ARMs National Committee

National Forum Decisions

Most of the National Forum decisions are now being taken forward. The amended constitution has now been circulated. Requests for information have been made on NHS dentistry. We have met NEC colleagues twice. We are holding discussions with Organising and our submission to the review of the National Pensioners Commission has now been made.

Pensions

We held discussions on the McCloud Judgement, the transfer of work in MyCSP to Capita, pension age and pension rates. On McCloud, PCS via Up in ARMs alerted members to a cut-off point of 31 October for option letters to be returned. This was followed up by a text message. We have lobbied the Public Accounts Committee and MPs about the unacceptable delay primarily due to the transfer of work and continue to lobby on this matter. We are as ARMs also following up within the National Union who are meeting the Cabinet Office frequently. With an ARMs intervention the National Union also issued an all-Branches Briefing (BB 44-25).

On the transfer we have continued to support members in MYCSP who are in dispute. ARMs members in the North West Region have joined picket lines and have called for negotiations.

We have raised with the Union how we deal with Equality in Contractual Schemes such as PCSPS.

We continue to support the Triple Lock but want to go further. A Circular inviting views on levels of State Pension is to be issued.

Members with pension queries are advised to e mail: pensions@pcs.org.uk

National Pensioners Convention

As stated, the submission from PCS was agreed and has now been sent in. The ARMs NC agreed to look at how members can be consulted on ongoing developments. This may involve a special reps meeting.

We are still playing an active role in a number of Working Groups.

Communications

This remains a big issue as PCS now tends to communicate on line rather than by post. Members are encouraged to keep their records up to date.

Our flagship publication remains Up in ARMs and our Editor, Jacquie Hadfield, is always looking for articles.

At our last meeting the National Committee agreed to raise the unagreed change to an article in Up in ARMs.

Annual General Meetings

All Regions and Nations will need to hold an AGM in time to get nominations and motions in before the closing date. Plan to organise by end of February to be safe. Feel free to invite a speaker from the ARMs National Committee