The Popular Front for the Liberation of the C.P.S.A

Leigh Lewis tried to sell us a second hand car last week. Well, almost. But we know a dodgy deal when we see one.

For those of you unable to attend or await the end of the marathon 4½ hour strikers meeting (we were awaiting the outcome of the NEC debate on Leigh Lewis' latest "offer"), we understand that the basis of the offer rejected by the NEC consisted of revisiting the risk assessments for Brent, possibly including a "trial" of pop-up screens, holding back the opening of Streatham until 19th November and allowing one screened area per cluster of offices - although Leigh Lewis' definitions of the type of work which should be delivered from behind screens differ to ours.

Our action has made management at least recognise the dreaded "s" word, but we still need to teach them how to use it sensibly.

Let's look at the offer again:
Pop-up screens? Walk round the back.

One screened area per cluster?
Scenario: Customer at Balham/Wandsworth requests an alignment payment - send them to the screened area - at Streatham, which has the only screened area for the cluster. The screens will be removed from Balham and Wandsworth. It doesn't take much imagination to see the pitfalls inherent in this.

Then we come to Leigh Lewis' errors of fact:

Streatham not to open until 19th November?
It opened to the public on 22nd October. 60 strikers were there to witness this.

Revisiting risk assessments?
And why not? The strike centre has a copy of the "revisited" risk assessments for Winchester Pathfinder, which joined the strike on 22nd October (nearly forgot - they had a man with a knife threatening them last week. He couldn't do any damage because the office reception is still screened).

We also have a copy of the original risk assessments that were drawn up by Trillium with input from the TU side safety reps. It was then passed to the Pathfinder management who made substantial changes without consulting anyone.

A screened interview room became a room with a glass partition and blinds. Options put forward to alter the public seating arrangements before "go live" became "regularly reviewed after go live date"
TUS in the original asked if statement of intent posters could be placed in the JCP areas e.g. "no alcohol or illegal substances allowed on site" became "no food or drink on these premises" and even this has to be "taken back to the national team to establish if such items match the JCP "vision"."
Bad news interviews became PV interviews - not the same thing at all.

There is more, much more - each document is about 30 pages long. If anyone wants to see a copy of the docs, pop into the strike centre.

We don't think it's a clever idea for Mr Lewis' minions to fiddle with risk assessments and then pass them off as safe, and wonder if he is aware of this. It could have an effect on his "personal guarantee" to staff who will work in JCP offices.

The screens were installed in the mid 70's after the fatal shooting of a member of staff in a Devon office. Recent events locally show that the cycle of violence continues.

Hands up all those who think our workplace has become less violent since then. Only one? Thank you, Leigh.

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The advertisement below appeared in the Guardian, Daily Mail and Daily Mirror newspapers on 25th October to raise public awareness and bring the dispute to the attention of Ministers.

NEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWS

The rest of the Pathfinder offices joined us on strike this week and early reports of the level of support are encouraging, with many BA and ES offices closed.

Fulham have voted by a large margin to take action over their enforced scabbing. Cricklewood has voted to take strike action. The Makerfield ballot is under way, and is expected to show massive support for strike action over their enforced scabbing.

Speakers from Streatham and Brent have been addressing meetings outside BA and ES offices across the south of England, building support for the national ballot, which should be starting on 6"' November - unless management can be persuaded to substantially improve its offer.

Roy Lewis has addressed the South Eastern Region TUC on the dispute and they send their full support.

THE WEEKS PICKET PIX