One of the issues causing the most controversy right now is the continuation of the PCS levy. Comrades will remember that the levy was introduced early in the National Campaign as a way of funding targeted action, to be taken in support of the National Campaign. This was popular, worked well and our strategy of targeted action led to a number of concessions.

During the summer, the NEC agreed, unanimously, that there was no leverage for action at that point in time capable of shifting the government any further. One BLN member did mention in her contribution in July that the levy might need to be reviewed at some point, but this was never proposed by them formally nor voted on, as is now being claimed.

In August, following on from the earlier July debate, and despite there being no formal proposal made, the General Secretary did indeed review the situation and recommended that the levy now be paused, as the NEC had agreed to pause strike action. The General Secretary also recommended that a consultation take place with branches over how we build our fighting fund for the battles to come. Both of these recommendations were supported by Democracy Alliance NEC members, but rejected by the NEC majority, calling themselves the Alliance for Change.

Under the standing orders of the NEC decisions taken cannot be revisited for 3 months unless two-thirds of the NEC agree to revisit their decision. Such was the strength of feeling amongst members and branches across the union, however, Democracy Alliance members of the NEC again raised the pausing of the levy in October, with the President testing the NEC if they would be prepared to revisit the decision. Democracy Alliance NEC members voted to revisit the decision and pause the levy, but the opportunity was rejected by the alliance forming the NEC majority.

In line with the NEC standing orders, as soon as the 3 months expired, following a heavy mailbag from members, reps, groups and regions, alongside a number of member resignations, the General Secretary brought the recommendation to pause the levy back to the NEC in December – again it was rejected by the same NEC members, using their small majority to force through their position that the levy must continue.

A roll call was taken on both occasions, recording who voted for and against pausing the levy, and is available on request from the GS office.

Alliance for Change

When a political organisation has been in power for a long time, as Left Unity has, as part of the Democracy Alliance, sometimes suggesting that it is time for a change can be an attractive argument. Certainly, this seems to have been the case in 2024, when the newly formed coalition won a majority, with a number of ambitious promises about how they would transform PCS. But, what that so-called change in PCS has led to is an absolute paralysis in our union, increasing chaos and an inability to move forward on even the simplest of issues. This has been demonstrated by U-turn after U-turn, as those who get their ideas largely from books, and their respective political masters, the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, realise that actually running the union, as opposed to sniping from the sidelines, is a bit more difficult than they anticipated.

With a breathtaking arrogance not borne from any experience on the ground, and a complete disregard for the low-paid members involved, decisions are taken based on the whims of small sect organisations who don’t have the best interests of our members at heart. Whilst some within the alliance have begun to waiver and voice their concerns, they have been persuaded by the BLN, in particular, to hold the line for the sake of the alliance. The dissent over the levy has been from across the political spectrum, but the issue has become a victim of the need to maintain the alliance at all costs.

These people simply cannot be trusted with your union or your union subs, recent events have shown us that.

Democracy?

Both BLN and IL claim to want democracy, why then are they so terrified of a consultation with members and branches? Every time this is proposed, it is rejected by the majority, preferring instead to hide behind the call for a Special Delegate Conference (SDC). Unable to get support for this call by anywhere near the number of branches which would represent 25% of the membership, and having a complete lack of understanding about what is involved in organising such a conference, it will shortly be proved, with the publication of the PCS Financial report, that every aspect of their ‘model motion’ calling for such a conference is based on a lie.

Far from the general secretary blowing the budget on a top-heavy staffing structure, as has been claimed, the union’s finances are in the best shape that they have been in for well over a decade, with staffing costs coming in at under 33% of subscription income. The whole basis for their SDC is proven to be false, but it is easier to maintain the call for this, and the lies surrounding it, than to face the anger of members in any sort of genuine consultation.

Cynicism

The coalition’s unwillingness to enter into any consultation with members over the levy, and their determination not to even try to get a consensus, shows that they are not at all serious about democracy. All of their current efforts are being put into seeking to discredit Left Unity President, Martin Cavanagh, claiming that he is using bureaucratic means to block them. The president’s job is to uphold the rules, something that Martin does diligently, and for this he is castigated at every opportunity, in an attempt to weaken members’ confidence in him.

As recently as last week, BLN NECLOs attending GECs and regional committees, have been arguing for why the levy must continue. What is becoming apparent is that some members of the alliance, perhaps unhappy with the way the recent NEC election candidates were forced upon them, have started badmouthing the levy decision, and suggesting that the decision may soon change, just in time for the elections. To be clear, if the BLN/IL coalition was to now reverse their position on the levy, claiming that this was always the plan, and that they have now listened to members, neither claim would be true.

Rather, it would represent the worst kind of political cynicism.

Fight for PCS – Have your say

This issue is just one example of what is at stake for PCS. But there is something you can do about it.

Attend your AGM, encourage members who are angry about the levy to attend and have their say. Submit motions to conference. Nominate Democracy Alliance candidates for the NEC, knowing that they have members’ best interests at heart.

Don’t allow PCS to be hijacked in the interests of narrow political sects. Elect a DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE NEC, and together we can put an end to the madness.