Lembit Opik has presented a petition calling on the House of Commons to abandon the ‘queue jumping rule’ recommendation that MPs have “priority access” to services.

Lembit said in the House of Commons last night (22 January 2008):

This petition highlights the frustration felt by many parliamentary staff over what they feel is a two-tier system giving MPs the formal right to queue-jump even though common courtesy has worked well for 150 years. The 380 signatories know that the staff keep this place running in the democratic interests of the country. I thank Unite, the union, for its tireless efforts on this campaign and hope that the Administration Committee will soon abandon the regime of common discourtesy and restore courtesy to the Commons. The petition states:

The Petition of Members and staff of the House of Commons and others,

Declares that the Petitioners are astonished at the announcement made on 9 October 2007 that hon. Members should have priority access to services throughout the Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate. The Petitioners agree that such an approach may be expedient during a Division, but not everywhere all the time. The Petitioners consider that this announcement serves to create a rigid two-tier system which is counter to an enlightened image of Parliament and further believe that there is merit in a general presumption of equality on the Parliamentary Estate.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons ask the Administration Committee and Serjeant at Arms to reconsider their decision.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

The petition is signed by hundreds of House of Commons staff, as well as MPs and Ministers.

Background: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7048445.stm

Dan Whittle, Chair of the T&GWU (Unite) Parliamentary Staff Branch said:

“Only a handful of MPs actually agree with this rule so it’s ineffective as well as being an insult. We’ve asked the House Authorities to work with us to improve access to facilities for all users, MPs, staff and public. We feel it’s not fair staff are blamed for queues around the Parliamentary estate when cafes like the Debate (in Portcullis House) was designed for 1,400 customers per day but gets 2,200."

Background:

On Tuesday 18th December 2007 in the Wilson Room 1-2pm the TGWU (Unite) Parliamenary Branch invited  Lembit Öpik MP to speak about the Queue Jumping (Access to Services) Campaign. Branch passed a motion to improve access to services for all:

Access to services motion

We the Parliamentary Staff Branch of Unite (T&G Section) support any measures that will increase access to services for all users of the Parliamentary estate, MPs, staff and general public. We believe the only solution is to increase capacity, and restrict abuse, rather than encourage some users to have priority over others.  

Therefore we support any plans to:

• Re-open Annie’s Bar as a refreshments outlet.

• Install more tills, for example in the Debate cafeteria, for use at busy times.

• Ensure regulations on pass holders and visitor numbers using staff catering facilities at lunch time are observed.

Lembit also has an early day motion. The wording of the Early Day Motion 163 is shown below but the full details, including those Members who have signed to date, can be seen at:  http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34259&SESSION=891  

EDM 163
CONTINUING PRIORITY ACCESS TO FACILITIES
08.11.2007
Opik, Lembit

That this House notes with continuing concern the announcement made on 9th October that `Members should have priority access to services throughout the Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate'; further notes that such an approach is expedient in certain areas at certain times, such as during a division, but not everywhere all the time; believes that this announcement persists in creating a rigid two-tier system which is counter to an enlightened image of Parliament; further believes there is merit in a general presumption of equality on the Parliamentary Estate; and urges the Accommodation Committee to reconsider.  

Linda Gilroy MP recently tabled this amendment

163A1
CONTINUING PRIORITY ACCESS TO FACILITIES
06.12.2007
Gilroy, Linda

at end add `congratulates the Unite-TGW Parliamentary Staff Branch for their role in the campaign to overturn this rule; and urges the Administration Committee to reconsider the role and instead work with staff representatives to improve access to facilities for all people who work on the Parliamentary Estate.'.

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The wording of the Early Day Motion 163 is shown below but the full details, including those Members who have signed to date, can be seen at:  http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34259&SESSION=891  

EDM 163

CONTINUING PRIORITY ACCESS TO FACILITIES

08.11.2007

Opik, Lembit

That this House notes with continuing concern the announcement made on 9th October that `Members should have priority access to services throughout the Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate'; further notes that such an approach is expedient in certain areas at certain times, such as during a division, but not everywhere all the time; believes that this announcement persists in creating a rigid two-tier system which is counter to an enlightened image of Parliament; further believes there is merit in a general presumption of equality on the Parliamentary Estate; and urges the Accommodation Committee to reconsider.

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Back in October 2007 Branch Chair, Dan Whittle, reported as follows:

According to the Times on Saturday a palace coup has been successfully staged in Westminster. It has been reported that the ‘queue jumping rule’ recommendation that MPs have “priority access” to services has been abandoned, due to pressure from the unseen army of MPs’ secretaries and researchers.

The instruction that staff were to give way to their bosses, originated with MPs on the cross-party Commons Administration Committee. But after more than 100 of us squeezed into a Commons committee room to tell the Labour MP Frank Doran, who is chairman of the Committee, that we think the rules an insult, the national media began to report that the rule was becoming untenable.

It’s great to be told that we’ve won, but in fact there’s more to do. And what has also been under-reported is that the success of the campaign so far has been due to the willingness of MPs to work with staff. This has ensured that the convention, though not yet overturned – is at least being overlooked by the vast majority. But the campaign is far from over, with the Administration Committee still saying they do not think this is the right time to reconsider the rule.

Harriet Harman was right when she said: “We would all agree that when it comes to running for a vote it is important that the lifts should be available to Members. However, in the 21st century, if two human beings are standing next to each other queuing for a sandwich or cup of coffee, it cannot possibly be right that because one of those people is a Member of Parliament, they go first.”

Over 100 MPs signed Lembit’s EDM 2066 which urges the Committee to reconsider its recommendations on Members’ priority access – signalling that the vast majority think this is the right way forward. MPs signing the cross-party motion include Charles Kennedy MP, Jon Cruddas MP and Boris Johnson MP.

Last week, Ministers including at Cabinet level joined members of staff in signing a petition and joining a Facebook group on the issue. In the wider public, there is no doubt that the announcement has damaged the image of Parliament. This can only be corrected by a reconsideration of the rule.

For us, as researchers and caseworkers, there are bigger issues to consider, and the campaign has helped these come to the fore. We have a Labour Government but the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch Union has no official recognition. Our redundancy package, considering our jobs could end following any election, is woeful.

As was seen on 25^th October when MPs expenses were published - to stick up for their staff’s well deserved pay they have to fight against a hostile media. The House recommendation for the initial salary of Junior Secretaries and Researchers starts from £13,705 and caseworkers from £13,082. It’s not a great deal when MPs' staff are the first point of contact for constituents in desperate need of help in complex situations, for example immigration, child support agency and tax credit problems. The internet and email have added to the workload, and constituents’ expectations have risen. The pressure is growing on MPs staff and this is not always reflected in the pay and conditions we receive.

The ‘queue jumping’ campaign continues, with negotiations with Frank Doran MP ongoing. What we have learnt from it is that in the vast majority of cases MPs will campaign shoulder to shoulder with staff. Far from a palace coup, we have a palace partnership with our employers, it gives us great hope for our campaigns for recognition, better redundancy rights and fairer pay.