2023 Annual Report 

Part 1 Branch President Report

As always, it’s been a busy year for the branch and the union as a whole.

This year our members stood up as a collective and achieved an increased

pay remit and one off £1500 cost of living payment, and also guarantees on

redundancy terms. This was as a direct result of the PCS national campaign

on pay which our members showed unwavering support for. This was the first

time in PCS history that members taking national action have forced a

government to make concessions on pay resulting in considerable extra

money than what was originally offered. All the days of action taken by our

members, directly contributed to that win, so members should be rightly proud of themselves for getting involved and voting and taking action, joining picket lines etc. 

It’s proof that when everyone stands together to improve working

people’s lives it can and does work. Our branch members supported our

picket lines with great turnouts, the enthusiasm shown by our members to get

involved was great to see. The 2024 pay talks are ongoing and plans will be

put in place to ready members again for a ballot sometime this year if needed.

We have proven our members are not willing to settle any more for derisory

pay awards and will again take any action needed to better all of our

positions.

I’d like to thank the outgoing BEC for all their work this year. As a branch with

over 3000 members this is no mean feat and the reps on the branch have all

delivered for members, including ensuring our members details were up to

date on PCS digital, leafletting and ballot work to ensure we met the 50%

threshold that enabled us to take action on pay, giving advice and

representation when needed, while under continuing restrictions on union

facility time and balancing their union role with their day jobs. We are all

volunteers on the branch and all contribute to the workings of the branch and

I’m glad to say we have maintained a full BEC throughout the year and

believe we can continue this with the incoming BEC.

There are other major issues facing our members this year that our union and

reps have been involved is such as the continued objections through the court

regarding the Rwanda Scheme which the Supreme Court deemed was

unlawful.

PCS is also launching a judicial review against the Governments minimum

service laws and the right to strike using the Human Rights Act to challenge

the Strikes ( Minimum Service levels) Act 2023 on the grounds that proposed

strike restrictions in Border Force, contravene the right to strike enshrined in

Article 11 of the ECHR. This effectively criminalises strike action for

thousands of our union members and means even when workers lawfully vote

to strike they could be forced to attend work and sacked if they do not.

Members will also be aware that the government announced in November

2023 that civil servants who are office workers will be required to work 60% in

the office, as opposed to the current 40% requirement, where job role allows.

A PCS survey has shown that 83% of members consider they are more

productive as hybrid workers but moving to 60% means they will lose valuable

time commuting, increased travel costs and added stress. For those working

as hybrid workers there is no benefit to them, and in fact it is detrimental to

them, to change the current working office attendance model. There are no

figures we are aware of showing productivity is down, sickness levels are up

or in fact any other business need to back up this current government

position. The PCS has informed the Cabinet Office that these plans are

unreasonable and unnecessary and will push back attempts to move to the

60% stance. There is an NEC agreed plan to pursue industrial action on this

issue if required. While the branch are unaware as yet of any plans by senior

management to move Liverpool members to the 60% model, and given the

Liverpool estate likely cannot withstand 60% attendance anyway, the branch

will be requesting early sight of any plans of this move and call members

meetings if required. If any members are already aware of plans in your area

to move to 60% please let the branch know so we can take this up with senior

management.

Finally, this year’s Branch AGM will again be a virtual meeting and members

will receive an email with joining details. The department has again refused

members facility time off work to attend however I hope that scheduling it

during the lunch period will allow for members to attend. I look forward to the

meeting where everyone can get involved in shaping the future of the branch

and discuss motions for submission to PCS Group and National conferences

which will be a physical conference held in the Brighton Centre in May 2024.

If anyone is interested in becoming an advocate or a rep or wants to get more

involved but not sure what it entails, please contact the branch inbox for a

chat.

It is going to be a busy year again, but I am in no doubt that the incoming BEC

for 2024 will be ready for whatever lays ahead.

Solidarity

Karen Bolger (Branch President)

Part 2 Health & Safety

During the year we conducted H&S Inspections across the Merseyside Campus

buildings, providing our findings in reports highlighting concerns, and suggesting

recommendations and improvements. General House Keeping was a concern

across some of the buildings and floors, trailing cables under desks in some areas

that are potential trip hazards, we reported our concerns about the volume of printers

being used in a specific room, staff reported feeling nauseous, as well as

headaches, tiredness, overly warm in the room. We are pleased to report that the

issues we highlighted have been considered and acted upon by management and

the Campus Team, our report was issued to relevant stakeholders and work has

begun to resolve most of the issues identified, including moving most staff out of the

room where the high volume of printing takes place, this is an ongoing development

so a more permanent resolution is currently being considered, in the meantime it’s a

good temporary solution to move most of the staff out the room and reduce the

printing while some staff are in the room.

We reported in last year’s report that several staff had received electric shocks in

101 Old Hall st when plugging Laptops into the desk top power supply. PAT testing

was carried out with the intention of finding and repairing any faults that had possibly

caused the shocks.

Unfortunately, there was further incidents after the PAT testing took place, therefore

throughout the year numerous electrical work has taken place to find and resolve

what appeared to be an ongoing issue with the electrics, the work includes most

power modules being replaced, desk banks being fitted with RCDs (Residual Current

Devices) on the power modules connected to the mains, the building has also

recently undergone its 5 year EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), test of

the fixed wire electrical system.

Hopefully the work carried out has resolved any faults that caused the shocks.

The Branch has requested that the official HSWT (Health Safety Wellbeing Team)

are always fully informed and involved to ensure the work being carried out is to the

highest standard.

As we advised in the last H&S Annual Report, it is imperative that

accidents/incidents are reported correctly so they can be fully investigated and

reported, RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences)

may be required to be sent to HSE (Health & Safety Executive), therefore it is

extremely important the incidents are correctly detailed and accurately reported,

information can be found on Horizon about reporting accidents and near misses.

I am pleased to report that a brand-new building for Border Force staff based at

Seaforth is close to being opened, the previous old building had many issues and

looked like it should have been condemned years ago so its great news that staff

finally have a nice building to work in.

The Branch will continue to work alongside stakeholders to prioritise the health and

safety of staff.

Dean Barron (Health and Safety lead)

Part 3 Finance

We receive our funding from PCS allocated funds from member’s subscriptions. The purpose is to reimburse reps who may need to spend money or travel during their dealings with members but are subject to guidelines to ensure frugal and necessary use. 

The year 2023 has seen frugal as ever.

We have received no funding from PCS since the £24 we received in March 2022 and currently hold a balance of £328

PCS HO account had a balance of £636.34 at the end of 2022.

As well as £75 spent on leaflets the branch also agreed to the purchase of 2 Android tablets to be used by branch Reps for organising purposes at a combined cost of £199.98. 

Our Treasurer left the Home Office for pastures new at the end of 2023 and the branch would like to thank Helen for her efforts, not just as treasurer but her contributions in all areas of the branch over the years as well as for every member she has helped in that time. 

Following the AGM the incoming Treasurer will need to assess the anticipated expenditure for the coming year and whether a funding bid is required.

Part 4 Personal Cases

Members often need individual assistance from PCS with work-related matters. In union-speak this is known as a “personal case”. This report gives members some insight into the number and variety of cases handled by your branch reps in 2023.

PCS Home Office Merseyside Branch provides advice on how to contact us if you need advice or representation and what to do if there are problems with your reps getting facility time to represent you. The advice is for members, reps and managers. Please familiarise yourself with this guidance.

Our online system for members who need representation was introduced by PCS Home Office Merseyside Branch in 2016. 

To give members a flavour of the range of requests for assistance that your local reps have received, the end of year statistics reported to Branch Executive Committee for 2023 are reproduced below. 

2023 personal cases by month

January 20

February 7

March 20

April 10

May 15

June 14

July 12

August 9

September 17

October 19

November 21

December 15 

Total 181

2023 personal cases by work area

Asylum 48

Border Force (inc. Intel) 8  

Criminal Casework 4

EU Settlement (Casework) 29

EU Settlement (Contact Centre)  11

International 10

Nationality 8

Refused Case Management (Now part of ACSC) 8

Other 55

2023 personal cases by site

101 Old Hall Street 30

Capital Building 108

John Lennon Airport 0

Redgrave Court 31

Seaforth Docks 4

Shannon Court 1

Other 7

80 of the total 2023 personal cases related to sickness absence

2024 looks like it may be an even busier year for your branch reps as 39 personal cases have already been lodged in the first 7 weeks of 2024

Jacqui Halsall-Hughes (Assistant Secretary)