Union members are to hold a rally this afternoon to oppose the closure of their Liverpool office and relocation of hundreds of jobs.
PCS members working for Defence Business Services (DBS) in its North West branches are to gather at Walker House on Exchange Flags to oppose the closure of their workplaces and the displacement of jobs. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is closing its DBS offices in Liverpool and Cheadle Hulme, putting 500 employees at risk of redundancy.
Former armed forces minister, Mark Lancaster, told the House of Commons in 2017 that the government was seeking to implement a strategic plan to have staff leave the Liverpool site by 2023. The two sites are being consolidated into a single location in Blackpool.
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The rally at noon will be addressed by Mick Whitley MP for Birkenhead, Ian Byrne, Labour MP for West Derby, Martin Cavanagh PCS deputy president and defence group executive member Andy Boylan. Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, is backing the union members.
She said: "I believe the decision to close Defence Business Services at Walker House in the heart of my Liverpool constituency and move it to Tory MP Paul Maynard's Blackpool constituency was decided for political, not practical reasons. The decision was announced by the then Defence Secretary Ben Wallace before the workforce were informed, or the union consulted.
"I want to see jobs retained in Liverpool and I have written to the Defence Secretary to reconsider the decision and sit down with the PCS and secure jobs for the at-risk staff." Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, added: "These members are highly skilled, and the plan is putting the delivery of Defence Finance and Bills, MoD Civilian HR and Veteran Services at risk.
"Closing these offices has an impact beyond the North West by undermining defence outputs and the military covenant." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Defence Business Services (DBS) has been undertaking a detailed assessment for consolidating their estate in the North West.
"DBS and the trade unions have agreed terms of transfer for staff currently located at Walker House and Cheadle Hulme, which include support to staff in relation to travel expenses and potential house moves. Engagement with DBS staff and the trade unions will continue throughout the remainder of this programme."
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