Did you get the 'cascade' today, and what are your views?

[billyhayes]

According to the joint CWU/POL conference call today at 12 noon, in the next couple of weeks.

[saunders265]

I've heard that permanent staff from other branches are to be drafted in to fill the void (if they refuse they will be made redundant).

"1.6 Once Phase 3 of the permanent duty review has been completed and there are no surplus employees with all permanent staff in templated posts, any FTC/SEC covering templated positions will be made permanent. Future recruitment to vacancies will be on a permanent contract basis."

If I am reading this correctly, the last sentence means that in future, when/if recruitment kicks in again, then it will 'permanent' from the off. Is that right people?

Agreed – I read it that when all the Duty Revisions have been completed, and Staff Transfers taken place, then all future recruitment will be on a ‘Permanent’ basis.
However, Paragraph 11.2 reads:
‘It is also agreed that the resourcing arrangements contained within this agreement will be concluded when the £10m savings are achieved this financial year.’ This indicates to me that this is a one off agreement, and after this is concluded we start all over again. Who knows what will happen then?

[saunders265]

so does anyone know when are we going to have the preference excersise - we have heard that it has been delayed - the whole thing is a shambles and is being handled very poorly.

Patience dear boy, paragraph 3.2 states:

The preference exercise will commence in August with offers being made to individuals in September. Individuals leaving on VR will have a last day of service at the end of December. This approach will ensure that risk to service at Christmas, a critical time, is avoided.

So it doesn’t matter when the preference exercise starts, you will get your answer in September.

They’re still scratching their heads at the moment…

I think it’s being handled very well…

[Big TImmy]

Thank-you saunders 265 for that info - The office where I work is on the first 85 list and i think there are a few of my colleaugues who wish to put in for EVR - I still think that the whole thing is a shambles but there are some of us who could see this coming for a long time - as you say in a previous post this looks to be a one off agreement and when concluded we will start all over again -who knows what will happen then.

[billyhayes]

Word on the street is that the 2011-2016 plan will consist of around 200 crowns staying in the network...

How's that for scare mongering?

[Big TImmy]

considering the way things are going I would be surprised if there was as many as 200 left

[Lounge Lizard]

Surely the ultimate plan is for NO Crown Offices.

[saunders265]

Prediction:
May 2010 – Tory Government
July 2010 – England lose to Germany on Penalties in World Cup Semi Final
March 2011 – 173 Crown Offices close
April 2011 – New Management team announce plans for POL to achieve profit by 2016
July 2013 – London Olympics open one year late
July 2014 – England lose to Germany on Penalties in World Cup Semi Final
April 2016 – New Management team announce plans for POL, a subsidiary of WH Smith, to achieve profit by 2021. Pigs are seen flying a Harrier Jump Jet.