NIPSA Reports March 2013

NIPSA Reports

NeWSPAPeR OF NORTHeRN IRelAND’S leADING PUBlIC SeRvICe TRADe UNION

MARCH 2013 Tel: 028 90661831 www.nipsa.org.uk

Union slams ‘meagre’ 1% pay rise under Agenda for Change

‘Disastrous’ Welfare Reform Bill set to go before Assembly

Adding a touch of colour and fun to the International Women’s Day parade in Belfast – story and more pictures on page 4

NIPSA has called on MlAs not to vote through the Welfare Reform Bill claiming it will be “disastrous” for those families “both in work and out of work” impacted most by the legislation.

such as direct payment to landlords, split payments and fortnightly payments – are not yet assured.

Also, the ‘bedroom tax’ issue has made headlines recently – and it is calculated that allowing this one flexibility will cost apThe Bill, now that it has finproximately £17m. ished its scrutiny stage through The spokesperson added: the Social Development Com"While some MLAs have quesmittee, is to go before the Astioned if this is not a price worth sembly for full debate. paying - it cannot be sufficient to If enacted, the Bill will take allow all the other draconian elroughly £500m from individuals ements of the Bill to be voted and families in Northern Ireland, through.” thus removing this spending While a majority on the Ad power from the local economy.

Hoc Committee on Conformity A NIPSA spokesperson said: on Equality and Human Rights “Neither individuals, families nor did not find there were any dithe wider Northern Ireland econ- rect equality or human rights isomy can afford this impact, par- sues in the Bill, a number of ticularly with more than 65,000 concerns were raised within the people on the unemployment Committee. register and a further 58,000 These included recognised economically inactive. deficits in the Equality Impact “There are few jobs for those Assessment as well as the lack who are able to work with apof clarity on split payments, fortproximately 10 people chasing nightly payments and directevery job.” landlord payments.

According to the union, a Other issues identified include number of minor concessions the benefit cap, lack of affordannounced by the Minister – able and accessible childcare

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UNION DRIve AGAINST PSNI PRIvATISATION Page 2

and concerns about how the proposals to introduce the ‘bedroom tax’ will impact on current housing benefit recipients.

A recent report from the End Child Poverty campaign revealed that West Belfast – at 43% – has the second highest level of child poverty in the UK, closely followed by L’derry where 35% of children grow up in poverty.

The spokesperson added: “This is unacceptable and the Welfare Reform Bill can only increase these figures and will not address child poverty.”

At the time of going to press, the expected date of the Bill coming back to the Assembly for consideration stage is April 15 and 16. A lobby of MLAs will be held on whichever date this occurs.

It is important that as many members as possible attend this lobby to put pressure on MLAs to vote against the Welfare Reform Bill. Details will be issued to branches and will be posted on the NIPSA website. n Workfare on the brink – See story on page 6.

POOTS SeTS OUT HIS Page STAll ON TyC

NIPSA has slammed government ministers for their “despicable treatment” of hard-working public servants after the NHS Pay Review Body recommended a “meagre” 1% pay rise for all Agenda for Change (AfC) pay points from April 1.

The Pay Review Body stated: “Our pay recommendation is driven by the constraints of the UK Government’s public sector pay policy, staff expectations of a 1% pay award, all assessment of affordability, and the need to support AfC staff motivation and engagement as an essential ingredient to underpin better quality of care to patients.”

It also stated: “Staff engagement and motivation is in decline as pressures are building putting at risk staff goodwill and their willingness to contribute to necessary improvements in the design, delivery and quality of services to patients.”

Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar told NIPSA Reports: “It is clear

the NHS Pay Review Body is not independent of government when its deliberations are clearly fettered by public sector pay policy and interference from government who reminded it of its expectations in the autumn.

“It is clear that government ministers are so far removed from the reality of the pay of AfC workers who are struggling to make ends meet and are becoming more and more reliant on second jobs (if they can get one) or state benefits.

“This meagre pay increase of 1% on top of additional pension increases due to come into effect on April 1, 2013 will almost wipe out any real take-home increase. This is a despicable way to treat hard working public servants.”

The increase is likely to apply in Northern Ireland although the formal letter has still to be issued by the Department to Trusts and other Health Service employers.

Threat to public sector pay in Osborne’s Budget for millionaires

NIPSA has slammed the threat to public sector pay and progression contained in Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget.

family in the UK has had the equivalent of £1,360 taken from them in tax and welfare changes.”

Mr Campfield also warned that the full impact of the Coalition GovernReacting to the March 20 statement’s attack on the welfare system ment, General Secretary Brian Campfield said: “Our members have had yet to take effect. had years of pay freezes – real terms He said: “In terms of the wider wage cuts – and today had the 1% economic context, last year’s omlimit on public sector pay confirmed nishambles budget attracted a lot of for 2015/16. attention but the most scandalous “Osborne has also made clear that aspect of it only takes effect this he intends to attack the progresyear. sion/incremental system. This “This is that each millionaire in comes on top of increased pension Britain will receive a tax cut of contributions imposed by this gov£42,500 a year. In addition, as a ernment of millionaires – forcing demonstration of who funds these workers to work longer, pay more in government extremists, at a time contributions and receive less in when the general public is disgusted pension. at multinationals not paying enough “The confirmation within the tax, Osborne confirmed that he inBudget that Northern Ireland Departtends to cut Corporation Tax to 20% ments will face a further extra 1% cut to their budgets also shows that in 2015.

“Furthermore, while he signalled the failed austerity measures will that he intends to combat tax avoidcontinue. ance to the tune of £3bn, this is put “While there will be much ‘spin’ into context by the fact that £123 bilaround minor changes to personal lion in tax is currently avoided, allowances, this is put into context evaded or unpaid in the UK.” by the fact that, since 2010, each

UNION CAMPAIGN AGAINST NIHe INjUSTICe SeRveD ON Page 5 PSNI STAFF MeMBeRS

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NEWS

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OPINION Trade unions must grow strong to resist this onslaught

SO we have just had the current Chancellor of the exchequer’s fourth budget since the UK Coalition Government assumed office in May 2010.

Despite the downgrading of the UK’s credit rating and the predictions by the Office of Budget Responsibility of weak growth and possibly a triple-dip recession we are to be force fed more of the same old policies of cutting public expenditure, depressing wages along with tax breaks and giveaways to the private companies.

The budget was hailed as citizen friendly with increases in personal tax allowances, 1p off a pint of beer and promises of child care financial breaks for families.

There was no mention of the fact that these minor giveaways are more than offset by the VAT rate of 20% and that resources are to be transferred from public service running costs to fund infrastructure investment.

Effectively this means that public services will be robbed to fund public investments; a measure which will provide business (and profit) for the private sector as well as much needed housing and other infrastructure.

As anticipated there is to be further unfair restrictions on public sector pay through a cap of 1% which will last at least until 2016. But the Chancellor also went out of his way to em-

phasise that he is targeting pay increments or pay progression, as it is termed in some quarters. This coincides with the tax break for millionaires.

We are not at all surprised at the priorities of this Government. They are clearly governing the country in the interests not of working people but in the interests of the wealthy and big business.

At the same time the Government continues to target social security provision and cloaks these despicable policies as an attack on the shirkers and the skivers. They claim to stand in support of the strivers.

However, they deliberately fail to highlight the fact that around 40% of those receiving social security benefits are actually in work and stand to lose considerably from the socalled welfare reform agenda.

Cuts to housing benefits, families tax credits and other vital support for families, in and out of work, will take effect when the “universal credit” is introduced over the next year or so.

This includes thousands of NIPSA members and their families and so we make no apology for leading the campaign in Northern Ireland to stop the introduction of the Welfare Bill.

The Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly can demonstrate their abhorrence and opposition to the attacks on working and non-

working families by refusing to implement the changes to the social security provision.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies in a report for the Law Centre in Northern Ireland estimated that welfare reform would remove around £500m a year from the Northern Ireland economy, given that those who receive social security spend most if not all of their income, thus benefiting the local economy.

It is not difficult to contrast this with the relaxed approach by the Northern Ireland Executive to any departure from parity on corporation tax. This is a necessary evil, most of them argue, but hammering low-paid workers, the growing army of unemployed people, the sick and the disabled cannot be avoided because of this same parity “principle”.

By the time this issue of NIPSA Reports is published, the UK prime minister will have decided whether to devolve the power to set the rate of corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The truth is that he would be more than happy to reduce the corporation tax rate for the whole of the UK to the same 12.5% as applies in the Republic of Ireland – if he could get away with it.

The demands from Scotland for a similar dispensation and subsequent pressure from the regions are the main reasons the Northern

come as a surprise because in reality the PSNI have built a relationship with private security companies and cheap labour providers such as Grafton over the past 10 years.

“The recent Northern Ireland Audit Office report highlighted this and questioned whether the alleged savings claimed by the PSNI were accurate.

“Despite misgivings about the handling of contracts, lack of scrutiny, public unease at the use of agency workers and so on, the PSNI have now bought into the idea that ‘private is good and public is bad’.”

Mr McKinney said that NIPSA members working within the PSNI had a different view and were “on the contrary, witnesses to a different reality”.

He added: “The ‘private sector’ workers often fail to show up, are not properly sifted and assessed or have returned to the police after receiving Patton severance packages.

“Indeed, despite attempts by PSNI and some politicians to claim that ‘jobs for the boys’ issue is in the past, our members continually provide evidence that it continues with examples of retirements on Fridays and re-employment on Monday common.

“This last point is, in my view, significant.

In Northern Ireland 25% of our young people are looking for jobs while at the same time some people are on their second career in the police. There is something wrong with that picture and NIPSA have every right to put that up front and centre.”

NIPSA Reports has also received information that some PSNI civilian staff are being forced to re-locate because of the Resource NI contract.

PSNI management want to ensure that Resource NI staff are placed in central ‘hubs’ – but this can only be achieved by moving permanent staff.

This has led to many permanent staff

Ireland lobby for a reduced rate of tax on profits will be denied.

Meanwhile, NIPSA members will not be deluded into believing that there is no alternative to the austerity programme of this Government. They know that there are alternatives.

They know about the billions stashed away in tax havens. They know about the billions lost through tax avoidance. They should know about the £770 billion plus resting in UK Corporate bank accounts.

They don’t believe that there is no money out there. They know it is in the wrong hands and it should be used for the benefit of society and not to generate increasing profits.

That is why we need to keep highlighting the unfairness, the injustice, the inequality in our society. When we protest and strike and lobby on behalf of members, we are exposing the bankruptcy of the system and its inability to deliver for workers, their families and their communities.

The trade union movement is the only defence we have against the current onslaught.

It is essential we build the strength of the union if we are to successfully resist these attacks.

NIPSA drive against PSNI privatisation stepped up NIPSA has stepped up its campaign of opposition to privatisation within the PSNI.

It comes as the date for the Judicial Review into Chief Constable Matt Baggott’s decision to sell-off PSNI civilian posts approaches.

Last July, the PSNI awarded a £180m contract to Resource NI to supply up to 1,000 workers in roles previously filled by support staff – many of whom are NIPSA members.

The PSNI attempted to justify this on the basis that austerity measures imposed by Government meant the organisation had to work with a reduced budget.

However, HQ Official Ryan McKinney claimed management went straight for what he called the “off-the-shelf solution – privatisation” rather than discuss with trade union representatives how the reduced budget could be managed.

He told NIPSA Reports: “This should not

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NIPSA Reports

NIPSA Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DP, Tel: 028 90661831 Fax 028 90665847 or email: alison.millar@nipsa.org.uk Editorial contact details: Bob Miller email: bob.miller@nipsa.org.uk Correspondence should be sent to the above address.

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General Secretary, Brian Campfield

being displaced impacting on their childcare arrangements and work-life balance.

One source told NIPSA Reports: “PSNI management often talk about how they ‘value’ our contribution. We know, however, that they see many of our terms and conditions in a negative light.

“Maternity pay, sick pay, annual leave, pension etc are all costs which can be avoided by using agency workers. On the one hand we are ‘valued’ while on the other hand our jobs are slowly being sold-off and any one brought in now will be working for Resource NI and paid a pittance.

“It is short-sighted and sad that in 2013 decent public sector jobs are portrayed as unaffordable.”

The Judicial Review hearing into the Resource contract will be heard over three days from June 19. n NIPSA Reports will keep members briefed on further developments.

Concerns raised over lPS review

NIPSA Branches within DFP land and Property Services (lPS) have reacted angrily to news that Management Side intends to review its Revenue and Benefits section.

And members voiced their concerns over future employment, pay, terms and conditions, pension and staff numbers at a wellattended meeting last month.

NIPSA Official Noel Griffin, who spoke at the meeting, warned: “Make no mistake this review is about privatising work currently done by civil servants, of which the vast majority are NIPSA members.

“If the review recommends outsourcing and that is accepted by the Department, approximately 350 to 400 existing posts will be under threat. That includes NICS terms and conditions.”

He added: “It is a difficult issue for NIPSA to grapple with as we have a long-held policy of opposition to privatisation. However, we cannot ignore the review and allow management a free rein.

“With the full support of the local branches we intend to do everything possible to ensure Revs and Bens work remains within the NICS and is not handed over to the private sector.

“We have set up a local team of branch representatives to assist NIPSA HQ and the DFP TUS Office to ensure the service provided by our members is protected.”

The review’s proposed terms of reference state: “Research, analyse and evaluate the viability of outsourcing the LPS benefits and revenue services and to make recommendations on the most appropriate future delivery of these services.”

In relation to Project Outputs, the terms of reference include: “Evaluation and analysis of the viability of outsourcing the revenue and benefits services of LPS. This would include: assessing the commercial viability of outsourcing and potential impact on performance and value for money.”

An initial meeting with Management Side earlier this month discussed the draft terms of reference and to ensure there is input from TUS at every stage.

Meanwhile, NIPSA also reacted to Management Side claims that the review related to the replacement of the rating IT system (not outsourcing).

Mr Griffin countered: “That is somewhat misleading since the background to the project clearly states that prior to a procurement IT process commencing, consideration is given to the viability of outsourcing the Revenue and Benefits service.”

According to NIPSA, the union would welcome the amending of terms of reference to remove all reference to outsourcing but does not anticipate any such change.

Transforming Your Care – Poots sets out his stall NEWS

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AS previously reported, NIPSA prepared a detailed response to Stormont Health Minister edwin Poots’ consultation document Transforming your Care: vision to Action.

Along with other unions, Staff Side organisations, carers, patients and user groups, there was concerted opposition to the proposals primarily on the basis that there were insufficient funds within the HSC budget to finance such a radical reform programme.

However, it appears such concerns have fallen on deaf ears as the Minister recently confirmed to the Assembly that most of the TYC Vision to Action proposals are to be implemented in a somewhat undiluted fashion.

According to the union, this is neither surprising nor unexpected given the Minister’s track record of ignoring most views expressed through previous consultation exercises – in particular, the overwhelming negative responses made to the location of Shared Services within the HSC. Yet Mr Poots proceeded regardless.

In a recent announcement the Minister and the DHSSPS set out a number of key elements on their proposed way forward: n Calling for “radical change” to cope with “significant pressures”, including an ageing population, a growth in chronic conditions and an “over-reliance” on hospital beds. n Claiming the TYC report presented “a compelling case” for re-

form with demand for services predicted to rise by 4% a year until 2015. n Claiming, referencing the Francis Report, that quality of care be placed “consistently at the front and centre of all we do”. n Claiming every household in Northern Ireland “was offered the chance” to take part in the consultation process in which it claimed that an “overwhelming” backing for the need for change. n On mental health, it highlighted the importance of early, local intervention and the DHSSPS confirmed £13m investment in the sector over the next three years as well as the development of six acute mental health units for adults. n On Resettlement: It was also confirmed that the HSCB now had plans in place for the completion of the re-settlement of those in longterm institutional care with learning disabilities by 2015. It claimed care would be taken to ensure re-settlement was “done sensitively” and “in consultation with the individuals and their families”. n It said a workforce planning group had been set up to look into and assess proposed changes on training and development for the various professions. n Integrated Care Partnerships would, it claimed, enable local Health and Social Care professionals and the voluntary and community sector organisations to work together more closely. The DHSSPS is to invest more than £15 million in the development of a

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breaches, improve the four-hour performance and tackle unscheduled care waiting times. n Called for a “change in culture” from an “individual institution-based approach” to a “more sustainable network approach”. n It confirmed that £8 million is to be invested in additional cardiac catheterisation services over the current budget period and that £7 million will be invested in additional orthopaedics capacity in the Southern, Western and Belfast Trusts. n On Causeway Hospital, the Minister indicated he wished to remove “uncertainty” for patients, service users and staff and said he had instructed officials to “take forward a detailed options appraisal” on the issue.

According to NIPSA, it was disappointing that the Minister has chosen to ignore a lot of the valuable contributions that were made by a range of organisations over the above proposals.

While the Department has indicated its strategic direction, NIPSA has stated that it will challenge many of these assumptions.

A source said: “For example we Health Minister Edwin Poots .... chose to ignore a lot of invaluable contributions do not believe every household in that were made by a range of organisations Northern Ireland was consulted about these proposals!

Health and Social Care provision” total of 17 ICPs over the next two “NIPSA will also consult with its and the commitment to “supporting years. members and other staff in the n It is proposed to reduce the num- our citizens to be able to stay at HSC to determine their response to home where possible”. ber of statutory residential homes n The development of five to seven these proposals and as such there by half over the next three to five will be full consultation and enacute hospital networks. years. It claimed this “signals our n The DHSSPS said it was “deter- gagement with members to detercommitment to thinking outside of mine the appropriate trade union mined” to eliminate 12-hour an institutional-led approach to response.”

Museum and Guildhall NIPSA official elected to War on Want Board staff stage protest

NIPSA members working for Derry City Council staged a lunchtime protest outside the council’s Strand Road office on March 25.

It follows the recent announcement of a restructuring exercise by council chiefs affecting Museum and Guildhall staff.

It is understood a number of staff are at risk of redundancy while others face redeployment.

NIPSA Higher Executive Officer Alan Law said: “NIPSA is disappointed that Derry City Council has not embraced the opportunity of the reopening of

the Guildhall to retain experienced staff and to help them develop into the new job roles that the council plans to create.

“We hope that local councillors will defend these jobs with the same vigour as they would if another employer was embarking on a rolling programme of redundancy threats.

“In recent months more than 30 staff within Derry City Council have faced the continued uncertainty of redundancy and NIPSA is calling on the council to revisit their plans and ensure every effort is made to retain experienced and dedicated staff.”

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NIPSA official Tony McMullan has been elected to the Board of leading charity War on Want.

Mr McMullan, who had been a member of the charity for more than 30 years, will become one of the very few members from Northern Ireland to have served on the Board.

In his election manifesto, Mr McMullan pointed out that he had been a War on Want member “in good times and bad”.

He said he believed in War on Want, its passion and vision and argued that the cause of poverty and injustice could only be solved by dealing with the root cause of it ¬– political dominance by the rich and powerful.

Mr McMullan pointed that Martin Luther King had once called for a

revolution against world poverty adding that that was “a cause whose time had come”.

War on Want, the campaign against world poverty, has been in existence for nearly 60 years. Unlike other charities, War on Want has its roots in the Labour movement.

Its mid-wife was socialist publisher Victor Gollancz. He wrote a letter to The Guardian on February 12, 1952, during the Korean War, calling for the money spent on the arms race to be used instead for the world’s poor.

The thousands of letters who answered this call led to Gollancz forming the Association for World Peace.

This, in turn, evolved into War on Want.

War on Want started out as a campaigning organisation and has al-

TUS and management agree joint RPA review FOllOWING the transfer of functions from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the Business Service Organisation – part of the Health and Personal Social Services – on April 1, the Departmental Whitley Council agreed to a Trade Union Side suggestion that a joint review of the process be made.

It is anticipated that once the review is completed and signed off by both sides, its findings will be shared with Corporate HR and other NICS departments facing potential RPA transfers.

At present staff in the Urban Regeneration function of DSD are expected to transfer to the new District Councils when they come into op-

eration in April 2015.

Staff at the Department of education will also transfer to the education and Skills Authority once it is set up.

A draft paper has been produced looking at the key issues over temporary transfer arrangements, reporting arrangements, TUPe regulations and pension arrangements.

It also covers governance, legal issues, the identification of RPA-affected posts, transfer options, timing of return to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and an overview of the programme planning and operational issues involved.

A NIPSA source said: “It is anticipated that the report will be completed and agreed in the foreseeable future.”

ways remained true to its origins standing consistently alongside the poor, the hungry and the oppressed. n It argued against the law that prevented charities engaging in political activity. n It pioneered ways of working with rather than for its project partners. n It was among the first to challenge the exploitative policies of multinational pharmaceutical, tobacco and baby foods companies. n It has campaigned for women’s rights, trade unions and co-operatives in the Third World. n It was the first organisation to campaign against the debt crisis. n And it supported liberation movements in South Africa at a time when others sat on the fence.

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NEWS

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Suffragettes remembered

WOMeN from across Northern Ireland paid tribute to the rights that were hard won by the suffragettes during this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations.

NIPSA members, along with hundreds of people walked from the Art College to Belfast City Hall on March 8 to commemorate the achievements of women throughout the world.

Speaking at the event, Dr Margaret Ward explained that the suffragettes took militant action in support of their demand for the vote.

She said: “The campaign challenged both unionist and nationalist politicians as women fought for their right to citizenship, filling the Grand Opera House and the Ulster Hall with supporters and controversially attacking property and serving prison sentences in Crumlin Road jail.”

As part of International Women’s Day events NIPSA delegates also attended the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Women’s Seminar at Liberty Hall on March 8. NIPSA Assistant Secretary Geraldine Alexader, who attended the event, said: “It opened with a welcome from Betty Tyrrell Collard on behalf of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, followed by an address by Congress President Eugene McGlone.

“He looked at the position of women in the trade union movement 100 years on and argued that more work needed to be done to achieve real and genuine involvement by more women in their unions.

“Firstly, he said, there was a need to understand the spectrum of women in the labour market and then to apply that knowledge to the current position of women in trade unions.”

There then followed a keynote address

by Dr Michael Collins of the Nevin Economic Research Institute. He said women had been worst hit in the recession because they were over-represented in sectors that had suffered most from the 20% fall in domestic demand.

He told seminar participants: “Reduced demand in sectors of the economy where female participation is higher – retail, catering – has impacted on the numbers of women at work, the number of hours available for them to work and, consequently, the income of their households.”

Dr Collins claimed that high concentrations of women in low paid and precarious employment also contributed to ongoing gender inequality.

He said: “The gender pay-gap persists in Ireland. Women earn on average 14% less than men and this widens further when they have children. Clearly, the issues of low pay and precarious employment must be addressed if we are to make any tangible progress on reducing gender inequality.

“In this context, the provision of Decent Work and a living wage is of great signifi-

cance. Sustainable recovery and more equal societies cannot be built on the back of precarious employment and low wage jobs,” he added.

The Liberty Hall conference also featured a brief session with some of the Magdalene women and campaigners.

They called for support for their demands to ensure the forthcoming reparations process is independent, open, transparent, accessible and fair. They insisted it also must provide justice to the women in responding to the full extent of human rights violations suffered by them.

Gloria Amparo Suarez – a worker for the Women’s against Violence Organisation (OFP) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia – also addressed the seminar.

She spoke of the fear that she and her colleagues faced from constant death threats.

Ms Suarez told delegates of the personal threat which she received on February 11 when a right-wing paramilitary group knocked on her door, with photos of her two teenage sons.

They told her they would kill them if she did not stop participating in this movement.

The violence – so much part of their daily lives – is tearing their community apart.

Ms Suarez said they were constantly trapped between the right-wing paramilitaries, the corrupt state forces, and leftwing guerrillas.

The seminar also heard a special tribute to the late Inez McCormick, who was held in the highest regard across the international trade union movement.

Meanwhile, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said the Government’s March 8 transposition of an EU Directive on Parental Leave represented a “missed opportunity” to tackle parental inequality in a more ambitious, comprehensive manner.

ICTU Assistant General Secretary Sally Anne Kinahan said: “The minimalist approach adopted in transposition will copper fasten inequalities in the workplace and the home in relation to parental leave and childcare.

“We know the gender pay gap widens significantly when women have children.

Ireland falls below the EU 15 in relation to leave and childcare support, which in turn ensures women remain over-represented in lower paid work. Fathers in Ireland have no right to paternity leave, which means the burden falls primarily on women.

“Government has committed to consolidating all family leave legislation into one Act. Congress believes any such process should seek to rebalance care duties to ensure there is greater equality. A statutory right to Paternity Leave would be a step in this direction,” Ms Kinahan added.

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NIPSA’s campaign against NIHE abolition gathers pace NEWS

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NIPSA has been actively campaigning against the abolition of the NIHe. This is a brief update on actions the union has taken so far...

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NIPSA is very concerned that the provision of social housing for the most vulnerable is to be classed as a “social business”.

NIFHA Chief Executive Cameron Watt – who preHowever, union sources have voiced disNIPSA has met with housing viously worked in the Reappointment that a number of councils have newing One Nation team spokespersons for Sinn Fein, DUP, SDlP and UUP. The Alliance Party has refused to meet with NIPSA. These include at Conservative Central Carrickfergus Borough Council, Castlereagh Office – said he believed not as yet responded to its request for Borough Council, Coleraine Borough Counthat the “bedroom tax” a meeting. cil, Newtownabbey Borough Council, Lisburn should be resisted and deAt the meetings NIPSA made its fundamental opposition clear to splitting the NIHE City Council and North Down Borough Coun- feated! cil.

However, it was clear into a Regional Strategic Body and a sepaThe remaining councils have not as yet re- this came not from an iderate landlord function or functions outside of sponded to NIPSA requests for a meeting. ological position or bethe public sector.

In addition, a meeting with the Central cause of the impact on A union delegation also addressed the Social Development Committee on February 21 Community Housing Network is to take place 32,000 families severely impacted by any “bedroom – the first in an anticipated series of engage- on May 8. NIPSA has also responded to requests from various groups for speakers at tax”, but from the view that ments with the Committee on this important events on the issue. the “bedroom tax” was a issue. It was accepted by the Committee The union also attended a Housing Con“huge risk” for housing asChair that it was early days and that commitference organised by Agenda NI at which sociations "being able to tee members believed further engagement there were a number of keynote speakers. get their hands on the with NIPSA would be needed as thoughts Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar was 90,000 Housing Executive and positions crystallised. at the conference and claimed it seemed as properties because the fiA meeting was also held with the Will if “vultures were circulating – waiting to nancial institutions would Haire, the Permanent Secretary at the Depounce”.

And there were many interested probably not lend to Housing Associations partment of Social Development. At the parties in attendance, including financial inwith the huge risk of increasing areas bemeeting NIPSA officials clearly set out the stitutions, housing associations and elected cause of the bedroom tax." union’s expectations for “full, open and Mr Watt also stated that there were many meaningful” talks on the whole Social Hous- representatives.

DSD Deputy Secretary Heather Cousins opportunities to be gained by the reform of ing Reform programme. said the Minister had set a target of 8,000 the NIHE – including that Northern Ireland NIPSA proposed that monthly meetings new homes to be built by 2015 and that it should be open to UK housing associations between NIPSA and DSD be held to deal was imperative that funding was secured to moving into the sector locally. This is not a with the plethora of issues that are sure to meet that target. view shared by NIPSA, nor does the union arise over the next two years.

Speaking on the fundamental review of the believe is it shared by a number of political Union officials felt the meeting was useful.

Housing Executive, she noted that there representatives and other interested parties.

The Permanent Secretary also agreed to rewere many issues to be addressed including Two of the most telling quotes of the day spond to NIPSA by the end of March about legislation, democratic accountability, enwere: how best to deal with the issues, including hanced inspection and regulation as well as Heather Cousins, DSD, speaking in reappropriate negotiating and consultation ensuring the any new landlord was free to sponse to a question over whether the arrangements. seek investment. timescale of March 2015 was achievable, NIPSA has also written to all 26 councils Donald Hoodless, Chairman of the Housreplied: “While the timetable has been set is seeking meetings with them over the proposing Executive, challenged the issue about challenging, what we must ensure by that als to abolish the NIHE. where responsibility lay for strategy – i.e. date is that what is achieved cannot be unTo date meetings have been held in Derry done.”

City Council, Strabane District Council, Ards with the Regional Body or the Department.

However, he felt that while structures could In reply to a question from NIPSA Deputy Borough Council, Fermanagh District Counbe changed, it would also be necessary to General Secretary Alison Millar on the issue cil and Limavady District Council. Further of a tenant ballot – while Paddy Gray, of meetings are scheduled with Omagh District transform current behaviours and cultures.

Whether it was a Regional Housing Body UUJ, indicated he was in favour of tenants Council, Armagh District Council, Craigavon having a vote, all other speakers said they Borough Council, Cookstown District Council or the social landlords – they would be required to change themselves into what Mr did not believe a ballot was necessary. They and Moyle District Council.

Hoodless called “social business”.

felt that consultation and engagement with the tenants was more important than giving them a vote.

Alison Millar said: “It is totally unacceptable that the 90,000 tenants may not be afforded a vote on the future of how and by whom their homes are provided.

“This is despicable and condescending attitude to thousands of tenants and their families who could literally have their homes transferred to another landlord without their agreement.

“NIPSA will be ensuring that this message is communicated to tenants through residents’ associations and directly with tenants.”

According to the union, it is clear the fight to retain the Housing Executive will be intense and will require a co-ordinated and sustained campaign, working with tenants in defence of their rights.

NIPSA has stated it is committed to continuing with this campaign with tenants and other interested parties including political representatives who will have the ultimate decision on any transfer as it will require legislative changes and consent.

THe Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Trade Union Side has voiced its serious concern about a departmental review into the future of the Health estates Investment Group, formerly the Health estates Agency.

When the transfer of functions from the civil to the public service was being considered under RPA, it was recommended that the Health estates

meeting with Management Side.

A source told NIPSA Reports: “It is hoped that the initial difficulties Trade Union Side had with Management Side have been resolved.

“Trade Union Side has now received assurances that they will be fully consulted at all stages of the internal review which is expected to report back to the Minister by june.”

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Concern over Health estates Investment Group review Agency be transferred to the Health and Personal Social Services, either the Regional Board or individual Health Trusts.

The then-Health Minister Michael McGimpsey decided to retain the Health estates function within the Department but stripped the body of its agency status, making it an integral part of the Department.

It was renamed the Health estates

Obituary: Aaron Diarmuid Ua Flaithbertaig

AARON’S involvement with NIPSA stretches back to the early 1990s when he was a local branch representative for Water Service. He left the Civil Service on a career break between 1998 and 2003 and resumed working in Water Service on his return.

He took on the role of local branch representative for Water Service again in late 2003 and at that time also became a Water Service representative on the NIPSA Departmental Committee.

When Water Service moved out of the Civil Service in 2007, Aaron took on a more prominent union role and in 2011 he took on the full-time role of NIPSA Water Group Secretary.

During his time as Water Group Secretary, Aaron was involved in an Industrial Tribunal which secured hard-won terms and conditions for hundreds of union

Investment Group.

The HeIG’s function is to plan health service accommodation such as new hospitals, offices etc.

The body employs a range of experienced staff, including clerks of work and architects as well as having a dedicated administration function.

The DHSSPS Trade Union Side has expressed serious concern over the lack of consultation over the move in a

Activist played key role in Equal Pay talks

members who had transferred from the Civil Service to Northern Ireland Water (NIW).

More recently Aaron played a key role in negotiations which resulted in an important equal Pay settlement for union members in NIW. The achievement of this financial settlement for low-paid workers was something of which he was justifiably proud.

Aaron was passionate about the union movement and labour politics which was reflected in a several thousand word manifesto he had prepared as a candidate for a NIPSA Committee.

The lengthy manifesto contained statements from people as diverse as Karl Marx and George W Bush and was indeed very interesting.

It was, therefore, with some disappointment that Aaron received the news from

colleagues that the manifesto had a 100word limit.

He was also passionate about photography and was regularly seen with his camera at NIPSA demonstrations and events.

A number of his photos, some irreverently adapted, adorn the notice boards in the NIPSA Departmental Office.

In a NIPSA photograph featuring Aaron himself colleagues spotted that he bore a striking resemblance to a local council election candidate. When the election poster was placed on the notice board beside his own picture, Aaron had to concede that while he may not have shared all of the candidate’s political views, they did look alike.

Aaron was very much a part of the NIW and DOe/DRD NIPSA Office family and will be missed by his friends and colleagues there and also in the wider NIPSA family.

Injustice served on members NEWS

Page 6 NIPSA Reports

NIPSA officials have voiced their “deep disappointment” with a County Court judgement over a number of breach of contract test cases pursued by the union on behalf of PSNI/former PSNI and DOj/former NIO members.

The union’s legal team had argued that Northern Ireland civil servants who had any service with the PSNI and/or NIO were entitled to receive the full benefit of the equal pay settlement.

But in his March 7 judgement Judge Babington rejected the four categories covered in the test cases.

These were: n Those in a NICS department on February 1, 2009 with any service within the PSNI classified by NICS management as non-reckonable; n Those in a NICS department on February 1, 2009 with any service within the NIO classified by NICS management are non-reckonable; n Those who at October 1, 2008 had been transferred to the employment of the NI Policing Board with effect from that date; and n Those who prior to April 12 had worked in the NIO and as of that

date worked in the newly-created Department of Justice.

Staff in all of these categories had not received the full benefit of the terms negotiated by NIPSA in 2009 to settle equal pay.

The union has described judgement as “deeply disappointing” and claimed for many members “it is completely incomprehensible”.

Throughout their NICS careers those who had worked in the PSNI and NIO had been treated exactly the same in every other way as colleagues working in NICS departments.

Service in the PSNI and NIO had always been taken to be reckonable, for example in terms of leave, pensions etc.

However, when it came to equal pay, their service in these areas was excluded.

Throughout the equal pay talks, NIPSA had argued that any settlement should be applied to all Northern Ireland civil servants as well as those in a range of Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) that attract NICS rates of pay.

However, on receiving the proposed terms of settlement in November 2009, NICS management made clear the terms offered only

extended to those employed in a NICS department as of February 1, 2009.

It was NICS management that insisted the terms were not offered to staff in PSNI and NIO and that any service there was to be classed as non-reckonable.

Notwithstanding this setback, NIPSA sought urgent talks with management arguing that the terms of settlement should be applied in those bodies (following the ballot to accept the terms offered).

NIPSA also sought legal advice at that time over potential breach of contract cases in the event of progress not being made in negotiations.

It was management’s failure to apply the full terms of the settlement that led to NIPSA lodging the breach of contract cases in the County Court.

Since the judgement, NIPSA has organised more than 30 meetings with those members affected.

These have primarily been within the PSNI and NIO as the branch structures make it easier to organise in those areas.

NIPSA is aware that a number of members who were (and remain) in a NICS department but had former

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service in the PSNI and/or NIO and who had that service excluded from the calculation of their revised rates of pay and lump sum payments, were also badly treated and are angry about the judgement.

Given the spread of those members throughout the NICS, it has not been possible to organise meetings for them within the timeframe available since the March 7 judgement.

NIPSA has, however, issued a bulletin with an accompanying document summarising the issues involved from the start of the equal pay claims being lodged.

The summary addresses a number of concerns raised with NIPSA since the judgment was made, rather than making individual responses on what are effectively common areas of concern.

Assistant General Secretary Kieran Bannon told NIPSA Reports: “Everyone is deeply disappointed.

All of us in NIPSA – those who put themselves forward as Plaintiffs and our legal representatives – did everything possible to present a strong case to the Court.

“We remain convinced that, despite the judgement, a great injustice has been served on our

members working, or who had worked, in either the PSNI and/or NIO. “Clearly they have been judged to be second class civil servants and I am not surprised that our members in those areas ask when is a Northern Ireland civil servant not a Northern Ireland civil servant – unfortunately, we now have an answer to that question.”

He added: “There is no question in my mind that our members in those areas, or who had service in those areas, are entitled to the full settlement terms. Despite past comments from MLAs in Assembly debates that the equal pay issue was as much about moral obligations as legal obligations, there is obviously a great distinction between the two.

“The Court has determined these matters without any regard to moral arguments or natural justice.”

Following consultation with NIPSA’s legal team, it has been decided not to appeal the decision.

This was based on an assessment of the likelihood of an appeal succeeding and is not in any way an acceptance that the case for our members in the PSNI and DOJ (formerly NIO) is not justified.

PCS and NIPSA hold joint Union Learning Conference

THe FIFTH PCS/NIPSA Union learning Conference was held in Belfast on March 1 and was attended by more than 40 UlRs, guests and senior trade union officials.

vocates” of training and learning. A speaker from the NI Dyslexia Centre gave an enlightening presentation on adult dyslexia. This hidden disability affects roughly 10% of the population to varying degrees.

Another impressive presentation The event, hosted by Union Learncame from a Northern Ireland-based ing Project co-ordinators Brian Magee company called Texthelp. of PCS and NIPSA’s Róisín Graham, The firm develops assistive technolwas addressed by NIPSA Deputy ogy and software for people with disGeneral Secretary Alison Millar and abilities, including dyslexia, and works PCS Leaning Services and Education with a range of government organisaOfficer Karen Foster. tions.

Opening the conference, Alison MilThe final guest presentation was delar reflected on the success of the joint livered by the HMRC Operational DeLearning Project and commended livery Profession (ODP) team. They ULRs on their hard work and commitwork with HMRC in delivering a workment. based qualification.

She paid tribute to the solidarity and The conference also recognised the comradeship between both unions and achievements, hard work and commitexpressed her hope that this collaboment of ULRs and learners, and a ration would continue to grow, adding number of certificates were presented that it had proven to be very success- to participants from both unions. ful to date.

Mary Keys received the ‘NIPSA ULR Karen Foster congratulated ULRs on of the Year’ award while Neil Alton was their good work and reiterated the honoured with ‘PCS ULR of the Year’. point that every trade union rep should Caroline McCann was named also be an organiser.

‘NIPSA Learner of the Year’ and She told participants that this was Catherine Nelis ‘PCS Learner of the important as members and reps were Year’. facing unprecedented attacks on emOther NIPSA and PCS ULRs who ployment rights. ULRs needed to point had successfully completed their trainout their statutory rights to employers. ing received certificates and ULR “ULRs have a special opportunity to badges. engage with non-members and everyA feedback session from ULRs was one should be encouraging non-mem- then held. bers to join their union.”

The project co-ordinators concluded Ms Foster added that she was the conference by thanking ULRs and pleased to see that ULRs were keen learners for their efforts and wished to gain as much training as possible them well for the coming year. and in doing so they were “strong ad-

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NIPSA vows support for PCS UK-wide campaign of action

NEWS

Page 7 NIPSA Reports

NIPSA has vowed its best wishes, solidarity and support to sister union PCS as it staged a UK-wide strike on March 20.

this government believes it can get away with it. What will be left in many civil and public service jobs will be large call centre-type jobs.

“Has this government learned The strike, timed to coincide with nothing of the failed call centre-type Chancellor George Osborne, was work in the private sector in the late over government attacks on pay, 1980s and 1990s when a large propensions, jobs and working condiportion of work was outsourced to tions and is part of a rolling threeIndia and other Far Eastern counmonth programme of disruptive tries?

Several years later most of action and walkouts.

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary this work was brought back to the UK because it simply did not work.”

Alison Millar, speaking at a joint Re-iterating NIPSA’s continuing NIPSA/PCS on the day of the strike, support, she told PCS members said the Chancellor’s announcement of a £2.5bn in cuts could only who were at the meeting: “It was heartening to join you on various mean “further job losses, loss of public services to communities and picket lines this morning and see the resolve and commitment of the erosion to members; terms and many activists and members who conditions of employment”. are prepared to stand up to this She said it was clear the PCS government. was being targeted by the Govern“I can assure PCS members that ment because of its stance in deNIPSA will continue to support PCS fending its members’ interests and in their struggles through attenin attacking creeping privatisation dance at picket lines, joint meetings within the public sector. and other action as requested by Ms Millar said: “It is appalling that PCS.”

Employment Service facing workload crisis THe Department for employment and learning Departmental Committee has held a special meeting to discuss the increasing workload pressures faced by frontline workers because of the Department’s failure to put in place adequate staffing levels.

It is understood that TUS office has received a number of reports detailing how staff are being put under severe pressure given the complexity and range of initiatives being put in place by the Department.

The latest of these is the yeS (youth employment Service) Initiative where Del staff are expected to refer young unemployed people to the Social Security Agency decision-maker if the young person fails to take on a voluntary programme.

This is just the latest initiative, on top of many others, that have put Del staff working in jobs and Benefits offices and jobCentres under increasing pressure.

All this is being done at a time when no additional resources have been provided.

Tony McMullan, NIPSA Official for Del, told NIPSA Reports: “The response which we receive from branches is that members are facing intolerable strains and that offices are now reaching breaking point.

“Del staff are committed and dedicated civil servants who want to provide the highest quality of work to their customers but are being placed in intolerable situations.”

Mr McMullan added that the Del Departmental Committee had asked all branches to identify all current work pressure faced by each office and feed that information back to the TUS office.

When all of this is collated, the Committee will then develop a strategy on how best to alleviate the problems faced by members.

New state pension scheme – another Government con job

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar, accompanied by union President Patrick Mulholland and members Carmel Gates and Lucia Collins join the PCS picket to offer their support.

IN january, the Westminster Government announced it intended to introduce a new state pension scheme from April 2017.

However, Chancellor George Osborne brought this date forward to April 2016 in his March 20 Budget.

The new proposals tie in with the increase in the retirement age, moving to 66 in 2020 and 67 in 2026. It is then to be reviewed every five years.

The proposed rate of £144 per week is 13% below the current pensioner poverty rate of £165 and represents only 18% of the value of mean full-time earnings.

attack on occupational pensions and, in particular, defined benefit schemes, such as the public sector schemes.

Currently defined benefit schemes are contracted out of the contributing second state pension. This means employers and employees pay a reduced level of National Insurance contributions.

Wipe out savings

With the end of contracting out, employers will pay an additional 3.4% and employees 1.4%.

These changes will result in the virtual elimination of defined benefit schemes in the private sector. In public service schemes the additional costs will wipe out any “savings” from the It will continue to ensure that the UK is at the Hutton reforms. bottom of the EU and the OECD league table For the local government scheme in Engin state pension values. land/Wales, the state pension reforms will add In order to be entitled to a full state pension, £1bn to the employers’ NI bill and cost employthe contribution criteria is being increased from ees £300m a year.

30 years to 35 years, representing a 16.66% NIPSA has responded to the proposals, toincrease in National Insurance contributions. tally rejecting them. The union has called for This – when linked to the increase in pension fair, decent state pensions that take pensioners age – provides the Government with its real ob- out of poverty and do not depend upon the jective: to reduce the cost of paying state pencomplexities of the current unfair system of sions. By 2060, the cost will fall from 8.5% of basic pension, pension credit and second state GDP to 8.1%. pension. NIPSA has also reiterated its objecThe proposals are also linked to the on-going tion to the increase in state pension age.

On-going attack

G8 Summit – the alternative…

A RANGe of civil society organisations have bandied together to form a co-ordinating committee that is hoping stage a range of alternative events to coincide with the G8 summit in Fermanagh later this year.

World leaders including US president Barack Obama, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian premier Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the huge event at the luxury Lough Erne Golf Resort in June.

In a March 22 statement issued following a meeting in Belfast, the Coordinating Committee for Alternative Events to the G8 Summit said: “Our organisations represent many different interests but we are united in a commitment to the creation of a world that is fair and just for all.

“We believe that achieving social, economic and environmental justice must be central to political decision-making.

“We will coordinate a festival of events to coincide with the G8 summit, including a major public demonstration in Belfast, calling for a fairer world.”

Any civil society organisation wishing to become involved should contact Kevin Doherty at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, on 028 90247940, or at kevin.doherty@ictuni.org

ONLINE MONTHLY Women and Leadership Training Programme TRADE UNION NEWS Produced in association with the

Irish Congress of Trade Unions

THe next run of Congress’s Women and leadership training programme will commence on Wednesday 24 April 2013 and will be delivered on consecutive Wednesdays ending on 26 june.

n Accessing public bodies n Communication skills.

Participants will be given the opportunity to develop an Action Plan outlining how they intend to apply what they have learnt during the training.

There will also be opportunities to listen to and The programme is open to all women trade interact with women who are or have been in unionists who are interested in exploring issues leadership roles in the trade union movement around women’s participation in trade unions, and public life. decision making bodies and public life. By the The venue for the training is the NIPSA Offices end of the training it is anticipated that particiat 40 Wellington Park, Belfast 9. Please note this pants will have increased knowledge and skills in is not the NIPSA HQ at 54 Wellington Park, but the following areas: their additional offices further along the street. n Leadership styles and approaches The training will commence at 09.30 and end at n The concept of power 16.30 each day (see list of training days and topn Barriers to equality ics). Car parking in the area is difficult and there n Role models and mentoring are usually only limited spaces at NIPSA HQ so n Lobbying and campaigning please leave enough time to find a car parking n Networking space. The training is OCNNI accredited at Level

2. The tutor will be Ann Hope. Participants will be expected to commit to the whole 10 weeks and are responsible for arranging their time off from work to attend. Places are limited so please return the application form to Congress as soon as possible but no later than Wednesday, 17 April.

24 April 2013 Introduction/Power in Society 1 May 2013 Women and Power/Women and Leadership 8 May 2103 Networking/Building Support/Lobbying and Campaigning 15 May 2103 Women in Unions/Decision Making 22 May 2013 Communication Skills 29 May 2103 Dealing with Conflict 5 june 2013 Women and Public Life 12 june 2013 Barriers to Equality 19 june 2013 Role Models and Mentoring 26 june 2013 Presentations/Action Plans/Evaluation

North & South

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Robin bows out in style!

NEWS

Page 8 NIPSA Reports

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IN his usual inimitable style, NIPSA official Robin McClelland bowed out into retirement sporting a bow-tie.

“dab hand at oil painting�. “We will be sorry to see Robin retire as we will miss his distinctive presence but hopefully he will invite his friends and former colRobin, who joined the staff at leagues to his first exhibition.�

NIPSA HQ in 2002, intends to lead Robin thanked the general secan active retirement and spend his retary for his comments. He said time painting and travelling the he joined NIPSA 26 years ago world to visit far-flung relatives. and had been active in the trade At a staff presentation, General union movement from that time.

Secretary Brian Campfield praised He said that as a health service Robin for his years of service to Staff Side Officer, he had seen the trade union movement and to unions acting collectively against NIPSA. management but added that all Before joining NIPSA, Robin had too frequently he had also witbeen a Staff Side Officer for all nessed “the internecine wars� betrade unions in the Health and Sotween them. cial Care Services. “As a Staff Side Officer, I had to “Robin had an inside seat with act very diplomatically and this all the other unions and was in a also gave me a great degree of good position to judge,� said Mr insight into the workings of Campfield.

NIPSA.�

A very active member of NIPSA, He added that he intends to Robin held a number of senior po- NIPSA General Secretary Brian Campfield makes a staff presentation to Robin give more time to his painting McClelland to mark his retirement sitions at branch levels. and was looking at some point to And Mr Campfield said the union In the 1980s Robin had been a driving instage an exhibition or two of his work. appreciated “all the hard work Robin has done structor and a security officer in Dublin for a He also plans to visit relatives in Canada and before and after he became a full-time NIPSA while.

South Africa. official�. “Both those jobs require great patience,� Mr Robin underlined that it was his wish to mainRobin, he added, had a fairly exotic upbringCampfield pointed out, “something which Robin tain his involvement in trade union affairs and ing having been born in Africa and brought up has in abundance.� vowed to keep in touch with his former NIPSA in Kenya but with family connections in North Mr Campfield also noted that Robin was a colleagues.

Tipperary.

IMPORTANT REMINDER... Make sure your contact details are correct if you wish to get your copy of NIPSA NeWS... fill in membership update details below. Or, if you wish to join, then fill out the new membership form (right)

Membership Details

It is important NIPSA maintains up-to-date membership information to ensure communications with our members is direct and timely. Please take the time to fill in and return this form so that we can offer you the best service possible.

To: Membership Unit, NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast BT9 6DP

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Ryan becomes new DSD new Deputy Section Secretary

RyAN Wilson has been appointed Deputy Section Secretary following a trawl notice in the Department for Social Development.

Mr Wilson, who currently chairs the NIPSA youth Committee, is also one of the vice-Chairs on the Civil Service executive Committee and brings range of experience to his new role.

He has been a longstanding committee member of Branch 8 – the largest branch within DSD.

Membership Application Form Part 1 Personal Details

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