Border Force Update
PCS Home Office Merseyside Branch reps meet with Border Force Management
Branch reps met with Border force senior management on 16 April. Members had not requested any specific items to be included on the agenda. A short update from the meeting can be found below.
PCS National Executive Committee election
Your ballot papers have arrived in the post sent to home addresses. These are the people who were nominated at the our recent branch AGM:
President: Fran Heathcote
Vice Presidents: Martin Cavanagh (Merseyside), Kevin McHugh, Zita Holbourne, Jackie Green
Ordinary Members: Mark Baker, Paula Brown, Clive Bryant, Bridget Corcoran, James Cox (Home Office), Harvey Crane, David Hannah, Sarah Ensor, Felicity Flynn, Jimmy Gill, Angela Grant (Merseyside), Sam Hall, Robert Eagleton, Austin Harney, Adrian Hedley, Kris Hendry, Ros Hewitt, Tracy Hylton (Merseyside), John Jamieson, Liz McGachey, Jas McGuinness, John Maguire, Lorna Merry, Marianne Owens, Ian Pope, Steve Swainston, Steve Thorley, Karen Watts, Hector Wesley, Paul Williams.
Merseyside Branch Executive Committee is asking you to support these candidates. Ballot papers must be received by 13 May so don't delay posting.
Management provided a general update on the areas of their responsibility: Seaforth, John Lennon Airport and Holyhead, and confirmed the current details of their Health and safety network rep who attends the quarterly Health and safety well-being meetings.
Given the rapid expansion at Seaforth in terms of staff numbers and the long-standing issues of inadequate and outdated accommodation, members should already be aware that funding has been secured for staff to move to a new office at Seaforth which should ease the accommodation issues. However, this will take time so in the interim desk space in Redgrave Court and the Capital Building have been secured.
There are plans to install a portacabin adjacent to S2 so that staff can spread out to more easily comply with social distancing guidance. Funding for new infrastructure at the ports has also been secured. This is government money to deal with a change of requirements at the end of the EU exit transition period. Management confirmed they would inform the branch of any roster issues that may arise and to keep us updated on the new accommodation at S2 and any potential changes to work being done.
PCS asked for access to new staff joining Border force in order for us to undertake PCS inductions. Management agreed to organise this as new staff were currently being trained and they would look to see dates that would be suitable and get back to us. The branch would still welcome any members working for Border Force to consider becoming a branch rep by contacting the branch inbox. There is currently 1 vacancy and in addition volunteers to become health & safety reps and PCS Advocates will be welcomed.
The next meeting with Border Force management is scheduled for 21 May. Details will be published on the branch website for requesting items for inclusion on the agenda for that meeting.
4 May 21
1298