The outcome of the members’ consultative ballot on the national campaign is a massive vote of confidence in the strategy set out by Left Unity members of the National Executive Committee (NEC). In a very decent 47% turnout, PCS members voted by 90.3% to 9.7% in favour of a YES vote to continue the campaign.



The concessions won from the government so far, as a result of members’ action, are significant, and put welcome money in members’ pockets, but they are not enough and the campaign continues. The ballot asked members to agree to a strategy including a pause in industrial action, entering pay talks in individual departments and with the government, and then assessing whether more action is needed when the talks conclude.



The NEC will meet this week and agree on the next stage of the campaign. At the start of the members’ consultative ballot, Fran and Paul issued a personal statement explaining why they were asking members to back their strategy. With a ringing endorsement from the membership, the union can now go into further negotiations with the government from a position of strength. Left Unity will not hesitate to organise more strike action if talks do not get results.



The call for nominations for the PCS General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary election has now been issued in branch briefing BB/75/23. Branches have until Monday 16 October to nominate.



Left Unity calls on all reps and branches to nominate Fran Heathcote for General Secretary and Paul O’Connor for Assistant General Secretary. If your branch has not already arranged an all members meeting to agree a nomination, you should call for one to be arranged. At that meeting we urge you to nominate Fran and Paul. A speaker’s brief is available that you can use to explain why Fran and Paul are the best candidates for the job.



If you need any more help or support contact – franhpcs@gmail.com