The PCS union says more than 100 military base caretakers face losing their jobs and tied homes under MOD plans to abolish 125 caretaker posts across the reserve estate.
More than 100 military base caretakers and their families face losing both their jobs and their homes under Ministry of Defence proposals to abolish caretaker posts across the reserve estate, the PCS union stated.
According to PCS, the MOD has launched a four-week consultation on plans to remove 125 caretaker roles across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, covering the Army Reserve and University Officers’ Training Corps estate. The union said around 88% of those affected currently live in tied accommodation, meaning many long-serving staff could be forced to leave homes they have lived in for years as a direct result of redundancy.
The union said caretakers provide a vital on-site presence that goes well beyond maintaining buildings, including responding to emergencies, securing military sites, supporting police and fire services, managing contractors and deliveries, maintaining health and safety compliance, opening facilities for reserve and cadet units, and often acting as the first point of contact when incidents occur outside normal working hours.
PCS said the MOD’s own consultation acknowledges existing gaps in the contractor support and digital security systems intended to replace many of these duties, but that it says the proposals support commitments made under the Strategic Defence Review to reduce Civil Service workforce costs and headcount. According to the union, members have described facing the loss of both their jobs and homes, uncertainty over finding affordable accommodation within seven months, and concerns that years of experience and rapid emergency response will disappear.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote was quoted in the press release as saying: “These proposals are devastating. Over 100 dedicated workers face losing not only their jobs, but also the homes that come with them, after years, often decades, of loyal service keeping sites safe, secure and operational. At a time when affordable housing is increasingly out of reach, expecting families to rebuild their lives within a matter of months is simply unacceptable.”
She added: “The MOD’s own consultation acknowledges shortcomings in the contractor and digital systems that are expected to replace these roles, yet it is pressing ahead regardless. PCS will oppose these proposals vigorously and continue to fight to protect both these vital jobs and the people who do them.”
According to the union, the MOD opened formal consultation on 15 July, with the process due to close on 14 August. PCS said the consultation states the proposals support Strategic Defence Review commitments to reduce Civil Service workforce costs by 10% and headcount by 15%, and that the MOD estimates net workforce savings of £12.5 million over ten years. The union said it is seeking legal advice on the implications of the tied accommodation proposals.
The consultation forms part of a wider drive to reduce the size and cost of the Civil Service set out in the Strategic Defence Review, under which the MOD, like other departments, has been tasked with cutting headcount.
Good morning.
I’m unable to comment (quiet at the back).
So I just talk to myself here now.
It’s great because I can say anything and nobody argues !
Anyway, that’s a shame but nothing In life should be taken for granted…. maybe they can find other work with similar perks.
I’m sure things will go Tit’s Up as always.
Why ? You’re here commenting?
Why ?
Because I have every comment held for days by Moderators…. for some reason.
So I just comment and have to wait a couple of days.
Hence you can now see the comment I made yesterday morning.
It’s been like this on and off for a couple of weeks now, no explanation given and I can see that you and most others are not being held.
It’s rather odd as I can see the usual Insults and Bitching which Is being allowed.
Maybe it’s AI ?
It isn’t AI and it isn’t random. It is a decision, and it comes down to a few things that have built up rather than any single comment. The public guessing about who is really behind which name, which makes it harder for new readers to feel welcome. Moderation being argued out in the threads rather than raised with me. And occasionally something I am simply not prepared to leave sitting under an article, your recent jibe at Commodore for lookinor sounding like Elton John.
There is also the wider point you have made a few times, that none of this matters and none of it should be taken seriously. You are free to think that. But I have people working here and readers who care about getting it right, and it is a difficult thing to have that said repeatedly in our own comments.
I want to be clear that this is not me trying to get rid of you. You know your stuff. That is precisely why we are talking about moderation rather than anything more final.
Keep the site and its regulars out of the material and the hold comes off. We are holding off for now, largely because I think we have more CalMac content lined up for you.
George
Hello George, there are quite a number of people on this sight who need raining in Halfwit has his moments and this abuse towards people is relitevly mild in comparison to others on this sight unlike a number of others who I’m sure you know who the guilty parties are.
UK defence journal is a good thing and if used in the right manor could help influence the right people but is being brought down by several individuals who seem to get off on slagging people for voicing their opinions.
Quite. Look at Plaedies on the other A10 thread just a moment ago, targeting me, as usual, a fav pastime for a sado with zero subject matter knowledge or any meaningful contribution to the subject matter.
You are right Daniele, what make it more annoying is that this type of forum could be such a good thing but it is turning into a slagging fest by people/bots who have zero interest in the subject matter, just their own self justification and their right to talk down to people who are trying to open the eyes of the public to the destruction of the UKs armed forces.
I agree.
But, just our opinion of course, not in any way questioning the judgment of UKDJ and who they moderate or ban. Too much respect for George and the team for that.
I agree, George and his team do grate work and he must be tearing his hear out when he sees the contempt of others on this sight.
In reply to your explanation of why I am being moderated.
My “Public guessing” about who Is behind each user name is merely my concern that some “users” are weaponizing this site, using multiple names, to cause arguments that really should not be allowed. I am not calling for a public outing of real names, just highlighting that abuse of others takes place regularly (David Lloyd often abuses Jim… just one example) and that the site allows such antics.
On other occasions we see a bunch of random new users turn up to join a bitchfest, so plainly obvious that these new names are set up solely to cause arguments but are most certainly one user.
My observation about the picture of the Commodore looking like Elton John was just that. Elton John once wore a cap and his glasses very strikingly similar to the Commodore In the Picture. Sorry about my observation, It was just humour based upon my Instant recollection of Elton. You call It a Jibe but If you saw Eltons Pic, you would see the resemblance.
Your next bit Is actually a bit off target.
My comments about other commentators are directed solely to those who contribute endlessly In the belief that every one of their comments Is read and noted/acted upon by those In power.
It Is not (and I always make this point) ever directed at the site, It’s articles or you and your team.
Personally, I don’t take myself seriously on here because If I have a real Issue, I just contact those people In Power and share my concerns directly.
I’m guessing that my comments are reported to you via your email/contact address by certain users who just don’t like my opinion/suggestion.
In fact, every article you and your team publish, I enjoy and respect, you may now see my comments In a different light but I can assure you that they are not directed at you or your team, just those random users who seriously believe that the defence minister reads and acts on comments written In the comment section.
Cal-Mac and SNP articles do cause me to smile, I know It’s your pet subjects due to being Scottish (I’m half Scottish) and my sarcasm/humour Is often mistaken by most people, not just here but In life generally.
Me.
I’ve been with you on this site, virtually from the beginning, I can’t recall my first name but do remember you banned me after a year for another humour comment. I re joined some time later and the same thing happened. In those days, I was Interacting seriously (mostly) on subjects I felt qualified to comment on, however I also got banned after another couple of years (with no explanation) and then just “looked In” rather than set up another user name.
Fast forward a couple of years and I eventually re-joined, got really Involved and began prolifically commenting.
The days of “Up-voting and Down-voting” were a recipe for abuse that I was Instrumental In highlighting to you In various ways until you finally reset the forum and rather abruptly and once again, you banned me for nothing more than my use of bad language towards another user (Herodotus) who dished out constant abuse towards me and a few others. You also banned him so I guess that was fair.
The “Not getting rid of me” comment Is quite Ironic In It’s own way given that you have banned me already several times since 2014 and I always seem to return for more !!! Seriously though, I have probably commented more times on here than Daniele Mandelli, In excess of 60,000 for my sins, Even my “Halfwit” user name has been prolific this past year or so.
Personally, I’m thinking that now It Is time to just give up, my humour Is just not welcome here and to be honest, I know It would be a relief to you and a few other users (as my experience has shown).
So I bid you a fond farewell, and all the best to you, your team and your brilliant site.
I might turn up at your Knighthood though. 😁
Thanks for taking the time to write that, and for the tone of it.
On a couple of points you are right and I was reading you unfairly. If your concern about multiple accounts is coordinated pile-ons rather than putting names to people, that is a fair thing to be worried about, and I would rather you flagged it to me directly than in the thread. Same with the wider point about none of it mattering. I took it as aimed at the site. If it was aimed at people who think the Defence Secretary is reading the comments, that is a different thing and I withdraw the objection.
What remains is narrower, and it is mostly about the occasional comment that I am not prepared to leave under an article, and about readers who have said the same thing to me that I said to you. That part I do stand behind.
I would rather you stayed than went. You have been here longer than most and you contribute things nobody else does. But if you do stay, it is under this name and that is the end of it as far as I am concerned.
Cherio Captain P! I knew it was you by your wording, and those comments on your history just reinforced my view as I remember most of them, indeed I was in the middle of some of them.
Until we meet again, all the best Halfwit.
👍
And the cuts keep on a-cummin !!
Interesting, I didn’t know such posts existed.
The Army Reserve Centres ( with a few exceptions ) look pretty vulnerable as military sites go as it is, you’d think pairs of eyes and ears onsite goes a long way, considering the sabotage threat.
The arson attack on the Jewish ambulances comes to mind.
Morning Mate,
Not to mention the MoD could be about to make another long term cost and service provision misstep based on short term assumptions. For example, security systems usually come with a company control room that ensures the emergency services are called when needed and the onsite systems are working. What happens when the next profit squeeze happens?
Surely they have learnt something from the service housing debacle. I’m not suggesting this could cost billions but is could cost millions over 20 years if they haven’t done their business risk assessments correctly, rather than the politically required assessment..!
The article also seems to suggest that not all of the benefits of having an onsite caretaker have yet to be costed into the decision making, so it is odds on that the replacement service is going to be much reduced compared to the current provision.
All of which ignores the human cost and whether these people and their families will be able to find housing or will they become homeless, for example? What is the cost of that? There is a very real risk that the costs associated with housing and supporting these families will be higher for country than employing them to provide possibly a superior service than the one some ‘big’ security firm will provide. Even if the homes are sold off for short term financial benefit.
I smell a huge pile of short termism here. Certainly a huge lack of joined up thinking across government and local authority departments.
Plus, we are supposed to be improving our national security posture and that isn’t just about CCTV’s, tech, tanks and spies, but about ordinary people looking out for each other and their local area and these caretakers effectively have this as part of their raison d’être! Their local area is the military’s reserve force infrastructure, durrrrr!
As usual mate, Westminster is being ‘Dumb and Dumber!’
Cheers CR
Morning mate.
Beyond the grandstanding about the DIP, if one looks closely at Defence it remains a never ending series of cuts, many small, and without fanfare, in an attempt to balance the books. Each million saved here and there adds to the pot of efficiency savings to buy the next shiny thing to shout about.
And of course, they’ve not changed in the slightest, short termists to the core to make the sums work.
The resulting chaos, extra long term costs and “lessons learned” are way down the road and another’s problem.
It sounds like a sensible role that actually provides a vital role in asset management and quality of life. God forbid firing members hr or diversity officers.
My place when I was SPSI had a live in lady caretaker, with children, a flat on the second floor of a rear building. I had no clue about this either until I went to do a bit of time as an SPSI.
Our local TA centre had a caretaker living on site, not sure about know
I wonder if a few years from now we’ll be paying Serco twice as much to put a person back into these sites.
Yes, most certainly.
Well, It’s been a great day… went Litter Picking three times, managed 6 bags of rubbish which Is my record so far…. Hey Ho, i’ll keep looking in, maybe someone will explain why I’m being moderated ?????
It’s always nice to get a little feed back.
Oh good, I’m back again.
If they want to save money form the CS pay, look no further than Abbeywood.
I could save that amount within about 2 hours after I had a walk round.
Utter shortsightedness as always.
Madness, the caretakers, provide a low level piece of security, when the centre’s are not occupied. They also, reduce the risk of fire, flooding,,theft and building damage out of hours,. They mitigate a lot of hidden costs, which will only become apparent, when the have gone…it’s not as if, they are well paid!
Just by turning the water off, on a burst frozen pipe, pays it way…in our case, saved a wooden garrisons floor and the computers server!
As usual, civil servants at the MOD save pennies, by indirectly spending pounds….some people at the MOD, need to get away from their spreadsheet and see, how things work.