The Independent Left have always talked a lot about the union’s finances, usually in an attempt to slur their political opponents.

Their proudest boast is that their Alliance For Workers’ Liberty member, John Moloney, PCS’s current Assistant General Secretary, donates a proportion of his salary back to PCS, which is true. What they say less about is that John, in his mid-sixties, had already partially retired from the civil service, taken a lump sum, paid his mortgage off in London and bought an additional property abroad. Putting him in a position to be able to do so, and still live in London.

The Broad Left Network talk less about the union’s finances, knowing that the previous AGS, Chris Baugh, donated nothing to PCS, arguing that instead he chose to donate to the Socialist Party.

Their failed General Secretary candidate, Marion Lloyd, who stood, and lost, against both Mark Serwotka and Fran Heathcote decided to join her running mate, John Moloney, in pledging to only take the workers’ wage. Which sounded good, unless you realised that Marion, also in her mid-sixties, had partially retired, taken a lump sum, paid her mortgage off, and based on her current high grade salary, was earning more for her 2 days per week, than either her previous opponent, Fran Heathcote, or her latest opponent for PCS President, Martin Cavanagh, earnt working full-time as EOs in the DWP. So, the workers’ wage claim always requires a bit of scrutiny.

Now they are under pressure, due to their belated u-turn on the levy last week, which one Independent Left NEC member, Chris Marks, explained was necessary, “due to it being election time”, so, nothing to do with low paid members over-paying into a levy that they cannot afford, when no national action is taking place under the banner of the national campaign then?

The Independent Left are still repeating the falsehood that the Levy is currently funding the outsourced workers’ strikes, blatantly and demonstrably untrue, but repeated to spread confusion around the intended purpose of the levy.

In a bid to cause further distraction, in the last week they reinvigorated the X/Twitter account, which has lain dormant since 13th July, because, as they have already explained, it is election time. They have used it to mock the recent videos produced by the General Secretary, whilst following suit now, and starting to produce their own videos, in order to reproduce the lies that she has somehow ‘blown the budget’ on costly redundancies and a new staffing structure.

The truth of this matter is somewhat ironic.

There have been no redundancies, there have been severance payments, signed off by their National Treasurer, John Moloney. They did indeed come from the 2024 budget, but were authorised long before Fran took over. They had already been authorised,agreed, and presented within the Finance paper to the NEC, by John Moloney, when Fran took up post on 1st February 2024. These followed long-term custom and practice within PCS, something that was widely acknowledged at the time, but why let the truth get in the way of a good slur?

They then go on to suggest that the changes to staffing have somehow ‘blown the budget’. Sadly for them, the 2024 Finance Report is about to demonstrate that since Fran took over, staff costs have reduced to below 33% of subscription income, something Fran has been meticulous about maintaining.

It is also slightly embarrassing for them that, when moving the Finance Report in May last year, at a time when staff costs were running at 34.5%, John Moloney explained to ADC “PCS has got one of the lowest full-time official to member ratios in the TUC, and obviously there might be an argument that we should have more staff…”

Far from threatening the financial security of PCS, the changes introduced under the new general secretary are, in fact, expected to lead to financial savings for the union, and a collective agreement on this matter has been reached with the staff union, the GMB.

The lies and myths being pedalled by the Independent Left, often repeated by the BLN, well, certainly before last week’s disagreement, are the basis on which they have tried, and failed, to whip up adequate support to force a Special Delegate Conference, preferring to talk to an echo chamber of activists, rather than genuinely consult members on the way forward for the National Campaign.

The, soon to be published, Financial report will be proof, if any more were needed given their recent behaviour, that you cannot trust these people with your union, or your subs.

Both Independent Left, and the Broad Left Network, in fact, all parties in the so-called Alliance For Change, are hoping that members have short memories.

Don’t be fooled, reclaim PCS and vote for Democracy Alliance candidates in this year’s NEC elections – the only ones who have proved that they have your best interests at heart.