Fast Stream 2010 Competition

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sorrytobustyourdreams - that was a great and detailed response, thank you. Not necessarily what I was hoping to hear, but certainly makes it clearer. Thanks again.

Reply 2721

Ellsbells3032

Prince Rhyus

1)No
2)Season ticket loans vary from department to department but essentailly they purchase your season ticket & automatically deduct payments from your salary monthly.

Some departments have discounts on private medical insurance if that helps!

As to those asking about incrimiates the answer is quite frankly no. the only way we are going to get raises if through promotion.

The FDA are fighting this in some departments but their chances of succeeding are slim to none especially with this move to coordinate the pay across govt. having some departments get it and others not would go very against this!

Reply 2722

Prince Rhyus

Ellsbells3032

One of the things that I've not yet got a feel of from the Coalition is whether it is going to go back to national pay bargaining on the grounds that it's far more efficient for all side to have one set of negotiations on pay rather than several hundred each year, one for each organisation.

Again, in some departments moving up milestones within a grade is contractual, and in others it isn't.

The FDA with all the other unions (bar PCS) that signed up to the previous administration's agreement on reforming the Civil Service Compensation Scheme will be lobbying Parliament on 7 September - http://www.fda.org.uk/Media/Whats-new/Unions-to-hold-a-lobby-of-Parliament-over-money-bill-concerns.aspx

I would join them but my MP has already responded to my workmate (who lives in the same constituency) on this issue saying that he supports the Government on this issue. :frown:

Reply 2723

starry skies

Dapple

yep unilateral changes in employment contracts are generally a breach of contract. Trouble is is that you are taken to have accepted those changes if you continue working under the new t&cs!

Ah-ha, but the trusty FDA (and I think Prospect too) has issued lines to use with your manager & HR to protest the lack of pay increase, and say that you hope the union will sort it out, but that you'd like to raise it as a formal grievance. Basically then you're not 'accepting' the new terms. Obviously if you decide to down tools without a formal strike being called then you're the one in breach of contract and liable to be dismissed.

Life lesson for all you new starters out there - join a union.

Reply 2724

Prince Rhyus

starry skies

This ^^^

Surprised the PCS haven't picked up on it on their campaigning pages at http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/our-pay-campaign/pay-campaign-resources.cfm

(The joys of being in both PCS and FDA is that it makes it very easy to swap good ideas at branch level, even though we both understand that at national level the PCS is on a very different slant to everyone else - in part because the PCS's leadership has a strong leftwing slant - http://www.leftunity.org.uk/about.asp)

Reply 2725

Dapple

yep well that's very sensible! Union in actually doing something vaguely useful shocker

civil servants often seem to be exempt (in a bad way) from various bits of employment law but I can't find anything in this respect so assume working under protest is the same for anyone else, e.g leaving under protest would effectively be a constructive dismissal

Reply 2726

genuinelarry

has anyone here been assigned DfT?

I was assigned to them a couple of months ago and still don't have a start date. I rang a month ago and was guaranteed i would hear before the end of august, i rang them today after hearing nothing and was met with more uncertainty than before, the very polite lady on the other end said at least they were still currently offering me a job.

I'm thinking about withdrawing for reassignment next year. I don't want to seem ungrateful I know i'm lucky to get a job and i know the CS is going through a lot of upheaval, but it seems ridiculous that after applying for this job last september and hearing i was successful in april that i'm sitting here now without a start date. If there were no jobs in DfT what was the point in assigning me there? really sorry for the rant but it was either you guys or my work colleagues and you lot probably have a more balanced view on it : )

Reply 2727

starry skies

Big part of the problem is that until the results of the CSR departments simply don't know ('publically' at least - I'm fairly sure the perm secs and board members have a reasonable idea) what the spending envelope will be for the next 3 years, therefore what projects etc will be falling by the wayside. Job-wise (for FS and non-FS) in my dept it's very quiet at present, but I expect things to start moving again after Oct and would suspect this will be the case for other depts too, once there's a bit more clarity over what's happening.

Frustrating, hell yeah. I imagine it's even worse when the carrot is beng dangled tantalisingly out of reach. Even so, I would strongly advise that you stay 'in the system' for now - that way you'll be further toward the front of the queue when things do start moving.

Reply 2728

genuinelarry

cheers for the advice, I'll give it some more time i guess. patience is a virtue and all that its just difficult being in limbo. still really excited for a start whenever it is.

Reply 2729

almonds

Don't worry, @genuinelarry. I was assigned to a specific role in a specific department last March. I went into the department for a pre-start visit two months ago, and nigh as well agreed a mid-September start, but am still awaiting both a contract and a start date as I write today (1st Sept). There seem to be quite a few people in the same position. Hang in there - it'll be worth it when you're in!

(And for those of you going in via the HR stream, please remember this waiting process when you get in and think about what you can do to improve it!)

Reply 2730

lizzie789

I'm DfT too - I'm in the same situation and spoke to the lady yesterday. She said they don't have posts at the moment as they dont know which areas are staying and because whereas normally a certain number of faststreamers were expected to go on secondments and get promotions, this hasn't happened due to lack of funding and positions. Hence there isn't any space for us yet.

She said she thinks it's more likely to be April when most people start now - really annoying as I quit my job and went away for the summer expecting to start now and so am sitting and waiting for clarification. It seems silly they asked for a certain number of us when they don't actually have roles for us!

The guy dealing with it in DfT is away for the next week and half so we definately wont hear anything until after then, and for some time after I would guess...

Reply 2731

seraphina

lizzie789

I'm DfT too - I'm in the same situation and spoke to the lady yesterday. She said they don't have posts at the moment as they dont know which areas are staying and because whereas normally a certain number of faststreamers were expected to go on secondments and get promotions, this hasn't happened due to lack of funding and positions. Hence there isn't any space for us yet.

She said she thinks it's more likely to be April when most people start now - really annoying as I quit my job and went away for the summer expecting to start now and so am sitting and waiting for clarification. It seems silly they asked for a certain number of us when they don't actually have roles for us!

The guy dealing with it in DfT is away for the next week and half so we definitely wont hear anything until after then, and for some time after I would guess...

I'm Dft as well (did I meet you at the drinks? I certainly met two Elizabeths/Lizzies and more than that in one department would seem odd!) I was just about to phone, but seen as two people have and have been given the same sort of answer I guess there's not much point. Were you told anything else? Especially when we're going to get a more definite response? I'd like to start asap, but I wouldn't mind so much having a really delayed start if they'd just give me a proper answer so I can plan. Anyway, any further info you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Reply 2732

lizzie789

I was one of the Lizzie's! I think they will have a clearer picture in a couple of weeks when they know where and when they will have vacancies.

The other Elizabeth is starting on Monday so we can get the inside gossip on things from her I guess.

That's why I called - I want to start now but if it's going to be a while they need to at least tell us that and not just leave us waiting. I said that on the phone so I think they are getting the idea.

Fingers crossed for news soon.

Reply 2733

ej1986

I'm the Elizabeth who has already started at DfT, though I was told yesterday I'm their only FSer who has started yet! I was told more will start in September, though it was a bit vague about how many or when.
Fingers crossed you'll find out more soon; keep pestering until you do!

Reply 2734

be83

Is anyone reading anything interesting and civil service related? Can anyone recommend any biographies of civil servants?

B

Reply 2735

starry skies

be83

Is anyone reading anything interesting and civil service related? Can anyone recommend any biographies of civil servants?

B

Not a CS biog, but Chris Mullins' "View From the Foothills" is quite good as a bit of insight into how Ministers think about their civil servants. (And also a lot of the nonsense that goes on in Whitehall)

Reply 2736

be83

starry skies

Heard of that one, not read it. I'll have a peek. Thanks :-)

By the by, if anyone's interested, I read William Hague's biography of Pitt the Younger recently and it was really quite good - interesting to hear a politician's take on a politician.

Reply 2737

danmot10

Any DWPers started/still waiting?

What about you folks from other departments?

Reply 2738

Aerasay

Hey DfT guys. I am starting there next year so I would love to hear how you guys get on. It is good to know there will be a group for socialising etc!

Reply 2739

seraphina

Aerasay

Hey DfT guys. I am starting there next year so I would love to hear how you guys get on. It is good to know there will be a group for socialising etc!

Hey, when were you told it would be next year? I'm paranoid they're going to postpone me after all this waiting. Hope you've got something fun to do in the meantime/ And yes, it does look as though there is a good crowd going there