PCS: Forestry jobs axe is a 'ploy' to make sell-off easier

Monday, 23 May 2011 12:00 AM

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union in the Forestry Commission reacted angrily to news today (23) that one in four of their jobs will be cut.

The announcement makes a mockery of the fact that the independent forestry panel, set up to review the future of our publicly run forests following the government's climbdown over privatisation earlier this year, does not make its recommendations until August.

It also comes days after a decision at PCS's annual conference that the union would ballot its 250,000 civil and public service members for national industrial action over cuts to jobs, pensions and pay.

The union says that the Forestry Commission management is acting in bad faith by announcing such draconian cuts three months ahead of the independent panel's interim report and 11 months ahead of the final report.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Ministers made much of the fact that they listened when half a million people signed a petition against their planned sell-off of our public forests.

"But axing this many staff will leave the Forestry Commission unable to maintain the excellent public services our members provide which are so highly regarded by the public."

PCS Forestry Commission group president Mary Irvine said: "PCS members are totally opposed to these measures and will vote with their feet when ballot papers hit desks later this week.

"To reduce staff and offices by the scale outlined today is a deliberate ploy to run down the Forestry Commission to sell it off on the cheap."

ENDS

Notes

- For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 97821

- The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich - on Twitter @janicegodrich

- Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union

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