MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

Resource distribution systems
resources were protected. The decision to locate PCS in the old CPSA
offices was relatively uncontroversial:-
The two unions prior to the merger operated within their own
headquarters and regional offices and it became apparent on
the merger that we had to have one headquarter and we had in
addition to that to have one group of regional offices as
appropriate to the new union. The decision was taken fairly early
on by the senior officers and Honorary Officers in a meeting to
consider Clapham Junction as being the new headquarters of
PCS. This was sensible because it was the largest building in
the combined property portfolio and, being a 1988 building, was
by far the newest. So that decision was taken jointly by the
Honorary Officers and the senior full-time officers. The decision
was therefore taken at the same time that as and when the
Southwark properties could be vacated, we would sell them.
(Interviewee L)
It was reported that the Senior National Officers, fresh from accepting
their managerial roles, were significant influencers of the decision:-
They have become a very powerful body for change. I think
that’s wonderful. I mean, it’s a bit of a pain in the butt because
they are powerful people, articulate and all that, but it’s really
good now. So they said to us ‘you can’t manage in 4 separate
offices, you must get the properties rationalised and get it done
quick. We then can operate as a whole team’. So now, in less
than two years we are in one office. In an office which was
occupied solely by the CPSA. They must have been bouncing
about. We have moved the biggest component of the merger
into the smallest component’s offices. Well, I think that’s pretty
skilful, myself. (Interviewee K)
There were cultural problems to overcome, in general terms:-
A very good example of one of these great, visible
demonstrations is moving. In terms of staff, the whole process
involved a fear of change and people do not normally like
change, they are very wary, it is very easy to get into a them and
us situation, they do not know what the job is going to be, they
do not know about the terms and conditions, will they be
changed, will they still have a job -- all these things and I think
the whole course of bringing people together is a very visible
sign of that. So it is good and bad in terms of doing something
early enough to show that, right, it is happening, we're going to
put you all together. It is a big symbol, choosing one union's
headquarters to move staff into. Everybody is up in arms and
upset. So I think there was good and bad in the process.
(Interviewee E)
And, in particular, for the CPSA:-
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