12:00 – 13:00; Room 14 Senedd
· Attendees – PCS:
o Marianne Owens - MO
o Matt Cunningham - MC
o Doug Jones - DJ
o John Booth - JB
o Steph
Landeryou - SL
· MS:
o Mike
o TBA
· Apologies:
o Heledd Buchan
o Sian
Boyles
· Absences:
o Julie Morgan
Minutes
Concerns arising at Welsh Government
MC outlined concerns arising around Welsh Government pay, he discussed pay demands and the WDSG pay claim;
Management held that negotiations around union demands were off the table due to a statement made by Eluned Morgan around ‘delivery’ – this was felt to mean the reduced working week should be off the table. We have not been able to discuss any notions around additional leave, for example.
MC described a letter send to FM on this and Mike said that, should he receive a reply, he will raise it on the floor or in writing.
DJ opened on the Standards Committee Investigation on dignity and respect. He spoke to the importance of mandatory equality and harassment training.
MS TBA described her concern of prospective Reform MS’s from the 7 Senedd using this training as a form of political martyrdom to gain advantage with their supporters. She asked whether PCS have had any dealings with the Westminster model. DJ assured that the branch had consulted with the staff at Westminster.
MS TBA outlined that the latest review of the Westminster system has recommended that these complaints follow an independent approach rather than via the party systems. Mandatory training would enforce a legal obligation rather than a mechanism by which people can avoid it.
Two-Child benefit cap
DJ outlined that any pressure would be welcomed around the two-child cap and that difficulty.
Risks of Green finance
JB outlined the briefing and will provide written questions/further information to Mike for proposing on the floor. Any pressure around regulatory frameworks would be welcomed.
M was supportive in his view of private sector being far from altruistic.
Marianne Owens – National Dispute report
Outlined national dispute across pay, pensions and jobs. MO spoke about the proposed Wealth Tax outlined in the leaflet report.
AOB
NLW update
DJ gave his assessment of the current situation on NLW pensions. Thanked Mike for raising on the floor and he confirmed there has been no updated from FM on this.
DJ outlined various industrial issues which had been covered in past meetings. A strongly likelihood there will be an industrial dispute at the library. Mike described pension protection, DJ stated that they will shut the scheme for any new entrants.
DJ stated that these crises around pensions arose every couple of years due to the size and intricacy of the scheme. They had advocated for the PCS pension scheme – Mike’s personal view is that everyone should be paid into the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
DJ concurred, there is a strange dichotomy around ALBs and Welsh Government in the terms of funding.
AOB(b)
DJ stated his view on fair funding for Wales and discussed the Barnett formula. Mike described four separate models of funding in Wales. Mike said fair funding does not necessarily result in more money for Wales – the data outcomes might not result in more money.
Mike and DJ discussed England-Wales rail projects, as Scotrail is devolved they receive Barnett consequential as a result. DJ said we should perhaps look at devolution of rail.
Next meeting
Possible that we’ll need to change the provisional date due to Mike’s availability on 17 Sept.