Public and Commercial Services Union

The national committee

The National Committee was in its second year of a two year term. The Committee took up office on 1 June 2009.

Membership of the National Committee during 2010 was:-

• Chair Dutchy Holland
• Vice Chair Pat Braby
• Secretary Alan Maloney
• Assistant Secretary Peter Wood
• Members: John Bradbury
• Anne Bryant
• John Cherrett
• Margaret Galloway
• Trevor Gauntlett
• Brian Herbertson
• Gloria Tanner

The minutes of all meetings of the National Committee were circulated to Regional Secretaries and a summary included on the ARMs pages on the PCS website.

ARMs National and Regional Constitutions

No amendments to the ARMs National Constitution were made at the 2010 Forum. Regions have also been reviewing their constitutions and have, as opportunity permits, been amending their rules to bring them into line with the National ARMs rules.

All members of the National Committee, Regional Chairs, Treasurers and Secretaries can now have PCS emails transferred to their personal emails under cover of our PCS-ARMs email address.

Membership & Recruitment

We have regularly updated the PCS website on ARMs issues. During the year we re-designed the ARMs application form to incorporate the ARMs Banner and to include parts of the ‘Keep in Touch’ leaflet which needed to be reissued.

A review of the PCS membership database was commenced during the year.

From January 2010 letters inviting lapsed ordinary members to join ARMs were sent as a matter of routine.

Regional AGMs are now being advertised in the ARMs Newsletter and on the PCS website.

A document illustrating the ARMs structures and PCS services incorporating advice on a range of issues was available during the year.

The ARMs Forum

The ARMs Forum met in Blackpool on 10 June 2010 and a summary included on the ARMs page of the PCS website and an ‘action’ document produced which was circulated to Regions and the National Committee.

The Forum was attended by members of the National Committee, representatives of our Regions and HQ staff. Our main guest speaker was David Wilkinson, PCS DWP Leeds Regional Office. A report also appeared in the ARMs Newsletter.

The next Forum is scheduled to be in Blackpool on 16 June 2011.

The long term development of ARMs

During 2009 and 2010 the National Executive Committee (NEC) reviewed a range of issues concerning ARMs. In essence these were:

• Introduce measures to encourage retiring members to join ARMs via PCS View or via OLS.
• ARMs seek full representation at ADC NOT just observer status. The NEC invited the Chair and two members of the National Committee to observe ADC in 2010.
• Relationship with Regional committees – ARMs would like to see the instruction that was issued to regions to include ARMs reps as oibservers.
• Relationship with groups – needs improving.
• ARMs ability to be included in response to consultations – there needs to be clear instructions on how this can be faciliated.
• Policy decisions being taken forward – how can we best do this?
• ADC fringe meeting – ARMs reps would like to have a fringe meeting at ADC to advertise what they do.
• Waiver on contributions after 50 years – this is being looked into by PCS HQ.
• Relationship of ARMs structures with PCS regional offices – needs detailed discussion.
• Annual TUC conference for retired members – needs discussion with NEC.

Gold Badges

During 2010 Gold Badges recognising service were awarded to:

1. John Bradbury Midlands
2. Peter Wood Greater London
3. Harold A Hunt Greater London
4. Gerrard Sables South West
5. Tony Walsh South West
6. Joseph Allan Scotland
7. Isabel Binning Scotland
8. June England Scotland

Membership Services

No progress has been made on acquiring death benefits for associate members. We are still progressing the need to have access to departmental retirement courses.

ARMs Finances

The NEC agreed a revised budget of £30,000 for ARMs for 2010. The National Committee drew up a number of budget lines covering costs of the Newsletter, Regional expenditures, the Annual Forum, the National Committee, the annual meeting between the National Committee and Regional Representatives, the NPC Parliament, Affiliations/Delegations and a small contingency reserve.

We have tightly controlled expenditure during 2010 and this has been monitored by a small sub group of the National Committee. By the end of the year, subject to final figures being confirmed, we appear to have worked within budget and put considerable resources into Regional budgets. Detailed reports have been made available to the National Committee and a full statement will be circulated to Regions in advance of the 2011 Forum.

For the 2011 budget process the National Committee asked Regions to submit their budgets by mid October 2010 and preliminary accounts for the year by the end of the following January. During 2010 accounts held by our North West, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for 2009 were audited. In 2011 accounts held by South East, Yorkshire and Midlands will have their 2010 accounts audited.

The National Pensioners Convention

The PCS has continued to play its part in NPC activity. The union was represented at the annual Pensioners Parliament and we also purchased a small space in the exhibition area. The PCS Pension Service Group worked closely with ARMs on the occasion of the Annual Parliament where PCS also sponsored a small reception to highlight the PCS Jobs & Services Campaign.

Good relations have also been built up between the union and the NPC at national level. The PCS General Secretary and other colleagues have met NPC officers several times over the year to continue joint working and has appeared on a number of joint platforms; the PCS also affiliated nationally to NPC. The PCS has also publicised the NPC scheme for individual contributions from members and took part in a national demonstration on April 10th 2010 under the banner of “Defending the Welfare State & Public Services”.

Newsletters

During 2010, we published 4 issues of the ARMs Newsletter; in February, April, July/August and November. These were all produced in full colour. The new method of production is cost effective, especially as our production timetable fits in with the publication of PCS View.

During the year a number of Regions also issued Newsletters in the ARMs Newsletter and on the PCS website.

Relations with other organisations

• Trade Union Congress (TUC) – The PCS continued to be represented on the TUC Pensioners Committee by Peter Wood. The Secretary was a member of the TUC Pension Officers network.
• Public Service Pensioner’s Council (PSPC) – The PCS continued to play its part as a member of the Public Services Pensioner Council. Alan Maloney was an elected member of the GPC.
• Age UK – The PCS continued to subscribe to Age UK which gave means to significant amounts of information which was made available to the National Committee and Regional Secretaries.
• Help the Aged – The PCS continued to subscribe to Help the Aged. Information made available was circulated to the National Committee and Regional Secretaries.
• National Pensioners Convention (NPC) – The PCS continued to affiliate at national level to the NPC. John Cherrett represented us at NPC Council meetings. Dutchy Holland nominated by the NEC was a member of the Executive. A number of ARMs Regions also affiliated to their Regional NPC. The National Committee sent a delegation to the NPC Pensioners Parliament in Blackpool 2010.
• Civil Service Pensioners Alliance (CSPA) – We have been pleased to continue a good relationship with CSPA.
• Civil Service Retirement Fellowship (CSRF) – We have been pleased to continue a good relationship with CSRF.

Wider Issues

• Pensions – The National Committee has continued to keep abreast of developments in Civil Service pensions and the ongoing issues around state pensions and has passed on views to the NEC for consideration and information.

   

• National Insurance Numbers (NINO’s) and identity theft – The National Committee continued to press this matter directly with the banks and others.

• We have used the ARMs Newsletter to publicise campaigns on the Age UK, Income Tax Allowances, Amnesty International, TUC action on Southern Africa, Regional activity, AGM regional dates, Review of Civil Service Pension Delivery, Non-increase in pensions, the Alzheimer’s Society, Services for members, Make Your Vote Count, Later Life Forums, PSPC, Election Manifesto 2010, Lobby of Parliament, RPI to CPI, ARMs Forum, Tolpuddle, phasing out of cheques, PCS contacts, Wartime Llandudno, Social Care, Pensioners Parliament