|-=basi¢,freedom.of association. that.all.people,.jngluding MOD_Givil. Servants, have.a fundamental right t Open letter regarding PCS members attending demonstrations and rallies - MoD news - PCS Page | of 3 Open letter regarding PCS members attending demonstrations and rallies 4. November 2010 The following open letter has been sent to Group Captain Hine, the station commander at RAF Lossiemouth after he sent out.a warning email (copied further below) to members at RAF Lossiemouth telling them they were not permitted to take part in demonstartions or rallies. Our union will not tolerate bullying or harassment in any shape or form and will always respond when our | members are threatened in such a way. A I 1 November 2010. Dear Group Captain Hine, 4 OPEN LETTER REGARDING PCS MEMBERS ATTENDING DEMONSTRATIONS AND RALLIES Jam the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union official responsible for our Ministry of Defence membership. Ihave been passed a copy of your message to staff regarding the proposed Rally to support workers and, their families in and around RAF Lossiemouth. ' I have to say that | am extremely disappointed that somebody holding such high office as you thinks that working people can be treated in such a manner.. Where did you get the idea that you could override the ' The Rally, which PCS fully support and will be encouraging our members to attend, is to be held ona | Sunday. If that, or any other time of the week, is not a working period for staff, they have a right to determine what activities, provided they are lawful, they wish to undertake: They will not be dictated to by you or any other official. An apology for the tone and content of your message should be forthcoming immediately. We will be informing our members, and non-members, of our support for the Rally and the. importance of | their attendance at it. We will also be telling members that we will never accept attempts to undermine their democratic rights. No acts of intimidation, threats or bullying against our members wil be tolerated. | note that your autocratic decision was also the subject of a story in the Daily Record on Saturday 30 October. This open letter has also been sent to the Daily Record and to various other media outlets. All staff connected to Lossiemouth should be making every effort to attend the rally and any subsequent | events connected to it. It would be good if people like yourself showed some support for staff by attending. Even if you think that inappropriate | insist that you Issue”an apology for your inaccurate and ill judged message. if no apology is received by Wednesday 3 November, | will take the issue up directly with the Secretary of State for Defence. x ~ Regards Bob Rollings PCS MoD Group Secretary ALL PERSONNEL ARE TO READ THIS E-MAIL BY ORDER OF THE STN CDR http://www.pes.org.uk/en/ministry_of_defence_group/mod-news/index.cfm/id/9DCCBDFS-3E74-45... 01/11/2010