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pcsleedshmrc Campaigns, News, Pay, strikes

Strike Ballot – Frequently Asked Questions

PCS goes to a national ballot from the 26th September – 7th November 2022, and there has never been a more important time to join, or participate.

We have created a ‘Ballot FAQ’ page that members and non-members can be directed to, to answer some of the questions we are hearing about the ballot

Below are the questions currently listed. We intend to keep this up to date and welcome members and non-members idea for other FAQ that should be listed.

pcsleedshmrc Campaigns, News, Pay

We demand better: demonstration on 18 June

After 2 years of devoted service and hard work to keep our country afloat during the pandemic, Civil Servants have been thanked with the scandalous news that they will be subject to 90,000 job cuts.

This is unacceptable. And it doesn’t end with the Civil Service: living standards are plummeting while costs are soaring, wages are stagnating across the board, and workers’ rights across the UK are under threat—just take a look at what they did to workers at P&O.

On 18 June, workers are uniting in London to deliver a clear message to this government: we demand better. This is a march and rally, organised by the Trades Union Congress, telling our government we need:

  • Real pay rises and a real living wage
  • A ban on dodgy working practices like zero hour contracts and fire and rehire
  • Taxes on the billionaires and energy companies, whose wealth and profits grew during the pandemic while we suffered
  • An end to racism and discrimination at work
  • An end to the government’s agenda to destroy workers’ rights and unions

Activists and reps from PCS Leeds will be travelling to London on 18 June to let our voices be heard. We ask our members to join us.

Transport will be arranged by PCS so members can attend without cost on the day, so if you are a member and want to attend, please get in touch with one of our reps, who will keep you informed. We cannot talk about this using R&C systems, so please be mindful of this.

pcsleedshmrc Campaigns, News

Leeds May Day 2022

On Saturday 29th April, many of our reps and activists will be attending the May Day worker’s demonstration organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). This demonstration is a display of solidarity between trade unions members and workers, campaigning for much-deserved pay rises and the implementation of a living wage.

Speakers include Richard Burgeon MP, and Tosh McDonald Aslef (TUC President). The demo assembles at 11:30 outside the Art Gallery Victoria Gardens on the Headrow.

If you are interested in attending, please see the Facebook Event and contact one of our reps.

pcsleedshmrc Equality, News

Women’s History Month March 2022

Following on from International Women’s Day on 8th March 2022 there are still lots of events taking place at various venues in the region.

Here’s just a few our Race Awareness Officer Leatitia Pringle thinks you shouldn’t miss out on…

Women’s History Month Screening: The Watermelon Woman Tickets, Thu 24 Mar 2022 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

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When Worlds Collide: Arts and Academia Tickets, Mon 28 Mar 2022 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

For more Eventbrite events you can access PCS Digital or select the following link: Leeds, United Kingdom International Women’s Day Events – This Month | Eventbrite

pcsleedshmrc Equality, News

International Women’s Day Events

8th March 2022 is International Women’s Day (IWD). As such, our Women’s Officers Nahid Batool and Inkesha Aktar are delivering workshops covering various topics affecting women.

These are three events being delivered across the day:

  • 09:00-10:00 – Marie Younger – Career Progression within the Civil Service as a woman
  • 12:00-13:00 – Josh McMorland – Domestic Abuse
  • 15:00-16:00 – Lorna Merry (PCS Group President) – Women in the Workplace

If you work for HMRC at Leeds you should be given work time to go to one or more of these events. You should first get permission from you manager to attend, then you can register using the Sharepoint Spreadsheet shared with members via the email sent on the 7 March at 10:52. If you are not a member, please talk to one of your reps about attending, as the invite to these events is extended to all colleagues regardeless of PCS membership (although we would encourage you to become a member).

Once you have registered for the events, you should receive a calendar invite via your HMRC email. We hope to see you there.

pcsleedshmrc Campaigns, Guidance, News, Pay

Your Consultative Ballot 2022

If you are a member of PCS, you should have received your Consultative Ballot today. We advise you vote YES.

The Consultative Ballot is a crucial part of PCS’s Pay and Pensions campaign. It asks if you would be willing to take part in industrial action to support the campaign for fairer pay and pensions. A Consultative Ballot is a way of finding out members’ views, and a second ballot is always held before any strike action is taken.

Throughout the campaign, please remember that under the employee relations agreement you cannot use HMRC systems to talk about industrial action.

Why you should vote YES

PCS urges you to vote YES on both options on the ballot. If PCS have a clear message from members saying they would be willing to take industrial action, the union will be in a much stronger position when it comes to negotiating everything—not just pay and pensions—as it proves members are willing to stand up for these issues. Voting YES at this stage does not oblige you to take action at a later date, but it does give us more negotiating power before proceeding to a strike.

Your Ballot

Voting ends on 21 March. The ballot should have been emailed to you on your main registered email with PCS. If you have not received the ballot, the details PCS hold about you are probably out of date, and you need to update them on PCS Digital.

If you are a PCS member working in Leeds, and want to know more about the Pay and Pensions campaign and the voting process, please contact one of your union reps, or alternatively get in touch using our contact form.

Find out more:

pcsleedshmrc Campaigns, Guidance, News

The Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the Leeds & District Revenue and Customs Branch will take place on Tuesday 1 March 2022.

It begins at 10:30am at the Ground Floor Business Events centre of 7/8 Wellington Place. It lasts 2 hours, and all members are invited to attend. It will be possible to attend the meeting virtually, so members not working from the office will be able to come. It is a great opportunity to discover what your branch has achieved over the past year, and to have your say in the decisions that shape our future. With the PCS Pay and Pensions ballot fast approaching, this year’s AGM is as important as ever.

Whilst the branch strives to make the AGM as accessible as possible to all, the topics covered and terms used in the meeting can be confusing, especially for new members not experienced in trade unionism. If you come in knowing what to expect, chances are you’ll find it easier to follow and contribute. Below is a guide to what will take place in your AGM:

  1. The Branch Chair gives opening remarks, greeting and welcoming members and union reps.
  2. Apologies are given from reps and members unable to attend the meeting. The Branch Annual report and accounts are circulated, giving insight into your unions actions over the past year, and transparency over its finances.
  3. An open forum is provided for discussion of matters arising.
  4. Branch Officers are elected; these are the people who will work to make your union branch the best it can be, and represent you in personal cases for the year to come. If you are a member, you are entitled to vote.
  5. You are also given the opportunity to vote on our nominations to Group and National officers: the people who will shape the national direction of the union for both HMRC and the Civil Service as a whole.
  6. Motions are submitted and voted on. These motions instruct how your union branch is run, and if you are a member, you are entitled to vote.

If you are a member and HRMC employee, you are entitled to time away from your post to attend the meeting; however, this is to be treated as your own time and not time at work. We encourage all members to attend, so you can have your say and help us in the fight towards a fairer workplace.

We hope to see you there.

pcsleedshmrc Guidance, News, Uncategorized

Welcome To The PCS HMRC Leeds Branch Website

Welcome. This website has been created by the Leeds HMRC Branch Executive Committee to bring you news about PCS campaigns, workplace rights, and union events across Leeds workplaces. It is also here to direct you to any resources you may find helpful, and make it easy for you to contact us. If you have an issue at work or would like to get involved in the union, you can contact us by getting in touch with one of your reps, or by using our contact form.

Over the coming year we hope to expand this website to include information about our campaigns, branch history, and an archive of our publications. This is an ongoing process and is only possible with the help of union members and activists; if you are a rep or advocate and you would like to get involved in making and maintaining this website, please get in touch.