Public and Commercial Services Union

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Group consists of PCS members in The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs including the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Pesticides Safety Directorate.

The executive agencies:

• Animal Health
• CEFAS
• Central Science Laboratory
• Rural Payments Agency
• Veterinary Laboratories Agency

the non-departmental public bodies:

• Natural England
• Commission for Rural Communities
• Kew Gardens and Kew Enterprises.

In total approximately 14,000 Civil and Public Servants are employed within the group.

Challenges facing the group

1. Job Cuts

The first compulsory redundancies took place in the Defra Wild Life Unit in 2006 provoking national industrial action. The Wildlife Unit offices at Polwhele and Aston Down were closed in April 2008.

In the past year over 500 staff have accepted voluntary redundancy as part of the core Department’s drive to reduce staffing levels. Guildford office closed in December 2007 resulting in further redundancies and the compulsory transfer of staff to London.

CEFAS offices at Burnham on Crouch will close in the near future. Several hundred jobs are also scheduled to transfer from London.

2. Re-structuring

Creation of further NDPBs is expected with the transfer of staff to Shared Services; the Marine Management Organisation and Regulatory Science Agency. These moves are also likely to result in office closures and re-location of some work.

The pesticides Safety Directorate is being transferred to the Health and Safety Directorate and other parts of Defra such as Government Decontamination Service and Gangmasters Licensing Authority face an uncertain future.

3. Privatisation

Facilities Management across Defra and its Agencies is scheduled to be privatised this year. Further privatisations are expected to affect Shared Services and a number of other public service functions.

4. Pay

In 2007 Staff across the Group saw below inflation pay offers imposed by management and several areas are still in dispute. Government proposals for 3 year capped pay limits across the public sector are likely to lead to further battles this year.

5. Performance targets

Treasury demands to achieve efficiency targets and staffing cost cuts affect Core Defra and its agencies and NDPBs all of whom have seen their budgets cut for next 3 years.

Message from the group president

Glenn Ford , the EFRA Group President says:

“Elected officers work to protect you from ill-conceived management planning by promoting fairness and openness in consultations and discussion, demonstrating to the official side that good industrial relations have positive benefits for both sides.

"You can influence the official side. Voice your opinion, express your views and use your vote.

"Your support is essential if we are going to influence the official side. Play your part in the union by attending local meetings and being active in your branch. Use your vote in elections and ballots."