_________________ MP
House
of Commons
Dear
RE: ADVISORY, CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATON SERVICE (ACAS)
I am writing to you as my local MP to raise my concerns about current developments
within the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in Bury St Edmonds, where I work.
ACAS has been offering its services to employers and employees for over 30 years,
during which time it has acquired a deserved reputation as an impartial and highly professional organisation. ACAS is much
respected for its contribution to good industrial relations, a contribution which is of great benefit to the UK economy. For
example, it has been estimated that ACAS conciliation in employment tribunal cases saves the tax payer at least £51 million
annually. Despite this the government has severely cut funding for ACAS which has had a devastating effect on the level and
quality of the services that we provide. Now a DTI report recommends a further cut in the ACAS budget of over 20%, forcing
ACAS to completely commercialise its advisory services and chase revenue at every opportunity, a policy that fails to recognise
the value of ACAS services and will jeopardise the impartiality of the service.
In January ACAS reduced its staffing levels by 150 staff, from a total workforce of only 940. The majority of
staff cut were highly qualified and experienced front line conciliators. In Bury
St Edmonds there has been a 14% reduction in staff delivering frontline services since June 2004. Also, in the wider South
East, offices at Bedford & Funtley have closed or are marked for closure. The inevitable consequence of this is that services
to employers and employees suffer.
I hope you will support the campaign of my union the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) to protect ACAS
and would be grateful if you please raise my concerns directly with Gerry Sutcliffe MP, DTI minister responsible for ACAS,
and by signing the early day motion EDM2007. I would be happy to meet with you
to discuss this in greater detail.
Yours sincerely
*If you don’t know the name of your MP: http://www.locata.co.uk/commons or call the House of Commons Information Office on 0207 219 4272.
You may also wish to write to the MP in whose constituency your office is located
David Ruffley MP
House
of Commons
Dear Mr Ruffley
RE: ADVISORY, CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATON SERVICE (ACAS)
I am writing to you to raise my concerns about current developments at my workplace
the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in Bury St Edmonds, which is in your constituency.
ACAS has been offering its services to employers and employees for over 30 years,
during which time it has acquired a deserved reputation as an impartial and highly professional organisation. ACAS is much
respected for its contribution to good industrial relations, a contribution which is of great benefit to the UK economy. For
example, it has been estimated that ACAS conciliation in employment tribunal cases saves the tax payer at least £51 million
annually. Despite this the government has severely cut funding for ACAS which has had a devastating effect on the level and
quality of the services that we provide. Now a DTI report recommends a further cut in the ACAS budget of over 20%, forcing
ACAS to completely commercialise its advisory services and chase revenue at every opportunity, a policy that fails to recognise
the value of ACAS services and will jeopardise the impartiality of the service.
In January ACAS reduced its staffing levels by 150 staff, from a total workforce of only 940. The majority of
staff cut were highly qualified and experienced front line conciliators. In Bury
St Edmonds there has been a 14% reduction in staff delivering frontline services since June 2004. Also, in the wider South
East, offices at Bedford & Funtley have closed or are marked for closure. The inevitable consequence of this is that services
to employers and employees suffer.
I hope you will support the campaign of my union the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) to protect ACAS
and would be grateful if you please raise my concerns directly with Gerry Sutcliffe MP, DTI minister responsible for ACAS,
and by signing the early day motion EDM2007. I would be happy to meet with you
to discuss this in greater detail.
Yours sincerely
