of the GEC’s actions, those are recorded in the minutes of the meetings, but are an ad-hoc selection of articles which we hope will give a flavour of some of the work of the group and which will be of general interest to most members.
Please also remember that all our group news is always available online at: www.fctu.org.uk/pcs.
In this edition:
> Scotland NOC Report
> Scotland Communication Meetings
> PCS National Campaign
> Forest Research Workload Survey
> STUC Women’s Conference
> New Branch Structures for England
> Pay 2007
> SEARs and SRDP
> Lyme Disease
> Thank You to Kath McNulty
SNOC report by Malcolm Crosby
The Scotland NOC met on 31st January with most participants on the phone in a conference call. This was a trial, which was perhaps well-timed, given the snowy weather on the day.
The main agenda item was the proposed review of FD boundaries and structures proposed by FES Chief Executive. We were gathering views from any who wished to participate. Some Workplace reps took the opportunity to allow others in their location to listen in to the discussion.
Although staff welcomed the invitation for the TUS to be involved from an early stage, there was a strong feeling that the outcome was predetermined and we would have to work hard to influence the matter. A firm steer was given by members that we should insist on looking at the wide picture, not just start to draw new lines on maps. This will be taken forward at the first meeting with management on 6th March.
The teleconferencing trial was agreed as useful, but when details emerge and formal proposals are available, face-to-face meetings will be essential.
We discussed the latest developments with the planned new Grants Scheme in Scotland, to be launched in April, and how joint working with other Scottish Government departments might change in line with the politicians’ desire for us all to act as a one-stop shop. Admin staff have a particular concern over the future quantity and quality of the work they will be asked to do. Some staff may find their roles changing and additional training will probably be needed. Details are still emerging as the various workstream groups complete their findings and regular TUS briefings are given.
Communications Meetings by Malcolm Crosby
Bob Macintosh and Hugh Insley, as the two most senior staff in FC Scotland, have been taking part in a series of 8 roadshows over the last 4 months, finishing on 26th February. These began with powerpoint presentations on the latest policy and financial developments, followed by a good lunch and a Q&A session afterwards. The afternoon session included other senior managers, one of the non-executive Commissioners and a TUS representative. They developed well with many good, searching questions and thoughtful, clear answers. Most people attending have found them of benefit and worthwhile repeating. It was just over two years since the last round of such meetings and this timescale seems about right.
PCS National Campaign by Allan Mackenzie
The Cabinet Office and PCS are still engaged in a series of talks to bring about a satisfactory outcome to the ongoing dispute.
The relevance of the campaign is still very much to the fore for us within the Forestry Commission. The current Government has imposed a pay policy, which keeps public sector pay, pegged at 2%. This Chancellor has been robust in defending the policy wholeheartedly by taking on all comers. Aligned to this Government Departments are being challenged to find further savings and thereby the resources needed to ensure effective delivery of their objectives are being squeezed.
There is to be a lobby of Parliament as part of the campaign on the 11th of March 2008 and all PCS members are invited to attend. Further to this there is a template that can be downloaded from the PCS web site to send to you local Westminster MP. Or you can e-mail your MP directly via the PCS web site.
The need for us to lobby is to add a political dimension to the campaign that provides for questioning and debating in the Westminster Parliament and the more of us who send letters the more we might influence the political debate.
We can be assured that this Government will continue with this type of policy for as many years as they can manage and unless we can win over the politician we will be faced with more pay awards like the one we have just been offered.
FR Workload Survey by Sue Gillingwater
During the latter part of 2007 a growing number of comments and concerns were voiced by some FR staff about the increase in their workloads. As a result, a survey was issued through the joint union’s office to all FR staff to gauge the extent of their anxieties.
The survey ran through out December with staff from all areas of FR taking part and I am pleased to report that over 170 responses were received providing a wide range of comments. A summary of the initial survey results has been placed on the FCTU website and a detailed report will be published as soon as a full analysis has been completed: Results
Women’s STUC Conference - Joanne McAuley
I attended the 80th STUC Women’s conference in November last year. The aims of the conference were to tackle the gender pay gap, the continued campaigning against violence against women, building a broad-based campaign against the trafficking of women and children and improving the conditions for women in work in every sector.
PCS delegation took part in all debates and I moved a motion on the Civil and Public Services campaign. As it was also the 80th Annual Women’s Conference we had a number of guest speakers including Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet secretary for Health and Well-being. We also had a very amusing speech from comedienne Elaine C Smith.
PCS has the honour in 2008 of having Cheryl Gedling from Scottish Government as chair of the STUC Women’s Committee, which, will help raise the profile of PCS as one of the UK’s largest trade unions.
New Branch Structures for England by Edward Shephard
Over the first few months of this year we shall be changing some of the structures in our group, including;
- Increasing the number of branches from three to seven, in England,
- Changing the composition of the GEC, and
- Changing the way that delegates are selected to attend our Group Conference.
From 1st April 2008 our current three branches in England will be replaced with seven smaller ones. Our hope is that this will enable more of you based in England to attend meetings and take an active role in the work of the union. Also, the new branches will be aligned to the boundaries used by the PCS regional offices in England, so each branch will have a single point of contact for seeking local PCS support.
Further information: Main Review Page | List of which new branch each office is in | Map of the new branches.
Pay by Edward Shephard
A final pay offer for 2007 has now been circulated to all members. At the GEC meeting it was agreed that whilst the offer is not good and does not meet some of the important elements of our claim, it is the best offer that can be achieved through negotiation at this time. It is therefore now rightly down to each of us as union members to decide whether or not the offer is good enough to accept.
A full briefing on the offer will be included with the ballot papers, which should be issued very soon!
If you have any comments, please send them to unions@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.
SEARs and SRPD by Hazel MacLean
SRDP
New Scottish Grant Scheme Has now been approved by Europe and we should have formal approval by mid Feb 2008. On that basis it would be reasonable to expect that the Statutory Instrument will be passed by the Scottish Parliament to enable the new RDCs to be open for Statement of Intent in April, this is a change from how we used to issue grants under the Forestry Act. With the full scheme being open to applications in May and therefore the first RPAC likely in June/July.
SEARS
Rural Agencies Working Closer Together in Scotland Currently working on the first 10 deliverables which are to be delivered by the Royal Highland Show Called SEARS1. Once complete SEARS2 etc will commence! SEARS1 is the quick wins although these are likely to have staff training implications and in combination with the implementation of the new Scheme workload implications. The opportunities being worked on at the moment that effect FCS staff are: -
- Integrated advice, regulatory activity and consultation – CAR engineering controls on activities by farmers and foresters. Integration of checks on diffuse pollution via proposed General Binding Rules (GBR) with FCS/SGRPID
- Woodland SSSI/Natura sites not in favourable condition. FCS to become main point of contact in development of agreement to bring into favourable condition.
- Internal Consultation - aim is to establish more effective agreements and concordats about when, why and how consultations occur.
- Integration of inspections for legacy schemes - Schemes operated by SGRPID, SNH and FCS.
SEARS2 is likely to have more implications for staff, but we have not been furnished with any details of this at this point.
Lyme Disease by Allan MacKenzie.
In December 2003 the FC brought out an information card that was issued to all staff and on an annual basis thereafter. The card contains information and description about Lyme disease.
The Union has been concerned for some time that a higher awareness amongst staff was required and that the mechanical issuing of the information note was less than sufficient. Various other land managers are issuing much harder hitting and graphic leaflets about this disease and we therefore felt that the FC should modernise its information. Forest Research has been involved in studying the various aspects associated with this disease and has produced a PowerPoint to graphically demonstrate ticks, symptoms and prevention.
We have had discussions with the FC and looked at what others are doing to raise awareness. The FC has been very receptive and has agreed to produce a much more graphic information leaflet, improve upon the PowerPoint display and produce a credit card style information note that can be carried by staff. Added to this it is hoped to see a section about Lyme Disease added to all First Aid courses, higher emphasis during New Entrants courses and a responsibility by local managers to raise awareness and discuss with staff the aspects surrounding this disease.
Once the new material becomes available we are sure that members will be much better informed and be more able to recognise the steps that an individual can take to prevent contraction of this potentially life threatening disease.
Farewell and a big thank you to Kath McNulty by Antony Griffiths
There must be many Members who know Kath McNulty from FCW. Probably by now you will also be aware that Kath has now left the FC to join ConFor, as National Manager for Wales on a 3 year Secondment. All the Unions and especially PCS colleagues would like to pass on their many thanks for all the hard work that Kath put into Union work across Wales and for her representation on a GB level across the FC. Kath had many strings to her bow and wore a number of different hats covering a multitude of Union tasks and leaves many much needed vacancies to be filled. Some of these have already been picked up, but some still need volunteers to step forward.
Just to highlight what Kath did to support Union Members across FCW and FC GB here are the tasks that she fulfilled over time: FCW PCS Personal Cases (now currently covered), FCW PCS Branch Organiser (vacant), FCW PCS Workplace Contact in Gwydyr Uchaf Office – Coed y Mynydd Forest District (now currently covered), FCW PCS GEC Representative (now currently covered) and FCW PCS Job Trawl Vetting role (now currently covered). Then with a joint Union hat on she was an FCW NOC Representative (pending, but not yet confirmed), FCW NOC Secretary (vacant), FCW NOC FCTU Council Representative (vacant), and finally she was a Harassment and Bullying Representative in FCW (vacant).
Of course Kath didn’t carryout all these tasks at the same time, but was clearly very committed to the values of Union Membership in the FC. Current FCW PCS Members would be grateful to hear from any Members whom are prepared to take on one of the vacant tasks. Please contact Alan Hubbuck or Antony Griffiths in FCW to find out more information and how you can perhaps help. If more Members can do a little bit, then that helps share the important work that your Union Representatives carryout on your behalf. Please remember this is your Union and it only work effectively with all Members support.