MyCSP Dispute Update

PCS union members on strike for Union Recognition at MyCSP entered their 17th week on strike on 27 October. The workers who administer Civil Service pensions are based at two sites in Liverpool and Cheadle. The work, transferred out of the Home Office in 2012, is now being transferred from outsourcing firm Equiniti to Capita from 1 December. PCS continues to argue that the work should be taken back in house by the Cabinet Office

The problem at hand remains that PCS is being cut out of talks on the terms of the TUPE transfer between firms due to the continued refusal by the current contractor to recognise the union. 

Pickets in Liverpool after 16 weeks on strike continue to be well-supported. PCS has approved an extension of the strike until the date the work is transferred. 

The whole sorry affair has received severe criticism from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee which reported on 24 October and concluded “ in order to ensure the smooth transition from MyCSP to Capita it is important that appropriate consideration be given to the rights of staff transferring across”. 

Talks with Capita, who take over the contract from 1 December, continue and look promising. Whatever happens, the dispute has improved union organisation immensely and this will be carried into the new contract. In the meantime backlogs of work pile up with reports of people delaying retirement as they can’t get pension forecasts. The dispute could be resolved tomorrow if the employer simply recognised the union.

Picket lines are Monday to Friday: Liverpool 7:30 to 10:00 at 40 Tithebarn Street & Cheadle 8:30 - 10:00 at Landmark House, Station Road, Bird Hall Lane. 

Solidarity delegations and banners are welcome as are messages of support which should be sent via adam@pcs.org.uk