NIPSA ReportsNovember 2013 Tel: 028 90661831 www.nipsa.org.ukTHE NEWSPAPER OF THE LEADING PUBLIC SERVICE TRADE UNION

SPECIAL EDITIONDEFENDING PUBLIC SERVICES CAMPAIGN

DSD PRIVATISATIONAGENDA SLAMMED THE Department for Social De-velopment Trade Union Side or-ganised another rally inOctober as part of their ongo-ing campaign against the pri-vatisation of DSD supportgrades function.

DSD Departmental CommitteeChair Billy Lynn, addressing thewell-attended protest outside de-partment’s Lighthouse Buildingheadquarters in Belfast, describedthe decision as “appalling”.

He pointed out that members inthe support grades had workedover many years with “diligence,commitment and dedication” but

yet had seen their reward “beingthrown on the scrapheap of pri-vatisation by an uncaring and un-feeling management”.

NIPSA President Patrick Mulhol-land, expressing the support ofthe entire union for members atthe DSD, claimed privatisationwas part of a wider campaignbeing pushed by the Westminstergovernment.

He said there was an ongoingfight against privatisation through-out the entire union.

In particular, Mr Mulholland citedthe Exploris dispute in Portaferryas well as the threat to DVA jobs

in Coleraine. Lawrence Huston, of the Com-

munication Workers Union, alsospoke at the rally.

He pointed out that a ballot ofCWU members over industrial ac-tion concerning jobs and pay aswell as the Royal Mail sell-off wasset to be announced.

Mr Huston brought greetingsfrom the CWU to NIPSA membersat the DSD and called on allunions to work together to try tooppose privatisation, outsourcingand the attack on working peo-ple’s living standards.

NIPSA has been working withthe Linenhall Library’s new Di-rector Julie Andrew with a viewto dealing with ongoing historicissues.

These include updating poli-cies and procedures and intro-ducing updated job

descriptions as well as lookingat a review of the staffing struc-ture at the library.

A particular success forNIPSA and its members havebeen the agreement and en-dorsement by the Board of Gov-ernors to pay staff the £250

payment for two years for thoseon £21,000 or less (pro rata) be-fore the end of 2013.

A NIPSA source said: “Mem-bers are delighted at this resultand NIPSA continues to workwith management for members’benefit.”

Resisting austerityand attacks on working peopleTHIS supplementary edition of the spe-cial NIPSA Reports has been necessi-tated by the need to highlight othercritical activity by the union in support ofmembers and will also demonstrate howthe issues the union is involved in cansometimes accelerate within a period ofweeks and days.

This publication therefore covers is-sues such as the NIPSA campaign tostop the privatisation of Soft Services inthe Department of Social Developmentas well as the negative outcomes arisingfrom privatisation of services such asthe Medical Referee function.

The potential abolition of the NorthernIreland Consumer Council also featuresin this publication. So also does the sup-port given by NIPSA on behalf of mem-bers involved in whistleblowing in theNorthern Ireland Fire and Rescue Serv-ice.

It also provides the union with an op-portunity, in snap-shot form, to presentan update on some of the issues onwhich we have recently reported.

The progress of our campaigns – forexample, in Driver Vehicle Licensing,Derry City Council compulsory redun-dancies, Civil Service Pension Adminis-tration privatisation and ExplorisAquarium – are reported on in this publi-cation.

NIPSA has recently published a ‘State-ment to Members’ that provides a coher-ent explanation of the cause and natureof the economic and financial threatswhich confront members, their familiesand the communities in which they live.

This document is designed to promotediscussion within the union so that wemay all share views about how we bestorganise ourselves to protect publicservices and members’ interests.

I recommend all members read the‘Statement to Members’ available on:http://www.nipsa.org.uk/NIPSA/media/NIPSA/PDFs/Banner%20Direct/Ref-A4_0095.pdf

The range of activity outlined both inthis and earlier special editions of NIPSAReports will hopefully demonstrate to allpublic servants and staff working in thecommunity and voluntary sectors as wellas those with whom we work within thecommunity generally why NIPSA is de-termined to resist austerity and attackson working people.

Brian CampfieldGeneral Secretary

DSD SOFTSERVICESPROTEST

NIPSA hails Linenhall Library success

Visit http://www.nipsa.org.uk AND give a like to our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @nipsa

NIPSA members protest at outsourcing of shared services threat at DSD HQ in October. See story below and also ‘NIPSA continues to campaign to stop removal of DSD Soft Services’ - on page 4

LOCALS queued up in their droves re-cently to sign the ‘Save the DVA’ peti-tion in Coleraine underlining massivelocal opposition to any attempt tomove vehicle licensing out of thetown.

To highlight the issue, NIPSA had setup a stall at the Speciality Market in theDiamond on October 15.

More than 26,000 people have signedto date and, as a NIPSA source pointedout, “the DVA staff are not finished yet!”

NIPSA has – at the request of localpoliticians, Council officials and businessrepresentatives – also set up a steeringcommittee and working group to run thedrive against closure.

New campaign materials have beenproduced with 20,000 leaflets, hundredsof posters and special tax disc holders al-ready distributed.

A short film featuring interviews withbusiness representatives, the Mayor andCouncil Chief Executive has also beenmade.

There is a particular focus on theCauseway Coast area, already badly im-pacted by the economic vandalism ofausterity.

Campaigners claim the area will notwithstand another hit if the DVA centrecloses.

The short film is to be shown to theMinister for Roads, Robert Goodwill MP,when NIPSA and a cross-party delega-

tion meet with him in Downing Street inNovember.

The surge of popular support againstthe move has pushed the threat of clo-sure to the top of the political agenda andFirst Minister Peter Robinson recentlyraised it with PM David Cameron.

It has already become apparent thatthe closure of local offices in England,Scotland and Wales and the centralisa-tion of all vehicle licensing functions inSwansea has severely damaged theservice.

A NIPSA source said: “This is the argu-ment that must be won here if we are todefend the jobs. It is not too late to re-verse a discredited and short-sightedtransformation process and the unitedfront headed up by NIPSA are aiming todo just that.”

THE Trade Union Side of the National JointCouncil has lodged their pay claim for 2014/15.

The wording of the submitted claim is: “A minimumincrease of £1 an hour on scale point 5 to achievethe Living Wage and the same flat rate increase onall other scale points.”

Joint TUS has agreed to launch a major campaigncentred on a minimum increase of £1 per hour for allNJC workers.

The claim would bring the bottom rate of pay forNJC workers, including local government workers,education workers, housing executive staff and oth-ers up to the Living Wage.

Welcoming the claim, NIPSA Deputy General Sec-retary Alison Millar said: “While the NJC tradeunions are lodging their pay claim for 2014/15,many staff in the education sector, NIHE, libraries

and other areas are still awaiting payment of 1%and incremental progress for the 2013/14 year.

“For too long NJC workers have been too patient,they have seen their wages fall in value year afteryear and this year they received a meagre 1% in-crease after three years of a pay freeze.

“Effectively since 2009 the pay of NJC membershas fallen by more than 16%.”

NIPSA will be working closely with the other NJCtrade unions – UNISON, GMB and UNITE – topress for real and meaningful negotiations and cam-paigning to secure a decent pay increase for all NJCmembers.

The NJC trade unions have also sought a meetingwith the NJC Employers Side to expand further ontheir claim.

NIPSA have condemned a recent spate ofbomb alerts impacting on schools.

Schoolchildren have – not for the first time –found themselves in the frontline as paramilitariestargeted local communities in Lurgan and Holy-wood.

Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackel said: “Chil-dren and young people attending school, and, inparticular, those with special education needs,should be able to do so in a welcoming, safe envi-ronment.

“They are not just our future but also our presentas they represent the innocence of growing up, theenthusiasm of young learners and a reminder thatthe whole community bears a responsibility to en-sure that prejudice, intolerance or hatred have noplace in our society.”

He added: “NIPSA calls on those with influencein communities to send a clear message that thereis no place for violence or disruption to people’slives – especially vulnerable children and youngpeople.”

NEWSPage 2 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

DRIVE TO SAVE VEHICLE LICENSING ROLLS ON

NJC pay claimlodged: minimumrise of £1 an hour

NIPSA slams spate of bomb alerts

NIPSAReportsNIPSA Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park,

Belfast BT9 6DP, Tel: 028 90661831 Fax 028 90665847or email: alison.millar@nipsa.org.uk Editorial contact details: Bob Miller

email: bob.miller@nipsa.org.ukCorrespondence should be sent to the above address.

Unless otherwise stated, the views contained inNIPSA Reports do not necessarily reflect the

policy of trade union NIPSA.

(Above) Mayor of Coleraine, David Harding and Gregory Campbell MP,lend their support to the DVA Campaign. (Pictured left) members of thepublic sign the petition

NEWS Page 3 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

THE campaign to save Ex-ploris and secure it as a re-gional public servicefacility has stepped up agear.

A new campaign group,Save Exploris Aquarium, wasformed following a well-at-tended public meeting at thePortaferry Hotel on Monday,September 29.

The SEA working grouprepresents NIPSA, UNITE,NASUWT, Friends of Explorisas well as local political andcommunity representativesand will meet on a weeklybasis.

NIPSA Official AntoinetteMcMillen, who chairs theSEA, told NIPSA Reports:“The core working group hasmany different skills and at-tributes. Everyone will be in-volved in deciding how totake the campaign forward.

“They will be assisting eachother in a variety of tasks in-cluding producing literature,holding workshops, roombookings, meeting with politi-cal representatives, organis-ing online petitions as well asaddressing Assembly Com-mittees etc.

“The work of the group istireless and we are commit-

ted to ensuring that every-thing possible is done toachieve our goal of ensuringthat Exploris Aquarium andSeal Sanctuary remains apublicly-funded regional serv-ice for current and future gen-erations.”

NIPSA and SEA haveraised the matter directly withthe Ministers for Enterprise,Trade & Investment, Educa-tion, Environment andLeisure.

To date meetings havebeen held with the Environ-ment Minister and some rep-resentatives of SEA are dueto meet with the Enterprise,Trade and Investment Minis-ter.

A source said: “It is vitalpressure is kept on Ministersas well as on the NorthernIreland Executive to presshome our case for regionalfunding. In addition, ArdsBorough Council needs to belobbied to ensure it also pro-vides some funding and showits commitment to the contin-ued operation and manage-ment of the facility.”

NIPSA also lead a delega-tions to the Environment, En-terprise, Trade & InvestmentCommittees and union offi-

cials are continuing to lobbyothers to take the case totheir respective Committees.

The source insisted: “Thisis a issue in which govern-ment must step up to themark.”

Deputy General SecretaryAlison Millar added: “Sincethe threat of closure visitornumbers to the attractionhave risen by 20%. It is clearthat the recent publicity hasreminded many visitors of thefacility.

“Since 2007, Exploris hasnot had a Marketing Officerand this and other key posi-tions would need to be filled.

“NIPSA understands thereare some ‘moth-balled’ grantswhich could be realisedwhich could help in upgradingthe facility. The amount ofmoney required by the North-ern Ireland Executive to runExploris is around £400,000per annum. And this wouldbe less if more income wasgenerated, which would bepossible with proper market-ing of the facility.”

At the time of writing thereare over 30,000 Facebooklikes and more than 13,000people have signed a peti-tion.

It is clear there is hugebacking for Northern Ireland’sonly aquarium and seal sanc-tuary to remain in the publicsector both for the currentand future generations.

A number of local eventsare being held to highlight theissue with details publisheonthe NIPSA website.

A lobby of MLAs took placeon Tuesday, November 5, inadvance of the debate on amotion and amendment to

secure the future of Explorisby the provision of RegionalFunding. The debate in thechamber was a lively one andthe amended motion for re-gional funding was passedfollowing a vote.

NIPSA are now seeking topress both the NI Executiveand Ards Borough Council toenter into detailed discus-sions on how to affectivelyimplement the will of the As-sembly.

LAND and Property Services Man-agement Side recently updatedTUS about the delivery of HousingBenefit for rates and rates rebatesupport as part of the overall Wel-fare Reform Agenda.

Following the introduction of Uni-versal Credit and the Social HousingReform Programme, Housing Benefitfor rates support will be abolishedand the administrative legislative andfinancial responsibility for all ratessupport will become the responsibilityof DFP Land and Property Services(LPS).

TUS were advised that the follow-ing agreements have now beenreached on several key elements:n During 2014-15 nothing will

change. LPS will continue to admin-ister rates support for owner-occu-piers and NIHE will administer ratessupport for tenants under current So-cial Security legislation.n DFP will legislate for a new ratessupport scheme from April 1, 2015.From that date, all new applicationsfor rates support will be determinedunder DFP legislation and will be ad-ministered by LPS. In addition, cur-rent Housing Benefit rate awards, forboth owner-occupier and tenantcases, which migrate to UniversalCredit, will be administered by LPSunder DFP legislation.n DSD will continue to legislate andNIHE administer rates support for allexisting tenants at April 1, 2015

under current Social Security legisla-tion during 2015-16.n Current arrangements for overpay-ments, appeals and fraud and errorwill remain in place up to March 31,2016.n There will be an administrative mi-gration of the remaining NIHE (ten-ants) caseload to LPS by April 1,2016, at which point the DSD legisla-tion for rates support will be revoked.

NIPSA Official Noel Griffin toldNIPSA Reports: “These key elementsand agreement therein will impactupon several areas within LPS. Forexample, a new IT system will be re-quired to process rate rebate applica-tions for tenants.

‘There will also be issues in relation

to accommodation in particularwhether or not rate rebate staff willbe located in LPS proposed new ac-commodation of Lanyon Plaza.”

He added: “A considerable numberof new staff will be required to ensureadequate resources are in place andrelevant staff fully trained ahead ofthe new scheme implementationdate.

“In relation to additional staff LPS,TUS have emphasised the need toconsider redeploying surplus NIHEmembers, who have significant expe-rience of the work involved and wouldrequire little or no training.

“It is an ideal opportunity to retainemployment for existing NIPSA mem-bers within NIHE.”

NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar addressing Save Exploris Aquarium (SEA) meeting

SEA group formedto spearhead Exploris campaign

LPS TUS get welfare reform update

NEWSPage 4 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

FOLLOWING the adoption of amotion calling for trade unionrecognition within Pulse at Green-vale Leisure Centre, NIPSA hassought support from political par-ties locally to ensure full advan-

tage is taken of the development.At these meetings, NIPSA has un-derlined the fact that Pulse, a pri-vate company, has benefited fromthe publicly-funded refurbishmentof the facility.

But judging by coverage in thepress since the motion was car-ried, there is a measure of hostil-ity to trade unions and, inparticular, to NIPSA.NIPSA has made it clear it will be

campaigning for the facility to bebrought back under council con-trol as a directly-operated facility,when the current contract comesto an end.

EVER since the Thatcher government intro-duced outsourcing and privatisation to publicand civil services, NIPSA and other public sec-tor trade unions have been alert to any threatnot only to services delivered to the public butto the staff who deliver those services.

Unfortunately privatisation increased extensivelyunder New Labour and has continued under thecurrent Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition.

In summer last year, the current government’sCivil Service Reform Plan for the UK Civil Servicemade it clear that “alternative delivery methods”were central to its agenda. (By “alternative deliv-ery methods” we assume they means privatisa-tion.)

NIPSA, as the leading public sector trade unionin Northern Ireland, has been completely opposedto privatisation in all its manifestations and hascontinued to argue, lobby and campaign to haveall public services delivered by public and civilservice staff who are both professionally trainedand adequately remunerated.

In Northern Ireland, with the Northern Ireland As-sembly in place, we had hoped that we wouldhave been able to persuade local political partiesto stave off the worst excesses of privatisation.

Under the late, but not missed, Workplace 2010initiative, the Northern Ireland Civil Service was tobring in open plan offices as well as privatise allsoft services functions. In other words, our sup-port grades in all departments would have beenprivatised and put out to private sector firms, suchas SERCO.

NIPSA is opposed to privatisation, not merelybecause it will damage our members’ jobs, under-mine their pay and attack their conditions of serv-ice, but because of numerous past privatisationperformance failures.

It is clear privatisation within the Department forSocial Development (DSD), be it catering, cleaningor the medical referee service, has not been with-out its difficulties.

When Workplace 2010 collapsed, we assumedthat our members’ jobs and conditions would beprotected and that they would carry on doing thefirst-class job that they have always done for theNICS.

However, our hopes were to be dashed when-ever the DSD – the largest government depart-ment – decided that they alone would outsourcetheir soft services function to the private sector.

Despite NIPSA’s strong objections and its cam-

paigning against the decision, DSD have decidedto plough ahead with this privatisation. They claimthat it will save money but that can only happen ifcertain things happen.

As the private sector companies have to make aprofit then, in order to make that profit, as well asproviding the service, they will have to attackterms and conditions and pay of the staff.

While TUPE does provide some extremely-lim-ited protection in that the staff will re-tain their terms and conditions on thedate of transfer, we are well aware ofmany cases where, once they get theirhands on public services, private sec-tor contractors try to drive down termsand conditions.

It is appalling that DSD have refusedto allow an in-house bid where the ex-isting staff, aided and supported bytheir union, would be able to bid for thework. We have little doubt that if that were to hap-pen, then the in-house bid could be successful.

Originally the privatisation, once announced inOctober 2012, was to commence on October 1,2013.

However, the union was then informed of difficul-ties in getting bidders for the work and in Marchthe starting date for the contract was moved to No-vember 1, 2013.

In September 2013, we have been told that it willbe at least July 2014 before the private contractortakes over. All this at a time when the existingstaff are doing their level best to provide a fullquality service.

Staff have shown loyalty, commitment and dedi-cation to the department and what have they got inreturn other than a kick in the teeth, their jobs out-sourced, their commitment devalued, their loyaltyignored and their future completely undermined.

The DSD Trade Union Side have provided sup-port and help to members and they will continue todo so.

They will continue to lobby and campaign bothwith the Northern Ireland Executive and with indi-vidual MLAs to overturn this privatisation.

We are told that the Outline Business Case willbe released soon to Trade Union Side. TUS havetold Management Side that they will robustly de-fend members and will closely study managementproposals providing constructive, justified and fullyresearched criticism and opposition to them.

DSD Trade Union Side wrote to Management on

September 12, 2013 demanding an in-house bidand asking why that wasn’t allowed. No responseto that question has been received to date.

Within the Department there are a number ofareas that are already outsourced, including clean-ing, catering and the medical referee service.

The catering and cleaning contract for NICS waswon by SERCO last year.

SERCO is a multinational that preys on publicsector contracts. It is a company thatpaid their Chief Executive, Christo-pher Hyman, £3,149,950 in 2010.

That organisation has continued todominate privatised civil and publicservice contracts.

DSD Trade Union Side have contin-ued to argue that DSD as the largestgovernment department should bepaying public servants to do publicservice work and not lining the pock-

ets of privateers who have no public service ethosbut rather who are committed to making more andmore profit for their shareholders and their seniorstaff.

Let’s remember that private companies have nosocial purpose at all. Their legal priority is to makea profit for their shareholders, not putting the pub-lic first.

This has meant in the past that corners havebeen cut and public services have experiencedunder-investment.

Despite the DSD Management claim that theyare likely to save money on the contract, previousprivatisations have shown that taxpayers pay morefor private sector companies because they mustmake a profit for their shareholders in addition topaying their top Executive more pay.

There are numerous examples of where this hashappened.

In addition, private companies are not account-able as civil servants are to the government. IfDSD makes any mistakes, then the public knowswhere and how to complain. However, a privatecompany, which is not accountable to the public,can do whatever it likes.

NIPSA will continue to do everything possible toprotect and defend the SGB grades in DSD. It isto the eternal shame of the DSD Senior Manage-ment that they – and they alone – in the NorthernIreland Civil Service have decided to place theirhardworking staff on the altar of privatisation.

NIPSA knows which side it is on.

NIPSA continues to campaign tostop removal of DSD Soft Services

‘ ‘

...to their eternalshame... DSD senior managers have placed hardworking staff on the altar of privatisation

Organise to protect services, jobs, pay and pensionsYOU HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY...SUPPORT YOUR UNION AND YOUR COLLEAGUES

Hostility towards union recogniton at PULSE

NEWS Page 5 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

THE future of the Consumer CouncilNI is now under threat, according tomedia reports earlier this month,which followed an announcement byDETI Minister Arlene Foster.

The CCNI (also known as the GeneralConsumer Council) is a non-departmen-tal body set up in 1985, that is mostlyfunded by DETI.

It provides advocacy, education, adviceand information to and on behalf of con-sumers on issues relating to energy(coal, electricity, natural gas), water andsewerage, transport (air, sea, road andrail), food prices as well as financial af-fairs (e.g. banking/insurance and cus-tomer experiences).

The CCNI is also scheduled to takeover the role of representing consumersover postal services from April 2014.

In the past year it has handled con-sumer complaints resulting in £300,000being returned to consumers’ pockets.

The Ministerial announcement initiateda public consultation exercise on the pro-posed strategy for the future of consumerrepresentation arrangements in NorthernIreland.

However, according to NIPSA, the con-sultation is based upon the flawed and bi-ased recommendations of a review reportwhich – if accepted by the public – couldmean the abolition and/or transfer offunctions of the CCNI and the loss of upto 47 public sector jobs.

The Simpson review recommendationto abolish the CCNI suggests most of itsfunctions should be carried out by theCitizens Advice Bureau.

But this recommendation is supportedby the weight given to the anecdotalviews of bodies set to gain by the CCNI’sabolition while consumer surveys backingthe CCNI were given no credence. This

is, according to the union, why the publicconsultation events are so crucial.

The Simpson review recommendationmerely reflects already existing proposalsto shape the future of consumer repre-sentation in England.

However, the Scottish Government hasa very different view of consumer repre-sentation – its proposals, published inAugust 2013, centre around mirroring theCCNI model and states clearly that this ismore appropriate for today’s consumerlandscape and our devolved political cli-mate.

NIPSA members, the CCNI Board andSenior Management Team are equallyappalled at how DETI has conducted thereview process to date.

Despite vociferous objections byNIPSA and DETI assurances, no mean-ingful consultation has taken place on thestrategy. Indeed the members most af-fected – those employed by CCNI – wereprevented by DETI from seeing the Simp-son review and the consultation docu-ment until after the Ministerialannouncement in the Northern IrelandAssembly on October 14.

This is despite the fact the Simpson re-view had been finalised and presented tothe DETI months before.

NIPSA HQ Official Kim Graham toldNIPSA Reports: “If the Simpson reviewreport was based upon sound evidence,what did DETI have to fear from sharingthe draft report with members in CCNI?

“The consultation documents focus onthe consumer landscape and politicalchanges to justify the potential abolitionof the CCNI when, in reality, the issuesthat CCNI deal with on a daily basis re-main fundamentally the same and the ef-ficiency and effectiveness of CCNI hasbeen clearly articulated.

“The CCNI has been, and will continueto be, a dynamic organisation which haschanged significantly to meet the chal-lenges of increasing statutory functionsand growing consumer demands.

“NIPSA was not even included on theDETI stakeholder consultee list and hadto raise concerns with DETI before wecould even meet with the consultant re-viewer.

“Despite repeated assurances by DETIofficials over meaningful consultation withNIPSA on a draft public consultation doc-ument, DETI failed to engage at all.

“We will be sending out a strong mes-sage to DETI that CCNI provides an effi-cient, effective and appropriate service toconsumers which should not be placed injeopardy based upon a fundamentallyflawed and subjective review report.

“Members in the CCNI need the sup-port of all NIPSA representatives andmembers right across the civil an publicservices in Northern Ireland.

“NIPSA would therefore urge membersand their families to attend the publicconsultation events planned over thenext few months to ensure that the mes-sage IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX ITresounds loud and clear.

“This is a further attack upon publicservices within Northern Ireland and thisissue is a further major element in theNIPSA Public Services Defence Cam-paign.”

The public consultation document is onthe DETI website at:http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-about-home/deti-about-consultations/consulta-tion_on_future_consumer_representation_arrangements_in_ni.htmNIPSA will be providing a written re-sponse to DETI by the closing date ofJanuary 17, 2014.

IF YOU are paying forregistered childcare,then make sure youare taking advantageof the savings youcould be making!Childcare Vouchersare implementedthrough an employer’spayroll and are avail-able to all workingparents in the UK. They are not means-tested and allow eachparent to make up to£933 of tax and Na-tional Insurance sav-ings per year on theirchildcare costs. The vouchers areavailable to bothmums and dads,which means potentialhousehold savings ofmore than £1,800 eachyear.Childcare Voucherscan be used for chil-dren up to age 15, andcan be used to pay formore than one form ofchildcare, e.g. child-minders, day nurs-eries, playgroups,breakfast and after-school clubs.To find out if your em-ployer offers thescheme, call Employ-ers For ChildcareVouchers on freep-hone 0800 028 3008 orvisit www.employers-forchildcare.org.

AS previously reported, Trade Union Side con-tinues to challenge proposals regarding thefuture service delivery of Civil Service pen-sions.

Two of the three project options under con-sideration involve the outsourcing of pen-sions administration. If implemented, about80 existing posts would be lost.

NIPSA’s opposition to outsourcing was ar-ticulated at a packed public meeting held on

October 24. A number of MLAs, local councillors and

business leaders attended, all of which voicedsupport and offered help to retain administra-tion work in-house.

The Branch involved also requested a ballotfor industrial action in particular to ensurenon co-operation with any work that would as-sist the options of outsourcing.

It is expected that the outcome of the ballot

will be known by the middle of November,which if endorsed by members will also in-clude strike action.

A lunchtime rally outside Waterside Houseis also being planned to coincide with the an-nouncement of the ballot.

NIPSA is also considering requesting ameeting with the DFP Assembly Committeeand, if necessary, a separate meeting with theDFP Minister.

Future delivery of Civil Service pensions

CCNI UNDER THREAT BUTNIPSA SAYS ‘IF IT AIN’TBROKE, DON’T FIX IT!’

Big savingson costs ofchildcare

NIPSA leading from the front in protecting jobs and workplace rights

Union gets update at TYC Engagement Forum

NEWSPage 6 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

NIPSA has continued to warn of thethreat of increasing privatisationthrough the outworking of the Trans-forming Your Care programme.

TYC is endorsed by Stormont HealthMinister Edwin Poots, the Northern Ire-land Executive and the Health and So-cial Care Board.

On September 12, NIPSA held a rallyand protest at a meeting of the Healthand Social Care Board to express itsstrong opposition to proposals to closestatutory residential homes.

The union also had speaking rights atthe meeting and in its submission under-lined its view that there had been nofundamental change to the proposalsand that a majority, if not all, of the

homes were slated for closure. A NIPSA spokesperson said: “We or-

ganised this rally at the Board meetingto highlight our ongoing concerns aboutthe plight of our elderly population whostill run the risk of being impacted by fur-ther cuts in the Health Service – in thiscase, the threat of being evicted fromtheir residential homes.

“It presented the opportunity for NIPSABranch representatives and local ac-tivists to vent their anger to such propos-als and to assist us in delivering themessage that the HSCB will not simplycarry out the dirty work that is being re-moved from the Health Trusts for thetime being.”

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NIPSA has received confirmationthat there will be a regional ap-proach to Transforming Your Careproposals over Daycare Services in-volving physical or learning disabil-ity.

In terms of Mental Health, the TYCproposal is that there will still be sixin-patient units on or close to alarge hospital site.

Within the Western Health and So-cial Care Trust area, it is understoodan Options Appraisal document hasbeen completed with any decisionsabout location based on a clinicalperspective.

The Mental Health TYC proposalsare still very much within the Bam-ford recovery model with up to 200individuals being relocated from in-stitutional care.

On Children’s Services, unions re-ceived confirmation that the O’Harareport is due to be published in No-vember.

A further development was thesetting up of the Historical AbuseInquiry team which is set to start itswork in December.

And the HSCB said that it wouldbe supporting that initiative. A TOT

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AT A recent Transforming Your Care Engage-ment Forum, NIPSA was informed that five outof six Trust delivery plans had been approved.

The union was advised that the TYC deliveryplan for the Southern Health and Social Care Trustwas being resubmitted for consideration.

Confirmation was also given that a Financial Sta-bility Programme Board had been set up and willoversee delivery of the agreed programme.

The body will also look at the impact of the re-vised service model on financial savings plans2013/14; performance; recurrent financial stabilityas well as TYC delivery.

The FSP Board’s role is to provide assurance tothe HSCB, DHSSPS and the Minister that:n There is financial stability within the HSC, andn That the 2013/14 (and, by inference, 2014/15) fi-nancial plans, align with both the commissioningplan and the TYC transformation plans and reflectpotential impacts on the PFA targets.The revised structure of the FSP Board is as fol-lows:n Chairperson: HSCB Chief Executiven Members: Trust Chief Executives n HSCB: Chief Executive Director of Finance

n PHA: Chief Executive BSO Chief Executive. There will be a number of invitees from time to

time representing DHSSPS, HSCB Directors asrequired and others, such as Directors of Financeand Project Specific representatives.

The trade unions were advised that the FSP haddeveloped a pro forma template which was to lookat TYC targets achieved on time as well as TYCtargets that were not on target and not on time.

It is understood unions have requested a copy ofthis pro forma.

One of the key drivers of this group is that Trustshave to break even by March 2014.

NIPSA has claimed the “trueface of Transforming YourCare” can be seen in the con-tents of a letter recently sentto the HSC Board Director ofFinance.

The letter, revealed by theunion in September, outlinedthe impact £4.6 million of sav-ings demanded by the Boardwould have on services pro-vided by the Western Healthand Social Care Trust.

The proposals includedplans to slash cover for med-ical staff vacancies by 25% aswell as cutting 50% of coverfor allied health professionals’vacancies (physiotherapists,occupational therapists, andpodiatrists), and 100% of allunfunded admin staff.

Plans were even outlined tocap spending on laboratorychemicals.

The Trust points out that thiswill delay diagnosis and im-pact on the timely treatment ofpatients.

A range of other servicesacross the Trust will be crip-pled if the plans are imple-

mented including a cut in thenumber of hospital beds, theclosure of residential homesand the decimation of domicil-iary care.

The Trust proposals also in-clude plans to reduce by 25%all unfunded staff in wards,cutting £1.1 million from thebudget. Such as move, in theirown words, will result in thequality of care being compro-mised and the closure of anentire ward.

NIPSA has claimed that thisis the “true face of Transform-ing Your Care” and has calledon the Health Minister to inter-vene to ensure patient safetyis not compromised.

The union has also called onthe Trust to refuse to imple-ment the savings and demandaction from the Northern Ire-land Assembly’s Health Com-mittee.

NIPSA has also indicated itwill commence immediateconsultations with memberson the possibility of strike ac-tion in order to protect jobsand services.

NIPSA holdsrally over planto close home

TRUE FACEOF TYC ISREVEALED

Regional approach to Daycare Services

IC up ea

Reho pa on

NEWS Page 7 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

Education pay protest

DE UNIONS haven advised that issuesounding the pro-ed closure of statu- residential homese been placed into theds of the Health andal Care Board.

s understood terms ference are being

wn up about theB’s role in the matter. e HSCB confirmed in terms of the reviewess they would be

eloping evaluation cri- over quality stan-s.

addition a Project Ini-on document along the terms of refer-e would be given to rade unions.

ions were also in-ed that all those liv-

n statutorydential homes would

written to as part of amunication and en-

ement strategy. is strategy extends tops such as the Pa- Client Care Council, NI, the Commissioner

Older People, all MLAs political parties.

TAL of 17 Independ- Care Partnerships had

set up in each of the rusts.

ch ICP will have aplement of 13 people,n from health, social and voluntary sec- including GPs, phar-sts, nurses, social workers, paramedic,ntary and Communityor workers, health vis- and district nurses. oups have met to con- risk clarification, dis- prevention focussing

ail and elderly people,e suffering from dia-s as well as stroke andof-life patients.

s also understood that commissioningps will be holding the responsible for serv-

elivery.

CPs set p in ach Trust

sidentialmes issuesssed to HSCB

Blowy day in Bangor as NIPSA membersjoined with Unison and Unite members at ajoint pay demo outside Rathgael House - Seestory page 12

Tackling violence at work

(Pictured left) Out-going NIPSA Healthand Safety Commit-tee – launch of newGuide on TacklingViolence at Work.(Below, left) Geral-dine Alexander,Keith Morrison(Chief Executive ofHSENI), HeatherMcKinstry (Chair-person of NIPSAHealth and SafetyCommittee), CaroleHagedorn (Memberof Asbestos inSchools Group),Hilda Palmer(Greater ManchesterHazards).

NIPSA members at Derry City Council stage protests over jobs threat. See storyon page 12.

Pictured at the recentpresentation in DETI tosome NIPSA Members oftheir ICT Essential SkillsCertificates. Also in thephoto DETI's PermanentSecretary David Stirlingand the Class TutorEileen Bell from BMC.

Derry jobs threat demo

Things are changing with your Membership PlusDiscount Card.

The card which will be issued directly to you inearly January 2014 will also be your NIPSA Mem-bership Card and it will last not for 12 months but fortwo years running right the way through 2014 and2015. You can continue to use your current cardinto early January 2014.

On one side will be the Membership Plus DiscountCard. As with the 2013 card to make maximum useof the card you should register on line at:www.nipsa.membershipplus.co.uk or via the home-page of NIPSA’s website www.nipsa.org.uk by usingthe button. If you registered your 2013 MembershipPlus card all you have to do is click on “update” toregister your 2014/15 card using the MembershipPlus card number. If you didn’t previously registerthen click on “Register” and complete the short de-tails section.

There is a new NIPSA Membership Plus websitewhich provides enhancements to what was previ-ously available, including better search facilities,storage of favourite offers, more categories of offersand an interactive map. The site will also providethe opportunity for you to enter competitions limitedto NIPSA members.

In addition to being your Membership Plus Dis-count Card for 2 years it will also be your NIPSAMembership Card detailing your NIPSA Member-ship Number and your Branch Number. You shouldprovide details of your NIPSA membership numberwhen contacting NIPSA and when using other serv-ices such as Legal Services, Insurance and Finan-cial Services.

The card will issue in early January 2014 to homeaddresses (if no home address is held it will be is-sued to your work address). You should thereforeensure that your contact details are correct, to up-date your details go to the NIPSA websitewww.nipsa.org.uk contact your Branch Secretary orthe membership section at NIPSA Headquarters.

You should retain your combinedMembership/Membership Plus Discount Card inyour wallet or purse so that you can either accessthe great offers or quote to NIPSA your membershipnumber. Replacement cards will be charged at £5per card.

ICT skills certspresentation

Card change on the way

NIPSA has vowed to reinvigorate the cam-paign to retain the strategic and landlordfunctions of the Housing Executive as onebody.

It follows the launch of a research documentcommissioned by the union, titled ‘Keep OurHousing Public’ by housing expert StewartSmyth.

Deputy General Secretary Alison Millar toldNIPSA Reports: “It is clear from our engage-ment so far with a range of stakeholders andtenants representatives that there is not whole-sale support for the Minister’s proposed direc-tion of travel.

“This move would split the Housing Execu-tive into a strategic body inside the public sec-tor along with a landlord function or functionsoutside of the public sector.

“This would mean 90,000 tenants would ef-fectively be privatised in a housing associa-tion-type model with funds being raised tobuild and maintain homes from financial insti-tutions.”

Over the coming weeks and months, NIPSAwill continue to engage with tenants organisa-tions and community groups as well as otherkey stakeholders – including Council for theHomeless, Shelter NI, Housing Rights Serviceand political representatives – to seek to buildan effective opposition to the proposals.

NIPSA understands that Departmental offi-cials have already set out a timetable and it isanticipated the broad principles on thechanges will be agreed by March 2014.

The union is seeking to forge an effectiveopposition to this position and will use Stewart

Smyth’s research to build on the argumentsagainst the transfer of 90,000 tenancies out ofpublic ownership.

Under the proposed model, rents would in-crease significantly. It is claimed such renthikes would go towards increased remunera-tion for senior executives. Senior executives’pay was recently highlighted in reports in theInside Housing website.

Ms Millar also flagged up the deep concernsfelt by NIHE staff about long-term job security,terms and conditions of employment, pensionsand locations of jobs, particularly as those staffin the landlord functions will be outside of thepublic sector.

Whatever the outcome, NIPSA will seek toprotect the interests of all members.

NEWSPage 8 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

ATOS is an IT multinational thathas received many contracts foroutsourced public services fromgovernments across the world, in-cluding the UK.

The company – which has its HQ inBezons, France – is at the centre ofcontroversy in the UK over contractsawarded to it by the Department ofWork and Pensions (DWP) to providework capability assessments.

In Northern Ireland, ATOS doessimilar work capability assessmentsfor the Department for Social Devel-opment (DSD).

The firm, which has been doggedby allegations of poor practice forsome years, has continued to winmassive contracts from the Britishgovernment.

In June 2013, the DWP MinisterMark Hoban revealed that ATOS hadbeen awarded approximately £1.6 bil-lion worth of contracts. Overall, it has£3 billion worth of UK governmentcontracts, including consultancywork, work for the Ministry of De-fence, NHS, as well as UK Nuclearand Welsh government contracts.

However, it is the contracts it holdsin the area of disability where it hasfaced most criticism.

In January, former Labour MinisterMichael Meacher claimed that 1,300people had died after being placed inthe “work-related activity group” forthose currently too ill to be employedbut expected to start preparing for aneventual return to work.

Mr Meacher also claimed that a fur-ther 2,200 deaths had occurred be-fore the assessment process hadbeen completed and that 7,100 peo-ple had died after being judged to beentitled to unconditional support be-cause they were too ill or disabled towork.

Mr Meacher asked: “Is it reason-able to pressurise seriously disabledpersons into work so ruthlessly whenthere are already 2.5 million unem-ployed and, on average, eight per-sons chasing every vacancy? Unlessthey are also provided with the activeand extensive support they obviouslyneed in order to get and to hold downwork, which is certainly not the caseat present.”

In a debate on January 22 in theHouse of Commons, other MPs criti-cised ATOS for “ruthlessly pressuringsick and disabled people into return-

ing to their jobs”. The debate was also told of cases

of people who had committed suicideafter being stripped of their benefitsunder the process and of an inconti-nence sufferer who was told shecould return to work wearing a nappy.

In July, the UK government decidedto end the monopoly enjoyed byATOS operating the controversial fit-ness-to-work tests amid fears toomany of its assessments wereflawed.

The changes, however, don’t go farenough.

NIPSA are strongly opposed to thisprivatisation which is, in the words ofNIPSA Official Tony McMullan, “a pri-vatisation too far”.

Mr McMullan told NIPSA Reports:“The Westminster government shouldscrap the work capability test – asshould DSD. Indeed, ATOS shouldbe fined for each evaluation it getswrong.”

He added: “Applications for inca-pacity benefit and sickness benefitemployment and support allowancewere flawed with more than 40% ofappeals being successful.

“Indeed for the DWP as a whole,the appeals process shows that thiscost the taxpayer more than £66 mil-lion – money that would have beenbetter spent being given to peoplewith disabilities rather than its currentuse.”

Recently the DWP instructed ATOSto put in place an Equality Improve-ment Plan which includes a commit-ment to retain their health careprofessionals until they are compliantor face being subject to potential inef-ficiency action.

However, the complaints againstATOS aren’t just from claimants andfrom the DWP but even from insidethe organisation itself.

In early August, The Guardian re-ported that Dr Greg Wood, who hadbeen employed to carry out the ATOSfitness for work test, had spoken outagainst the organisation.

Dr Wood said he “could no longertolerate working for the fitness forwork assessment firm ATOS” whenhe was asked – for perhaps the 10thtime – to change a report he hadmade on a claimant, in this casemaking it unlikely that the individualwould be eligible for sickness benefit.

Dr Wood said that he had har-boured concerns about aspects ofthe work he was expected to performfor several months but finally decidedto leave because he felt the companywas acting unethically in putting pres-sure on a doctor to change the con-clusions of an assessment.

Dr Wood’s decision to blow thewhistle on practices within ATOSmade him the first ATOS-employeddoctor to put his career on the lineand to put on record concerns abouta system that has already beenstrongly criticised by charities andclaimants for years.

How many more mistakes haveATOS to make before this contract isreviewed? How much longer hasboth DWP and DSD got before it isrealised that the work was betterdone, better valued, with the commit-ment of both the staff and theclaimants when it was provided in-house?

How many more examples of pri-vatisations that don’t work must beprovided before this governmentwakes up?

ATOS–a helluva privatisation!

Drive toprotectNIHE entersnewphase

NEWS Page 9 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

SICK LEAVE FIGURESTRIGGERS BACKLASHNIPSA has slammed as “completely unac-ceptable” shock new figures revealing thatcivil servants working in the Department forEmployment and Learning are receiving agrossly excessive number of warnings be-cause of sick leave when compared withother departments.

It follows information obtained through a Free-dom of Information Act request.

According to the figures, the number of staffwho had triggers under the Managing Atten-dance Policy at DEL was 406 compared with400 at the Department of Regional Developmentand 453 at the Department of Environment.

However, the figures change dramatically interms of the number of staff called to a consider-ation meeting for a warning.

In DEL, 311 members of staff were called to ameeting in contrast to 124 at the DRD and 73 atthe DOE.

And the contrast becomes even more pro-nounced when the number of warnings issuedare considered.

Only 33 warnings were issued at the DRD, 48at the DOE while the DEL tally came to 185.

Assisant Secretary Tony McMullan told NIPSAReports: “You just don’t look at what the com-parison with DEL is in terms of government de-partments of a similar size – you also have tolook at larger departments.

“Both DSD and DARD are considerably largerthan DEL. In DSD, 590 warnings were issuedafter 2,342 staff hit the trigger points. However,this only amounted overall to 25.2% of membersof staff who hit the trigger being issued withwarnings.

“In DARD, the number of staff who hit the trig-gers was 315 yet only 24 warnings were issued– which came to 7.6%.

“Contrast this with the fact that in DEL, 45.6%of staff received a warning after they hit the trig-ger point. In other words, DEL, which is a con-siderably smaller department than DSD, hadalmost twice as many staff getting a warningwho hit the trigger.

“DEL, which is a smaller department thanDARD, had 45.6% of staff getting warnings afterthey hit the trigger while this figure was only7.6% in DARD.”

NIPSA has always recognised that the issue of

sickness absence needs to be dealt with sympa-thetically and that employers should put in placemeasures to help staff return to work, if that ispossible.

The union argues that adopting a hard-line,draconian attitude to managing attendance isnot the way forward in dealing with the issue.

DEL have also been criticised for taking a veryhard-line attitude in the dismissal of staff, somewith a very long period of dedicated period ofservice to the department.

Recently a staff member with more than 37years of service, and who had been looking for-ward to their retirement, was dismissed.

Another officer who had been recovering fromcancer received notification to discuss dismissalshortly before Christmas.

Tony McMullan added: “The matter has beenraised with the most senior member of staff inthe department, the Permanent Secretary, andhe was hopeful that progress could be made toDEL adopting a more reasonable approach tomanaging attendance.”

Watch this space.

NIPSA members working in theNorthern Ireland Fire and Res-cue Service who made whistleblowing allegations have beentotally vindicated by the PublicAccounts Committee Report.

Linda Ford and John Boylehave suffered for over threeyears and finally closure canbe brought to their cases.

Antoinette McMillen theNIPSA official dealing with thecases stated: “Linda and Johnare delighted with the outcomeof the Report.

“However they are disap-pointed that no one from theDepartment or the NIFRS washeld to account.

They both welcome the Pub-lic Accounts Committee recom-mendations arising from theReport in relation to whistleblowers, governance and ad-herence to procedures.

“These are important recom-

mendations which will helpbuild the confidence of publicservants.

“If Minister’s in Departmentswant whistle blowers to comeforward then more stringentmeasures need to be put inplace to assure public servantsthat they will not be treated inthe same manner as LindaFord.

Linda and John have now re-turned to their substantiveroles and hope to put this awfulexperience behind them andget on with their lives.”Report on the NIFRS: An Organisational Assessmentand Review of DepartmentalOversight and Report on Ac-counts 2011-2012 can be ac-cessed from this link:http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Documents/Reports/Public-Ac-counts/nia-131-11-15-report-on-nifrs-PAC.pdf

NIPSA members vindicated byPublic Accounts Committee

Linda Ford who was vindicated for her whistle-blowing at NIFRS

NEWSPage 10 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

NIPSA is hoping to runtraining courses for repsbased outside of Belfast butthe union has emphasisedthat it is dependent on asufficient uptake from mem-bers.

The NIPSA Reps Stage 1training course will be held atthe AmmA Centre, in MarketStreet, Armagh and run for 10Mondays, excluding March 17,from January 13, 2014.

Dooley Harte, the union’sTraining Officer, told NIPSAReports: “This offer [of thetraining course] depends onsufficient number of reps tak-ing up the opportunity offered.If we do not get sufficient num-bers, the course will not run.

“It is, therefore, importantthat a completed applicationform is forwarded to me atNIPSA HQ as quickly as pos-sible.

“It is also important that aspecial leave form is for-warded to your employer at

same time so your employerhas sufficient time to providecover and approve your atten-dance on the course.”

The NIPSA Reps Stage 1training course provides acomprehensive introductionfor new reps.

It also provides an opportu-nity for existing reps – whohave not attended training forsome time – to update them-selves on any changes to leg-islation and employment rightsas well as refreshing theirknowledge and skills on is-sues such as representingmembers, negotiating withemployers, organising and re-cruiting.

Mr Harte added: “The spring2014 training programme willbe circulated very shortly but Iwould encourage all brancheswho have reps that live orwork in Armagh, Craigavon,Dungannon, Banbridge andNewry areas to ensure theytake up this opportunity.”

DESPITE the introduction by the UKCoalition Government of sweepingchanges to pension provision for publicservants across Great Britain, NIPSA andthe other public sector trade unions havecontinued to make the case to the As-sembly and the Executive that such adetriment should not be applied to publicservants here.

Northern Ireland is unique in that it is theonly region in the UK where public servicepensions are devolved and where the re-sponsibility for the legislation rests locally.

As a consequence, NIPSA has made it apriority to press our politicians not to applythe detrimental changes in Northern Ireland.

These changes include the automatic link-ing of the public sector pension age to theState Pension Age (the latter is expected torise to 67 and 68 and, in future, the prospectof the pension age raising to 70 is a distinctpossibility) as well as the replacement of theexisting final salary schemes with a careeraverage scheme.

NIPSA and the Northern Ireland Commit-tee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unionshas submitted its response to the draft legis-lation and has made several presentationsto the NI Assembly Finance and PersonnelCommittee. Talks have also been taking

place over the last number of months withDFP officials in a bid to prevent the detri-mental changes being introduced.

The trade unions also commissioned ananalysis from the Nevin Economic ResearchInstitute – to which NIPSA is affiliated – onthe impact any extension of the pension agewould have on employment availability es-pecially for young people given the in-creased pension age would lead to publicservants having to remain in employmentlonger.

This evidence was also presented to theAssembly Finance and Personnel Commit-tee.

The legislation giving effect to these detri-mental changes will have to be votedthrough by the Northern Ireland Assemblyand NIPSA, along with the other public sec-tor trade unions, will be mounting a cam-paign to persuade MLAs to reject the PublicService Pensions Bill.

NIPSA members and all public sectortrade union members will in the near futurebe asked to write to their MLAs asking themto reject the detrimental changes containedin the Public Service Pensions Bill. Appropri-ate material and advice will be provided atthat stage.

Training course for reps outside of Belfast depends on uptake

NHS pay underattack…again

IT HAS been revealed that NHSpay has come under attack onceagain amid attempts to influencethe Pay Review Body (PRB)through, what NIPSA has called,“untimely and unjustified” inter-ventions coming from the NHSEmployers’ Side and the HealthSecretary, Jeremy Hunt.

The Pay Review Body is currentlytaking evidence to inform their rec-ommendations for the 2014/15 payround. The Treasury has indicatedthat as part of their policy on publicsector pay restraint, increasesshould be no more than 1%.

The NHS Employers’ Organisationis urging the Pay Review Body(PRB) to recommend freezing payscales for NHS staff in 2014-15. Itsaid increasing pay by 1% wouldadd £500 million to staff costs andthat the increase is “unaffordable”and “unnecessary”.

More recently in a surprise move,

Jeremy Hunt urged two IndependentPay Review bodies to abandon ei-ther the 1% rise which had been duein April next year or a pay progres-sion system linked to their length ofservice.

The bodies set earnings for 1.3million NHS workers, and evenChancellor George Osborne hadpreviously said the rise, which wouldcost £500 million, was affordable.

Mr Hunt also challenged the long-established tradition of small pay in-creases each year, in addition to payrises, as long as employees per-formed satisfactorily and move upthe grades within their band (incre-ments).

He claims the NHS £100 billionannual budget is under such strain itcannot afford these wage increases,adding that the incremental rises, onaverage 3.5% but up to 6.7%, wouldcost an estimated £900 million peryear.

No decisions on changes to payhave yet been taken. The Inde-pendent bodies will make the rec-ommendation next year.

NIPSA made its own submissionto the Pay Review Body and we,along with the other unions, will re-sist any attempt to change the payincreases or increments due to NHSworkers.

In their submission to the Pay Re-view Body, the NHS Trade Unionssaid that pay had failed to keeppace with inflation, leaving NHS staffwho were without a real-term pay in-crease since 2006, were strugglingfinancially to keep their heads abovewater.

The continuing NHS pay gap willmean that by 2014, NHS staff willhave suffered a real-terms pay cut ofbetween 8% and 12% at a timewhen NHS reorganisation and staffcuts make their jobs increasinglystressful.

Representatives of NHS staff, whohave already had their pay frozenfor two years and faced a majordowngrading of their pension bene-fits, have expressed outrage at thedemands.

The NHS Staff Council stated:“NHS staff has seen the value oftheir pay fall by at least 10% overthe past two years. This – togetherwith cuts in staffing and services in-creased demand and, in England,the huge NHS reorganisation – hasled to low morale and high stresslevels.

“We are asking the PRB to investi-gate the impact of successive payfreezes and on-going pay caps onNHS workers because this is impor-tant for patients.

“The evidence is clear – support-ing and investing in staff makes areal difference to patient outcomes.”

Public Services Pensions Campaign

within the terms of Recognition andProcedural Agreement signed by bothparties that came into effect on Sep-tember 9, 2013.

It is anticipated that the first formalmeeting will be held later in the au-tumn.

Talks on delivering a deal have con-tinued since Charlie Mack was ap-pointed to head up the charity in July2013.

The framework paves the way forpositive industrial relations betweenthe parties.

Charlie Mack said: “Extern is enter-ing a new era. Our mission is to im-prove people’s lives and makecommunities safer. Extern’s employ-ees are key to the delivery of our mis-sion and I am committed to leadingthe organisation through positivecommunications and engagementwith staff.

“Meaningful dialogue with therecognised union NIPSA plays an im-portant role in our success. We havea common aim to see Extern and ouremployees prosper, and this agree-

ment is collectively a constructivestep in the right direction.”

Welcoming this positive approachfrom management, Kevin McCabetold NIPSA Reports: “NIPSA is com-mitted to engaging in meaningful con-sultation with Extern for and on behalfof our members. We are a reputabletrade union and we pride ourselves instriving to improve working condi-tions for and on behalf of our mem-bers.

“Our ability to influence continuousimprovement is enhanced throughbuilding mutual respect between theExtern and NIPSA. We look forwardto fulsome participation in the frame-work, as agreed, and we are positiveabout our future relationship and thefuture direction of Extern.”

Operational delivery of the frame-work will be conducted through Ex-tern’s Human Resources ManagerLisa Doherty and NIPSA’s Higher Ex-ecutive Officer Catherine Arkinson –both of whom were actively engagedin reaching the agreement.

NEWS Page11 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

NIPSA has provided an update on Shared Serv-ices recruitment and transfers.It follows a number of meetings union representa-tives held with members at the Business ServicesOrganisation as well as through its representationon the regional Joint Negotiating Forum.

According to NIPSA, recruitment for SharedServices vacancies will be through a process of:Phase 1: Staff affected by Shared Services initia-tive,Phase 2: Posts remaining unfilled through Phase 1would be trawled through HSCNI, andPhase 3: Public advertisement.

It is understood vacancies in Band 2 and 3 postswill go straight to public advertisement.

For some specialist posts, Phase 2 may bepassed depending on a judgment being made

about the availability of skills within HSC.Staff who are employed in payroll, accounts

payable, accounts receivable and recruitment whohave been offered and accepted a redeploymentwill be eligible to apply for posts at Phase 2 andnot Phase 1.

Through discussions that NIPSA had directly hadwith the BSO, it was further confirmed in terms oftheir approach:n Staff in grades 2, 3, 5 and 7 will transfer intoShared Services unless there is a significantchange in location. Location means, for example,transfers from Belfast to Ballymena.n Where there is no band in the new structure,trade unions will agree with local employersarrangements for potential redeployment within thecurrent employer base where such arrangements

are not already in place. Staff will not unreason-ably refuse any offer of alternative employmentmade in line with those local arrangements.n Staff will be allocated to posts in accordancewith the pool arrangements set out in documenta-tion previously issued to trade unions.n Protection arrangements will be as set out incurrent contracts of employment.n Excess travel arrangements can be paid butstaff will be advised of potential tax implications.

Finally at the Joint Secretaries Forum, the tradeunions insisted that it was up to individual employ-ers, such as the Trusts, to provide details of all theredeployment offers that have been made and ac-cepted before there is any collective agreementwith the BSO in terms of their proposed way for-ward.

Update on Shared Services in health trusts

New dealbrokeredbetweenExternandNIPSA

NIPSA has vowed to con-tinue its engagement overthe future of Omagh LeisureCentre, which is currentlyclosed to the public and un-dergoing refurbishment.

The facility is set to opentowards the end of 2014.

Before the temporary clo-sure, NIPSA had sought acommitment from OmaghCouncil that permanent jobswould be retained at the fa-cility as well as terms andconditions of members pro-tected.

A commitment was givenby the Council, and hasbeen adhered to. However,late last year, Omagh Coun-cil appointed V4 consultantsto conduct an assessment ofpotential business opera-tional models for the OmaghLeisure Complex and theStrule Arts Centre.

This included looking atthe potential for outsourc-ing.

NIPSA officials were veryconcerned to learn of this

development, given the ap-proach taken by MagherafeltCouncil and the privatisationof Greenvale.

The union made extensiverepresentations arguing thecase for leisure services tobe retained by the Council.

NIPSA Official JoanMunton told NIPSA Reports:“The decision was taken ear-lier this year by the Councilto continue to deliver theservice ‘in-house’.

“This was obviously theright decision taken to retainthe provision of this pub-licly-funded service byOmagh Council and came asa relief to the NIPSA mem-bers working at the OmaghLeisure Complex.”

She added: “However, no-one is under any illusionabout the number of chal-lenges and changes whichwere identified as a result ofthe report, and the actual im-plications of these are un-clear at this stage.”

FIGHT NOWON TO SAVERIGHTS OFMEMBERS

NIPSA’s Assistant Secretary Kevin McCabe with Extern’s CEO Charlie Mack signthe agreement and it is witnessed by union General Secretary Brian Campfield,Extern’s Human Resources Manager Lisa Doherty and NIPSA’s Higher ExecutiveOfficer Catherine Arkinson

NIPSA has wel-comed an agree-ment reached withExtern that setsout a consultationframework.

The framework,brokered betweenExtern’s new CEOCharlie Mack andNIPSA AssistantSecretary KevinMcCabe, is found

NEWSPage 12 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

ONCE again support staff in the EducationSector find themselves being treated as sec-ond class citizens by the Department when itcomes to payment of their annual increment,which they have been contractually entitled tosince April of this year.

Members in schools and in Education andLibrary Board headquarters have been waitingfor six months (extremely patiently to date) forpayment of this entitlement.

NIPSA Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackelsaid: “After six months delay our membershave had enough of the excuses and havetaken the matter directly to the Minister.

“A delegation representing members of allunions made it clear to the Minister that thecontrast in the treatment of our members com-pared to that of teaching staff was inexcus-able, with teachers obtaining their annual

increment within one month of its due date. “While the Minister’s intervention in respect

of future years is welcome, it doesn’t resolvethe situation this year and members are nolonger willing to sit back and wait with theirhands outstretched.”

Following on from local protests in Educa-tion Boards, NIPSA held a demo outside Rath-gael House, the Department of Education’s HQin Bangor, on Wednesday, October 23, which

allowed members to demonstrate their angerat the on-going delay.

Paddy Mackel told NIPSA Reports: “This wasan important protest for two reasons. Firstly,members in Education made their voicesheard and sent a clear message to the Ministerand the Department that support staff in Edu-cation will no longer tolerate less favourabletreatment than their colleagues in the teachingprofession.

“Secondly, the protest also involved mem-bers from the four main unions organised inEducation and was a very clear signal of theunity that exists among the unions on this andmany other issues.”

He added that the message from the protestwas simple: “Pay our members what they areentitled to – we are not going away.”

Education Sectorpay – why

are we waiting?

THE newly-formed NIPSA LGB&TGroup proudly celebrated its exis-tence in a spectacular array ofcolour with its new banner andflags on display at this year’sBelfast, Foyle and Newry Pride Pa-rades.

The first Pride event this summerkicked off in Belfast on Saturday, July6, followed by Foyle Pride on Satur-day August 24, and ending on Satur-day, August 31 with the Pride inNewry parade.

NIPSA is proud to be part of thiscelebration of diversity of communi-ties and cultures in Northern Ireland.

We believe this public expressiondemonstrates our commitment to pro-mote equality of opportunity for all re-gardless of colour, race, religion,political belief, sexual orientation andgender identity.

It also demonstrates our commit-ment to fight against homophobia,transphobia, biphobia and all mani-festations of discrimination and intol-erance in our society.

Join NIPSA LGB&T GroupIf you are interested in helping us to

promote and protect the interests ofour LGB&T members; to help themtackle any work-related problemsthey face around their sexual orienta-tion or gender identity why not be-come a member of ournewly-established LGB&T Group byeither filling out the application formbelow or join confidentially by callingour direct line on 028 90686566 oremail lgbt.group@nipsa.org.uk. Thegroup is open to LGB&T membersand non-LGB&T members.

Confidentiality commitmentThe information supplied on the

form will be retained by NIPSA HQ ona database and will be used to com-plete a LGB&T Group membershiplist. Your details will remain confiden-

tial at all times and will not be avail-able to any other parties. NIPSA willcontact you by letter, telephone oremail with details of events, coursesand other activities organised by theLGB&T Group.

PRIDE 2013– a celebration of diversity

NIPSA LGBT members and supporters on parade at Belfast Pride

NIPSA has voiced its concern at the lack of con-sultation over a management restructuring exer-cise at Derry City Council.

The initiative was launched after the appoint-ment of Sharon O’Connor as DCC Chief Execu-tive.

The union has opposed the lack of consulta-tion on the implementation of these plans andhas continued to raise concerns about the pos-sibility of compulsory redundancies.

From the initial implementation stage, manage-ment were quick to dismiss NIPSA’s concernsand repeated assurances that there were noplans to make anyone compulsorily redundant.

In August it became apparent that this was in-creasingly likely and the local Branch began acampaign to oppose these redundancies and toexamine what other options might exist to re-solve this.

The campaign involved several lunchtimeprotests and building a consensus across thelocal area.

This included support from communitygroups, Derry Trades Council, politicians, mediaand regular meetings with the political leader-ship of Derry City Council.

In September, a meeting took place withBranch members who gave unanimous supportfor industrial action as part of the campaign.

NIPSA Official Alan Law told NIPSA Reports:“Working alongside the local Branch committee,we have demonstrated how effective NIPSA isfor our members, we have participated in manymeetings in recent weeks with the various politi-cal groups, particularly because the manage-ment of Derry City Council denied us theopportunity to attend the formal council meet-ings to address our concerns.

“The campaign against these redundancieshas resulted in an outcome which has met theneeds of the members affected. I am hopeful thatwe will see a significant improvement in indus-trial relations going forward.”

NIPSA opposition to compulsory redundancies at Derry City Council

Meetings7th November at 4.30 p.m. in NIPSA HQ, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast

5th December at 4.30 p.m. in NIPSA HQ, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast

16th January at 4.30 p.m. in NIPSA HQ, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast

All LGB&T Members and Non-LGB&T Members Welcome

For more details contact:

E: lgb&t.group@nipsa.org.uk or T: 028 9068 6566