The PCS NEC met on 4 March 2026 and considered the latest state of play in the national campaign and discussions within the union regarding the fighting fund. This article updates Left Unity members on both issues, highlighting the benefits of having an industrially serious Democracy Alliance led leadership of PCS; and the dangers of allowing a sectarian and shallow leadership represented by our opponents.

PROGRESS ON PAY AT DELEGATED LEVEL

The NEC received a report of good progress on pay at delegated level in a number of areas.

In the Scottish Sector, a two-year deal has been secured across the various employing units containing broadly a 4.25% pay rise in year one; followed by a 3.5% in year two; along with a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for the duration of the deal. Members have accepted the deal in ballots.

In Natural England a two-year deal has been secured containing a 7% increase in year one and a 5.1% increase in year two.  Members have accepted the deal in a ballot.

In the Home Office, a three-year deal has been secured containing minimum increases of 6% in year one, 5.5% in the year two and 4% in year three.  Members are currently being balloted on this offer with a recommendation from the Group Executive Committee (GEC) to accept.

In the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), a one-year deal has been secured containing an average increase of 6%, plus £300 non-consolidated. Members are being balloted on the offer with a recommendation from the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) to accept.

Securing these deals in a difficult climate, should be welcomed by members across the union, achieved by PCS activists and staff working together in these bargaining areas.

It is worth noting that these deals have been struck by activists representing opinion ranging from various factions and to none across the political spectrum in our union.

It indicates that, when faced with hardheaded industrial judgements at delegated level, activists from all factions in the union are capable of making serious decisions on behalf of members. Should a breakthrough be made in talks on pay in the national campaign, however, it will be interesting to see if that same degree of serious judgement translates to national level among some quarters.

Indeed it was disappointing to see Independent Left members, and their allies, attempt to persuade Home Office members to reject the large increases on offer in case it led to job cuts in London, even though Home Office negotiators explained that this had not been a factor within the proposed deal. It is this sort of manipulation of our members’ interests, for short-term factional gain, that leads to disillusionment amongst members and activists.

It is the same logic that saw thousands of low-paid PCS members continue to pay the levy, despite no action being taken, when these individuals gained a majority on the NEC last year – always putting the narrow interests of their factions before the needs of our members. 

NATIONAL TALKS

The NEC received a report on the latest position in talks with the Cabinet Office. 

The government has stated its intention to publish public sector pay review body reports on 1 April 2026. They are also intending to align the publication of the civil service pay remit guidance to that date. Talks at national level in this period have therefore focused primarily on pay.

The report indicated that we have now convinced the Cabinet Office of the need for greater coherence of pay across the civil service and its related areas. We also appear to have convinced the employer that any prioritisation must put the interests of the three lowest paid grades first.  It seems that the arguments that we have put to the employer, supported by the academic work commissioned by the Democracy Alliance led NEC, which make the case that pay restoration and good pay in the civil service will pay for itself in the medium turn, have hit home.  While this is welcome, the key task going forward will be to convince the Treasury to provide funding.

There are, however, some positive signs.  The deals secured in Natural England, the Home Office and the MHCLG, indicate that a more generous view is being taken by the Treasury on pay business cases. If the Cabinet Office is to be taken at its word, it seems logical to conclude that they will seek to implement cohesion across other bargaining units on similar terms.

This progress in talks has been dismissed and rubbished at every stage by our political opponents, telling anyone that will listen that things will never change and that the leadership are deluded. Whilst nobody is under any illusions that there is still a long way to go, and there are no guarantees, it is this cynicism that leaves our members with little hope of ever winning improvements.. Left Unity will work together with branches to make the necessary progress on pay, whilst being prepared for an industrial response should the talks not make the gains that our members so badly need. This is what a responsible leadership does.

FIGHTING FUND

At the NEC meeting on 4 March 2026, the General Secretary also reported on internal discussions regarding the fighting fund, specifically how she had sought to take forward the terms of Motion A85 from the 2025 PCS Annual Delegate Conference (ADC).

To re-cap, the motion was a motion of censure on last year’s NEC for continuing to collect the levy when it was clear that no national targeted action would take place. That decision clearly caused a huge degree of anger amongst members and, accordingly, Conference voted for the censure.

However, the motion also contained a positive view on how matters could be moved forward by seeking a consensus on a rule change that would enable us to build a sustainable fighting fund; which could alleviate the need for future levies.

The motion committed the union to a consultation on the fighting fund….“with a view to replacing the current flat rate 50p from members monthly subscriptions paid directly into the general Fighting Fund with an appropriate percentage figure that will generate a long term regular growth in income to the Fighting Fund.” 

Any rule change requires a two thirds majority on the Conference floor.  Achieving that is always difficult.  Achieving that when there is a fair degree of animosity between the union’s political factions is even more difficult.

The General Secretary therefore, attempted to open discussions with the various factions within the union to try to secure a consensus view capable of securing a two thirds majority at ADC.  The responses to her constructive approach really do paint a picture..

With regard to Left Unity and the PCS Democrats, the discussions were productive, and despite genuine points of strategy being raised, an agreed approach was in sight..  However, that has not been the case elsewhere.

In an extraordinary response given the constructive nature of the approach, the Broad Left Network (BLN), the Alliance for Change and the Rank & File Network, have refused to engage.  The BLN sent a written response that they then published on their website, rubbishing a process designed to help the union build a sustainable fighting fund.

It is worth considering the BLN response and exposing its disingenuous nature.

The BLN claim that the approach to the levy by the union’s leadership has been cynical; and, incredibly, that the levy was introduced with little meaningful consultation, discussion or explanation.  These are complete fabrications.   

Members voted for the introduction of the levy in a ballot having been given full information on how the levy would work and what it would be used for.  They were further balloted on every proposed pause or reintroduction of the levy with one very notable and revealing exception – that was the year that the BLN and their allies had a majority on the NEC and they continued to collect the levy despite knowing no action would take place, in the process denying members a vote on the issue.  We would suggest that they look in the mirror before levelling accusations of cynicism. 

The current Democracy Alliance led NEC has thankfully put right their wrong by holding true to our manifesto commitment and giving members the opportunity to reclaim the levy.

The BLN also stated that agreement should be required by Conference before any levy is activated.  This is at odds with their repeated assertions that members are chomping at the bit for a national campaign.  If they are, why would we make them wait for a Conference decision before giving them the ability to fight?  The BLN appear to constantly whine about bureaucracy whilst being its greatest advocates when push comes to shove.

Finally with regard to the BLN, their position appears to be that the NEC should formulate a rule change and table it, without any discussions first on trying to reach a consensus among the factions.  This is either hopelessly politically naive or completely disingenuous. 

They surely know that this would be the quickest way to sink any prospect of a motion attaining a two thirds majority in the current political climate within our union.  It is clearly a wrecking tactic which puts their narrow sectarian interest of “defeating” the NEC on the Conference floor before the interests of PCS members and their ability to fight industrial campaigns supported by their union through a sustainable fighting fund.

With regard to the Independent Left (IL), discussions initially appeared to be heading in the right direction.  There appeared to be common ground in the run up to Christmas, but those discussions now seem to have gone backward.

The key point of contention raised by the IL appears to be that they believe that the increase of contributions to the fighting fund can be found within existing subscription payments.  Adopting that approach would clearly breach Conference policy as set out in Motion A85.  The motion makes clear that the rule change should replace the current 50p figure with a percentage figure; and the current rule makes clear that the 50p contribution is in addition to existing subscriptions.

The IL have suggested that the union’s staffing costs can be reduced and that money generated could be used for the fighting fund.  This is clearly a continuation of their attack on the General Secretary’s staffing changes made last year, which they falsely claimed breached the union’s policy that staff payroll costs should come in at approximately 33% of membership income.  Despite a year of false claims and noise on the issue, the IL and their political allies fell silent when the union’s Financial Report, presented by the Assistant General Secretary, confirmed that those costs had come in at under 33% following the staffing changes.

The IL’s position also conveniently ignores the enormous staffing reductions that have taken place within PCS over the past 15 years or so.  That pain was necessary due to falling membership as government cuts hit; and as a result of the check-off removal.  Much of the complaining about those staff reductions came directly from the IL and their political allies, stating that the union was not providing enough resources. 

They cannot have it both ways.  More cuts means less resources and would jeopardise the operational effectiveness of the union.

Finally in respect of the IL’s position, they claim that the Fighting Fund has been deliberately run down.  This is simply untrue.

During the last period of national industrial action, the union spent £6.5 million on strike pay.  We won significant concessions as a result, including:

• a more than doubling of the pay remit
• a £1500 lump sum
• the withdrawal of cuts to our members redundancy terms by one third
• further talks on pay

The then Democracy Alliance led NEC agreed to put a proposal to members that the action be paused, the levy be paused, the concessions be banked and the further talks be entered into to try to make further progress.  

Members voted overwhelmingly 90% majority in favour of the NEC’s position.  The NEC was conscious that we had £1 million left in the fighting fund at that point; and that the vast majority of the other unions, who had been in a battle with the government, had settled.

Despite all of this, the IL and their political allies relentlessly attacked the NEC and the membership decision, while hopelessly failing to explain what alternative course of action should be followed.

This is significant when considering the IL proposal that the additional contributions to the fighting fund should come from existing resources.  If we were to follow their logic in a national campaign, £6.5 million would need to come from existing running costs, meaning that the union would need to find 21.6% savings on its current running costs.

Further though, given that the IL rubbished the concessions won, that would not be enough.  If we assume that doubling those concessions would find favour with the IL (not confirmed by any stretch given their consistent and historical opposition to any hard-headed industrial deal), that would mean that £13 million of strike pay would be required, so PCS would need to find 43.2% of savings from its current budgets.

This is a deeply flawed approach and illustrates the chasm between the IL’s rhetoric and what they are actually prepared to do.  If they want the campaign they say they want, they need to have the courage to have the discussion with members and win their support for it.  That they are not prepared to do so speaks volumes.

With consensus on a rule change therefore now looking highly unlikely at this stage, the General Secretary reported that discussions had taken place with the moving and seconding branches of Motion A85 to discuss the position.  Those Branches have adopted the sensible position that they do not believe that the NEC should seek to bring a motion to this year’s Conference; and instead allow further time for discussions and consultations to try to reach a consensus position.

Left Unity and the Democracy Alliance led NEC concur with that view.  It would be completely reckless to put a motion knowing it will fail; thereby leaving us hamstrung for a further three years.

Left Unity is committed to continuing discussions to reach a consensus; as is the General Secretary.  She has committed to bringing forward proposals on a consultation process after this years’ Conference with the aim of establishing a consensus capable of securing a two thirds majority at Conference 2027.

Left Unity, and our PCS Democrat allies, will continue to play our part in trying to build the consensus needed within the union to help us build a sustainable fighting fund.  We urge all other factions to do the same.  In doing so, we urge them to stop putting their narrow sectarian interests above the class interest.

NEC elections are key

In light of their recent behaviour it is clear that if our opponents were to regain a majority on the NEC, we would be consigning our members to another year of chaos, such as we experienced over the levy, and constant obstruction to getting business progressed on the issues that matter to members throughout 2025/26.

Let’s work together to re-elect a Democracy Alliance NEC that works in the interests of our members – United, we are always stronger.

Please propose the Democracy Alliance NEC slate at your branch AGM.

Please nominate the following Left Unity candidates for the HMRC GEC at your AGM.

Please nominate the following candidates for the DWP GEC at your branch AGM

The PCS NEC met on 23 October and 19 November 2025 to consider the outcome of the recent consultation with members on the national campaign.

This followed a post-Conference meeting held in May 2025 where the Democracy Alliance-led NEC had considered how the two national campaign motions carried at Annual Delegate Conference might be taken forward.

At conference Left Unity had opposed Motion A383, as the vast majority of its demands had already been submitted in writing to the employer in July 2024; the PCS national pay claim having been submitted in February 2024.  The two further demands contained within the instruction were an £18 an hour minimum wage, up from the previous demand of £15 an hour, and opposition to Mutually Agreed Exits.

Left Unity supported Motion A2 which welcomed that national talks were already underway with the Cabinet Office – talks directly aimed at resolving the problems inherent within the civil service pay system and the motion agreed to prioritise: the securing of annual inflation proofed pay rises and pay restoration; greater coherence of pay for UK civil servants, with an ultimate objective of securing national pay scales containing a single rate for the job at each grade; and securing national pay bargaining.

Both motions called on the NEC to assess progress in talks however, whilst motion A2 called on the NEC to test members on a campaign of industrial action in the event of insufficient progress, Motion A383 called for a ballot by mid-September 2025 in the event of insufficient progress.

In taking these motions forward immediately post-conference, the Democracy Alliance members on the NEC agreed to write to the employer making clear that:

• the 2025/26 pay remit guidance will not address our members aspirations and is therefore not acceptable to PCS
• greater urgency was required in discussions on the pay and reward strategy for the civil service in order to seriously address issues; and seeking to agree a timetable for those
• our demand for a minimum wage was uprated from £15 to £18 an hour
• we are opposed to the mutually agreed exits proposal and require a serious agreement on job security

Despite opposition from the BLN/IL coalition, all Left Unity and PCS Democrat NEC members agreed to pursue those issues, and to maximise the amount of money available to members from the CS remit as quickly as possible. Learning from our opponents disastrous decision last year to delay delegated negotiations, our majority on the NEC agreed to instruct our group negotiators at delegated level to engage in talks on pay to secure the maximum monies available, prioritising higher increases for the lowest paid.

The Democracy Alliance supported the General Secretary’s commitment to bringing forward a timetable to the July NEC meeting for members’ meetings. Those meetings would enable the union leadership to consider progress in negotiations at national and delegated level; and to test members on their readiness for an industrial confrontation if necessary. 

At its meeting in July 2025, the NEC agreed on a ballot-ready strategy and a series of members’ meetings to test the members on their willingness to engage in industrial action. The speaker’s brief for the meetings gave members an update of where we were in negotiations and set out the key question to be answered: whether we move to industrial action at this stage or allow more time for the talks to progress.

The ballot ready strategy also set three structure tests to assess our readiness.  The feedback from the members’ meetings, and the results of the structure tests, made it crystal clear that it would be an error at this stage to move to a ballot for industrial action.

NATIONAL TALKS ON PAY & REWARD

At the NEC meeting held on 23 October 2025, the NEC received a report on the national talks, which are beginning to hold out the prospect of serious progress on our objectives. The Cabinet Office has accepted that low pay and incoherence in the system create serious problems across the civil service; and serious talks are underway to address both issues. 

Inevitably, the issue of how any changes will be paid for will be a key factor in dictating any progress.  The union has prepared well for this, with the union’s primary position in negotiations, supported by our academic work, is that civil service pay will pay for itself over the longer term, and deliver more into the Treasury coffers.  Therefore, showing there is no affordability barrier.

PCS have also made a clear case that pay restoration can be funded through our proposals for financial gains within the civil service.  Certainly the expansion of more flexible working, particularly a significant increase in hybrid working, could produce serious savings on running costs that could be recycled into pay. 

The Democracy Alliance members of the NEC recognised that there is a persuasive argument to be made, backed up by our academic evidence, about how a pay restoration, job security and improved flexible working agreement is in the interests of PCS members, the wider economy, and the government’s stated aims.

The NEC have therefore agreed that we will press the employer for such an agreement across the civil service and its related areas, supported by Left Unity and the Democracy Alliance members of the NEC.

With members indicating in the consultation that they wish to give talks time to progress, it is absolutely the correct move to focus in the coming period on securing positive outcomes in negotiations.

Obviously, the success or failure of these talks will be determined by the final outcome; and Left Unity are clear that an industrial campaign will be required in the event that they fail to deliver sufficient progress.

PAY TALKS AT DELEGATED LEVEL

As stated earlier the NEC had already agreed that we would enter talks at delegated level, and all the indications are that in the main PCS negotiators have maximised the monies available for PCS members as soon as possible, with priority being given to the lowest paid.  They also indicate that the union’s strategy of pressing the Cabinet Office at national level for specific provision on low pay in the civil service pay remit guidance, and then engaging at delegated level to maximise that provision, has put more money in the pockets of low-paid workers as early as possible, with thousands of members receiving pay rises in the junior grades which are well in excess of the 3.75% remit figure.

Where this has not been delivered though, the Democracy Alliance-led National Disputes Committee have authorised strike ballots, and the Left Unity majority in our biggest group, DWP, are preparing for a strike ballot of members early in the new year.

ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE ATTEMPT TO IGNORE MEMBERS’ VIEWS

At the NEC meeting on 19 November 2025, an attempt was made to re-open the debate on the national campaign by a Broad Left Network NEC member, despite the clear decisions overwhelmingly taken throughout the summer and autumn.

In an extraordinary contribution, a vocal opponent of the Left Unity leadership, sought to completely ignore the outcome of the consultation with members. Instead demanding that we effectively abandon the talks with the employer, “declare war on the Cabinet Office” and rally members to battle. This despite the clear view expressed by members in the consultation that such a confrontation should not take place at this stage.

Left Unity members on the NEC responded robustly, reminding our opponents that PCS were in serious talks with the Cabinet Office on better pay coherence and the eradication of low pay, and that to abandon those talks would be a “dereliction of duty”.  The General Secretary called for an end to this ultra-left posturing and student politics, and reminded our opponents that now was the time for hard-headed judgements based on industrial reality, going on to point out that if you are going to “declare war”, it is best to be organisationally ready for one, “otherwise you will get massacred”.  Our opponent’s position was bad enough, even without considering that members in their own group had just voted by a majority of 90%, on a 76% turnout, to accept the employers pay offer. It is incredible that someone elected to the most senior committee in our union, would call for war when they cannot win a battle in their own backyard.

The coalition (for chaos) continue to argue that it is better to enter a ballot ill-prepared and to fail to meet the 50% threshold, then to ballot and maybe fail again, than to wait for the outcome of talks and meet any negative outcome with a decision to agitate around.  Despite the massive financial cost to the union of every ballot we undertake (paid for by you!), it appears they see no issue with weakening PCS in the eyes of the employer.

A weak union can win nothing. Puerile strategies win nothing.

LEVY REFUND

At the NEC meeting on 19 November, Left Unity and the Democracy Alliance NEC members kept our promise to PCS members, by supporting a proposal to now test the process for effecting the refund of the levy. Left Unity and our PCS Democrat allies committed, during the NEC election campaign in 2025, to putting right the scandalous breach of members faith, created by the Coalition of the Broad Left Network and Independent Left; their having insisted on continuing to collect the levy last year when it was clear no national industrial action was planned.

In a continuation of their contempt for members, despite it being a clear manifesto commitment from the majority of elected NEC members, the Broad Left Network and Independent Left NEC members voted against the proposal for effecting the refund of the levy. Thankfully, they were defeated by the Democracy Alliance majority and the process to refund the levy was agreed and will now be implemented.

INFANTILISM FROM OUR OPPONENTS

Rather predictably, the NEC’s approach has attracted relentless criticism from our internal opponents. Particularly, the decision not to move to a ballot at this stage.

The Independent Left believes that we should have walked into talks with our demands backed by a live, active ballot mandate. This completely ignores the outcome of the consultation that indicates we are unlikely to win a live mandate at this stage.

If we were to follow the Independent Left’s advice, we would ballot, probably fail to secure a statutory mandate for action in many groups and would be left naked in the chamber. We will, therefore, not be taking any advice from them on tactics and leverage anytime soon.

The Broad Left Network holds a similar position, claiming that members are prepared to fight; and they point to ballots results from 2022/2023 as evidence.  This is completely ludicrous as they fails to acknowledge a very changed political and industrial context, and the outcome of the most recent consultation of members.  It would lead us to the same tactically disastrous place as the Independent Left’s position.

It is clear from where we are in negotiations, with serious progress possible, and the outcome of the consultation, that now is not the time for a ballot.  Unless, of course, you want to lose it, thereby conceding any leverage you hold in negotiations, and guaranteeing no progress for members.  No serious trade union leadership would adopt such an industrially suicidal approach, and Left Unity will continue to dismiss such disastrous strategies.

On entering delegated talks, the opponents of your Left Unity led leadership have bizarrely claimed this an “abdication of responsibility”.  The opposite is of course true.  The responsible decision taken to engage with departmental pay teams has ensured that we have put as much money, as quickly as possible, into members’ pockets; this was particularly important for our lowest paid members.

The alternative to entering talks would have been to hold a national ballot, that the consultation tells us we would have struggled to win; whilst leaving the field free for Prospect and the FDA to clean up in delegated talks. 

It is clear that some that claim to be activists, working on behalf of members, have learned no lessons from last years’ debacle, where a BLN/IL majority of NEC members voted not to enter delegated talks; that ‘leadership’ was forced to u-turn a week later under pressure from an activist base that understood all too well the consequences of that monumentally senseless decision.

This is simply not serious strategical decision making.  At best, it is student politics arguing with hardheaded industrial trade unionism; at worst, it is simply grandstanding for perceived political advantage, with PCS members’ interests playing second fiddle to political party interests. This level of ineptitude has no place in a serious trade union.

It is a sad fact that the rhetoric from these factions is completely divorced from where our membership is. This is clearly evidenced by the recent campaign mounted by the Broad Left Network urging members, against the GEC recommendation, to reject the pay offer in the Scottish Government Group.  In that Group, on a 76% turnout, members voted by a majority of 90% to accept the offer.  That is hardly a reflection of a faction with its finger on the pulse of the membership.

This continued infantile posturing should be rejected by our activists and members alike.

TIME FOR SERIOUS LEADERSHIP – WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU

For the first time in decades, there is the possibility of serious progress in talks on civil service pay, with a chance to eliminate poverty pay and secure greater pay coherence. We have to give those talks a chance.

The Democracy Alliance leadership will leave no stone unturned in our determination to secure that progress for you.  We listen to our members and activists when you advise on the mood on the ground; and we will not use our members and activists as pawns in a political game. 

Our job as a union leadership is to protect and promote members’ interests, first and foremost; that is what we intend to do.

But the commitment from Left Unity to you is that, if progress in those talks is insufficient or too slow, then we will not shy away from agitating our members to test our readiness for an industrial response; the LU leadership in DWP has shown our readiness to act by moving to the recent consultative ballot, and will show the employer, and this government again, when they move to a statutory ballot early in 2026.

Over the recent weeks it has seemed as if the eyes of the whole country have been set firmly on Caerphilly, and it felt like almost the entire left in Wales let out a huge sigh of relief last Friday morning at the news that Plaid Cymru’s Lyndsay Whittle has beaten Reform by 3000 votes, winning  by 11% of the vote. But how did we end up with such a divisive and racist election campaign?

Following the tragic passing of Labour Senedd Member Hefin David, it became very clear very quickly that this would be no ordinary by-election. With both the Welsh Senedd & Scottish Parliamentary elections less than a year away, what happened in Caerphilly was always going to be a test for our movement.

Reform have been boldly telling any media outlet that would listen for months that they expect to sweep the board in Wales’s Senedd elections next May, Farage stating he plans to turn Wales into a ‘Little USA’. They were confident of a victory, throwing substantial amounts money at the campaign.

Every right-wing influencer in the UK seems to have made an appearance in recent weeks, anti-migrant rhetoric ramping up daily, and many residents of the constituency expressing shock and disgust at the levels of rabid racist narrative.

The focus of Reform in Caerphilly has been to attack the Senedd ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ policy, a progressive policy from the current Welsh Labour led Senedd to support those fleeing persecution and war to rebuild their lives here in Wales. The overwhelming majority of the funding made available for this policy by the Senedd has been used to help the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, however Reform UK took to the airwaves to push a narrative that Wales has ‘wasted £55 million on ‘illegal immigrants’.

This narrative has had the effect of creating a genuinely terrifying atmosphere that has emboldened the far right into a frenzy of activity.

It is worth noting that Caerphilly has amongst the lowest levels of immigration amongst any of the 22 local authorities in Wales, with 97% of the population being born in the UK.

There have been weekly protests called by fascist, Tommy Robinson supporting group, Voice of Wales, held outside a hotel near Cardiff airport. The hotel is temporarily housing families from Afghanistan who, having helped the British military, were put at risk by the leaking of their info by the Tories to the Taliban last year. These protests have drawn in the most abhorrent collection of neo-Nazi organisations in Britain, including Patriotic Alternative & the openly antisemitic group White Vanguard.

Other far right demo’s have been called in Newtown, Wrexham, Barry and on the weekend before the election, a demo against ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ in Caerphilly.

Stand Up to Racism and the Trade Unions have turned out in force week after week to oppose these attempts to intimidate and spread hate and the far right have been heavily outnumbered at every turn.

Indeed, over the last few weeks SuTR have not only organised various counter demo’s but have also been holding street stalls and knocking on doors across Caerphilly, ensuring that the lies spread by Reform and others did not go unchecked.

Left Unity Members on the PCS Wales Executive Committee have not only been involved in activity on the streets with SuTR, but initiated a letter sent directly to all PCS members within the constituency which laid out our policy positions of a progressive and inclusive economic alternative, whilst also exposing the myths being peddled by Reform that they are friends of the working class.

But other forces have been at play in Caerphilly, and to prevent a repeat of these last few weeks next May at the Senedd elections, we must also look at how after holding Caerphilly as a safe seat since 1918, the Labour Party’s support has tanked in such a spectacular way that they left the door wide open for Reform to breeze in.

Theres a saying in the South Wales Valleys ‘Mrs Jones’ sheep could win an election round here if someone slapped a red rosette on it’, but this is very plainly no longer the case.

Talking to people on stalls and on doorsteps it became very obvious that those who would never have considered they would vote for anyone other than Labour in their lifetime, feel that Labour have abandoned them; from cuts to winter fuel and benefit payments, the state of the NHS and lack of access to essential health care right through to concern about Labour in Westminster failing to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, voters did not feel that Labour was a party they can continue to trust and vote for.

Many looking for a new political home and alternative policies have been hoodwinked into believing that Reform is a party of the working class.  In a society where political leaders are failing to provide leadership, it is our role as trade unions to tackle this with facts, countering the lies peddled by Reform.

The fact that Reform were beaten by many voters switching to Plaid Cymru gives us hope. Those that voted for Plaid will be aware of their stance on Palestine, their support for Nation of Sanctuary and safe passage, and their economic policies on issues such as the introduction of a wealth tax. That is not to say that Plaid are perfect as there are many policies of theirs that PCS would disagree with, but in a world where what was once considered centre ground has tracked so far to the right, Plaid have provided a palatable alternative to Labour for many in Wales.

This should send a resounding message to Starmer and Labour; trying to out fascist the far right and declaring that Britain has become a “nation of strangers” doesn’t win votes – it pushers voters to the far right, and copying the policies of the Tories who inflicted 14 years of bitter austerity on working people will run the risk of opening the door even wider for Reform.

We in Left Unity are very clear – It’s not refugees arriving on boats who have made everyone poorer, destroyed our NHS, cut benefits and stagnated the economy, it’s those who swan around legally in their million pound yachts and those who perpetuate neo-liberal capitalist policies.

What we should all take from the last few weeks is that we need to up our game as Left Unity and PCS. Wherever the far right raise their heads we need to be on the streets at counter protests in numbers and get involved in our local SuTR groups. We need to be pushing out our Left Unity created policies around alternatives to austerity, Tax Justice, Welfare Reform, Safe Passage and of course our ARAF strategy. If the experience of Caerphilly is anything to go by, we are in for a tough few years as Farage, Reform and others ramp up their toxic politics. We as trade unionists and socialists have the policies and answers that can neutralise them, even if the main stream parties don’t, and we need to provide leadership to steer our class away from the divisive politics of despair.

We of course congratulate Lindsay Whittle and wish him the best of luck. He is a hard working politician with whom we look forward to working with in Wales, but we must also ready ourselves for the coming battles and be unflinching in our response to the racist rhetoric being used to divide our communities.

Marianne Owens

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On Saturday 20 September in Glasgow, I compered a rally in Buchanan Street, of anti-racist anti-fascist activists. This rally was organised by Stand Up To Racism, in response to a “Unity Rally” which had been organised by the far right. The main organiser of this rally, John Watt, had to step down following an expose by SUTR where it was revealed that he had been convicted of domestic violence against two ex-girlfriends.

The “Unity Rally” was just one anti-immigration protest in a long series of anti-immigration protests, which have been set up under the guise of protecting women and children from “illegal immigrants.”

SUTR and anti-racist activists have organised counter-demos where these are happening, mainly outside hotels which are being used as accommodation for asylum seekers, and while we have been outnumbering them, their numbers have grown significantly in the last year or so.

In London on 13 September, there were over 100,000 people marching to support Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson), who has since been deported from both Columbia and Panama as a threat to national security. Yaxley-Lennon has many previous convictions, including stalking and harassing a female journalist, assaulting a police officer who had intervened during an argument between him and his then partner, and illegally entering the USA with a fake passport. All things he supposedly stands against.

We were therefore worried that their numbers would be huge in Glasgow, but we outnumbered them by 3-1. We had a platform of mainly women speakers, where I launched the Women Against The Far Right Scotland campaign. SUTR have set this campaign up to build the wider anti-fascist front, to counter the lies that the far-right actually want to protect women and children, and to help give women the arguments and confidence to oppose the far-right. There is a national campaign also, which PCS has signed up to support.

PCS NEC member Cheral Govind also addressed the crowd as the chair of the STUC Black Workers Committee, and she spoke about how important visibility is within our trade unions as a British-born Asian woman, and how vital it is that the trade union movement is involved in tackling the far-right.

As the women were speaking, there were vile racist, lewd and misogynistic comments being shouted at us from the other side. At the front of our crowd we had formed a women’s solidarity wall, which was unfortunately met with lewd gestures and more of the racism and misogyny being shouting at us. Many of the people turning up for the “Unity Rally” claim to not be racist, and claim they want to protect women and children, but this was not the way to show that.

We know that there are genuine concerns, and that people are frustrated by the actions of the Labour government, especially after 14 years of Tory austerity, Labour have failed to deliver on what they were elected to do. Reform UK have used the anger, frustration, and fears of the general public to garner support and to spread hate. We know that we have to work within our workplaces and communities to challenge the lies of Reform UK and their supporters.

PCS continues to work alongside SUTR to challenge the racism and fascism which we have seen is on the rise in the UK. PCS will also continue to hold the government to account for their actions that have angered the many frustrated members of the public.

In Scotland and Wales next year there will be parliamentary elections, and there is a real danger of Reform UK gaining power. There are also real cracks in the UK government, which has led to speculation that there will be a general election before this term is out. If Reform UK was to win such a general election, Nigel Farage wants to shut down the civil service, tear up terms and conditions, including the ability to work from home, and make huge cuts to public services. The consequences for our members, and for the people who rely on our services, will be catastrophic.

Liz McGachey

The Democracy Alliance (DA) has once again secured a majority on the National Executive Committee (NEC), after a disastrous twelve months with the Coalition for Change at the helm. This result is not only a decisive rejection of the division and stagnation created by our opponents,  but the large majority gives the DA a clear mandate for Left Unity’s programme of fighting for members’ rights, pay, and conditions. This victory should give us a renewed confidence that members see the importance of a leadership committed to building workplace strength, defending public services, and standing firmly against government attacks. We thank all ADC delegates who played a part in delivering this victory and pledge to continue working with every activist to deliver real change for our members.

Fighting the Far Right and Defending Democracy

As the far right grows more visible and emboldened – in our communities, in workplaces, and across social media – PCS Left Unity remains committed to opposing fascism, racism, and all forms of discrimination. Our response in the months ahead, as we stand in solidarity with the anti-racist movement and reaffirm our union’s proud record of promoting equality and inclusion, is crucial.

We only have to see some of the comments posted on the union’s social media channels in recent weeks. It’s important we reaffirm our commitment to tackling racism and fascism, wherever it raises its head, at ADC this week, and reject the Labour Government’s alarming learch to the right.

Resisting Austerity and the PCS Levy

With the possible return of real-terms pay cuts, job threats, and attacks on the services our members deliver, the government’s austerity 2.0 agenda is hitting hard. PCS Left Unity supports the need to return to a national campaign, that unites members and activists around a set of coherent, common demands that all groups can get behind. The failed attempts by our opponents to unite groups around a disparate shopping list of demands, has been a disaster, and any industrial response needs full member engagement.

The temporary levy, voted in by previous Annual Delegate Conferences, and supported by members did its job at the time in paying for sustained targeted strike action, that hit the employer hard, and reduced the financial burden on members. However, Left Unity fully supported the campaign to suspend the levy from September last year, in light of the NEC decision not to pursue industrial action under the national campaign and falling membership due to its retention. We also back the DA candidates pledge to refund the levy payments from September to March.

Left Unity are also clear, however, that introducing temporary levies cannot be the long-term solution to sustaining the union’s ability to fight national campaigns. We remain committed to transparency, democratic accountability, and to reviewing a permanent solution with membership support. We urge delegates and branches to, therefore, reject attempts by BLN/IL supporters, and the outgoing and defeated NEC majority, to this week get conference to support the reinstatement of the levy, and oppose all motions calling for this in favour of the LU motions overleaf.

Time to Rebuild Our Union

After last ADC’s rejection of the national organising plan, for sectarian gain, and the impact of the levy, we have much ground to make up to rebuild both membership levels across our union and our members confidence in their union. Left Unity hope that this conference overwhelmingly supports the organising plan presented to it, and we can once again re-focus on workplace organisation, member-led strategy, and unity across our employer groups.

Join Us – Strengthen the Union’s Fighting Leadership

PCS Left Unity remains the leading democratic socialist organisation in the union. We call on all members who want to build a stronger, more democratic, and united union to get involved.

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Left Unity would like to thank everyone who voted for Democracy Alliance candidates in the NEC elections.

We are very pleased to see Martin Cavanagh re-elected as PCS President and to have a significant majority on the NEC for the year ahead.

After a year of the coalition of chaos holding a small majority and creating a state of paralysis in the NEC, we look forward to rebuilding the union.

While the turnout was once again disappointing, it was clear talking to members during the elections, that many were put off by the negativity and the venomous false narrative of the coalition, and it shows in their collapsed vote.

The proportion of the vote for the Democracy Alliance reflects the more positive campaign we ran, but now the hard work starts.

As promised during the elections, we will be repaying unused levy money to members.

We all face challenges ahead, so we will be consulting members as we build up our strength in the coming months.

We will be strengthened as a union if we return Left Unity majorities in the group elections to work with the NEC.

The group elections close at midday on Tuesday, so we urge all our supporters to continue to encourage members to vote for our candidates.

DWP Left Unity GEC candidates

HMRC GEC Left Unity candidates

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The NEC ballot closes this Friday 9th May. If you haven’t voted yet please get post it off today.