PCS and Unite shift workers on May 10

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8 May 2012

PCS and Unite members have been working closely so that our joint action will have a massive impact within the MoD on 10 May. We believe that the strength of feeling with members taking action will lead to the MoD having to close sites.

Dispensation

Each union are giving different advice as to how their members who are shift workers should observe the action. Although this may mean that members of each union may have to cross each others’ picket lines at some stage during the dispute we wish to point out that both unions are in agreement that we give each others’ members dispensation so that they can follow their own unions advice. But all members should take industrial action as set out by their union.

Furthermore, we believe that if each union member observes their own unions’ advice this will actually supplement the action and cause more disruption. The changes to our pensions will mean staff working longer, paying more and getting less! They are blatantly unfair and despite the strength of feeling shown on the 30 November 2011 the government are still refusing to negotiate with the unions in a genuine way. Therefore we should not be apologetic for our actions that will cause disruption - we should be clear that the blame lies firmly at the government’s door.

For clarification the advice to shift workers from both PCS and Unite unions is reproduced below:

PCS advice to our members:

9/10 May: shift that crosses these days – don’t come on for whole of shift.
10 May: whole shift falls on this day – don’t come on for whole shift.
10 May/11 May: shift that crosses these days – come in on shift at normal time to do the full shift.

Unite advice to their members:

Action runs from midnight to midnight for the full day of 10 May.

If the member is on shift when this runs from 9 May into 10 May the member should leave their post at 00.01hrs on 10 May.
No one should report for work for the whole day on 10 May.
If the shift runs from 10 May into 11 May then Unite members should not report to work until 23.59 on 10 May.

Mike Jones
PCS Industrial Officer and DSg Group Organiser

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