Peter Middleman PCS NW Regional Secretary

 270,000 PCS members across government and in privatised sector  National and delegated CS recognition  National Trade Union Committee  National consultation  Delegated bargaining – 230+ bargaining units  Delegated facility arrangements  Departmental Trade Union Sides

 Ministerial agenda  Political lobby – protecting the taxpayer?  Cuts - cost (not benefits)  Privatisation – divesting responsibility?  Austerity perspective – reason or excuse?

 BERR: Workplace representatives – a review of their facilities and facility time (2007)  TUC: The facts about facility time for union reps (2011)  NatCenSocial Research report for Unison: The value of trade union facility time – Insight, challenges, solutions (June 2012)

 North west version of “The union advantage”  Focus on Learning; Health % Safety; Equality, Green issues and vulnerable workers  Benefits to employees and employers

 Long lead in, short consultation  Unilateral document, November 2012  Leading questions  NTUC discussions – cut short  Cost limits set  Legal constraints - acknowledged  ACAS Code – duties and activities  Statutory duties included?

 Union democracy and representation  Equality and diversity  Collective bargaining machinery  Statutory responsibilities  Members’ rights  Knowledge and expertise  Individual reps

 Preparation for a hostile environment  Count Me In  Tool kit – co- ordinated/tailored  Box cleverer

 New IER publication  Domestic, European and international perspectives  Legal and political analysis  UK – a “rogue state”

 Fewer reps?  Less diverse union?  Lower skills and expertise?  Even worse management of change  More stress – members, reps, managers and organisation  More grievances – less access to help  Lower morale  Erosion of workplace rights

 Unintended consequences  Industrial relations machinery grew out of concessions to “rank and file” militancy?  They have more to lose than us