PCS:British Council office closures unacceptable

Friday, 16, Jun 2006 12:00

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has reacted with alarm to plans by the British Council to close seven offices throughout the UK and relocate services to Manchester. PCS understands the 35 staff affected were informed by telephone of the decision yesterday afternoon and they will be offered the chance to relocate their jobs by applying for positions in Manchester and London. However, as many of the offices involved are not within commuting distances this would involve either relocation or compulsory redundancy.

PCS has consistently made it clear that any compulsory redundancies arising from the Gershon job cuts process could be a trigger for a nationwide civil service ballot on industrial action.

Commenting, Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary said: "It is unbelievable that a management that states it is committed to treating staff with integrity and who picked up an Investors In People award just this week can inform people they are facing compulsory redundancy by phone.

"The British Council should immediately withdraw the crass threat of compulsory redundancies and start to negotiate with the unions involved. PCS has reiterated that we remain committed to a constructive dialogue to avoid such an outcome and I hope the British Council shares this commitment."

ENDS

Notes to editors

* The seven offices facing closure are based in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham and Reading.

* PCS has 620 members in the British Council, the body responsible for the UK's international organisation for education opportunities and cultural relations.

* For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 0207 801 2820 or 07833 978216.

* PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 325,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers 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 Janice Godrich.