Several mornings this week, I have been proud to support our PCS Interserve strikers on their picket line outside the Foreign and Commonwealth office. These low paid members are on strike from 3rd to 28th February for a set of very basic demands.

They are on strike to get basic conditions that most of us take for granted including proper sick pay and trade union recognition. The PCS NEC have pledged our full support and to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, every step of the way until they win a better deal in the workplace.

This week (Tuesday), we held a strike rally at the picket line to coincide with Heart Unions week, supported by many Labour MPs, where speakers included Mark Serwotka, Frances O Grady, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and PCS Parliamentary group chair, Chris Stephens from the SNP. Having such high profile support really gave the strikers a boost, for many, this is the first time that they have been on strike and it really helped their morale.

On Wednesday, they held a successful and well-supported parliamentary drop-in to further raise awareness of their campaign. We really need the FCO and the Foreign Secretary to engage with us now – this dispute would be so simple to settle if the willingness was there.

The strikers are picketing every morning and it is very cold. Many of the strikers don’t have English as a first language, and the banner which reads “We speak many languages but through our union we have one voice” really has a resonance.

Spirits remain high as they leaflet people who pass by and there are core team who picket every single morning. Solidarity is always appreciated and just spending an hour on their picket line if you happen to be in London really helps.

Left Unity members are encouraged to support the picket lines if you are in London, donate to the strike fund or send a simple message of support. Solidarity is not just an empty slogan for us. We will do all that we can to support these low paid workers, recognising that if we can win disputes like these, not only do we give these workers a better deal at work but the whole union and its members are stronger for it.

Fran Heathcote

PCS President

Fran is standing on the Democracy Alliance slate for President

Well thank you so much for that warm welcome, and friends what a great honour it is to be here representing my Union PCS Union at the Stand up to Racism Conference.  The work that you do has been essential to defeat racism and expose fascism in our workplaces and communities.

Whether it is defeating anti-Semitism, calling out Islamophobia or standing with the Windrush generation, you have always been on that front line and I and members of minority communities take huge inspiration and appreciate the work every single of you being here today and stand up to racism do, so thank you for all that you do.

So we don’t often get the chance to celebrate our success, what an extraordinary year it has been since the last time we were here.  In January I had a meeting with the Vice President of Facebook and we had a talk about Islamophobia, racism and anti-Muslim hatred.  She said she wanted to make Facebook the platform of equality and tackling discrimination, harassment – I said to her, she goes how can I do it and I said firstly you have to ban Tommy Robinson and other far right leaders.

Now what I didn’t expect – I had such an impact on here that less than three weeks later she banned Tommy Robinson from Facebook and I said YES!

That’s when the problems started for me in my personal life.  I got around 3000 hateful messages on Facebook, Twitter and Social Media. I had threats of life against me.  I had threats that the far right was going to rape my wife and children.   I was followed on the street, my address was published on far right websites and fake news were printed about me.  I was literally told that to watch my back – we are coming for you.

At that time, it was quite a dangerous time for me but I did not give up and the reason I didn’t give up was the struggle against racism and fascism, whatever the risks to ourselves and our families requires us to show true leadership and requires us to be on the frontline.

So I never let them defeat me; I got up, continued and I am still standing today.

So I know the general election wasn’t the result we expected. But I think it always an opportunity to pause; reflect and celebrate the successes we achieved.  We defeated Tommy Robinson from becoming a member of the European Parliament.  I see Nahella Ashraf here; I see Paul Jenkins who single handily exposed Tommy Robinson in the North West.  So yes we might be a bit disillusioned and we might be struggling with the political outlook for the future; but one thing I do know is that we’re never going to give in to racists and xenophobes and we are always going to stand together.

As Trade Unionists because that’s the important thing – all the people in this room and all of our colleagues in the Trade union movement are working very strongly to defeat racism and xenophobia.  And just to go back to my Union PCS, when I joined many many years ago there was little diversity in our top team.  We know have three strong black women on the NEC, including our very first black Vice president and hopefully in months and years to come we will see a future black leader of our Union.

PCS have been at the heart of the campaign against racism, we have never stopped supporting Stand up to Racism, Unite against Fascism; whenever there has been a struggle we’ve been on the frontline and our Union is committed to continue that support.

Tackling racism in the workplace is the title of the session, I have supported some members dealing with racism following the Brexit referendum.  In a Jobcentre a Civil Servant said the day after the referendum said we have taken back control and its time to get rid of the EU Scum to a migrant worker from the EU.  It took huge support and hard work to get justice for our members.

It’s about tackling racism in the workplace, it’s what one of my colleague has said; that the language of the far right has been mainstreamed into our politics and our workplaces and we must confront it.  I am proud of the fact my Union PCS recognises educating our members and activists is so important – that’s why we are starting to roll out our anti-racism training and awareness sessions on the far right for all our members so they are equipped with the knowledge and experience to take on the battle.

So if we can defeat fascism and racism as we have done over the last twelve months.  If we have the same commitment and same passion to do wat we have did in the last twelve months.  I am very confident not only will we see the finishing of UKIP, the EDL and Football Lads Alliance, we will defeat the Tories at the next election.

Mohammed Shafiq is standing in the DWP GEC elections on the Left Unity slate

We all know following the general election that worker rights are going be under heavy fire. We could do the ‘batten down the hatches’ thing but it of vital importance that we come out fighting but with a strategic battle plan. So it was good that the festive season followed the vote for much needed respite and to reflect on what we need to do as a union and as activists in our communities. Most of us are aware that hate crimes have risen in some areas by up to 80 percent and rather than abating we see a rise in overt incidences of hate in the civil service and wider society.

Along with the DWP Group Equality Officer, Bridget Corcoran, we produced articles marking International Women’s Day, Ramadan, Diwali, Christmas, Black and Disability History Month, Hanukah and Holocaust Memorial Day to raise awareness and to break down barriers that exist the Civil Service as well as outside of it.

The strength of a union is often within its density and its activists who should represent the membership. This is something that our (GBMC) and Regional Equality Reps have focused on over the last few months: How do we increase activity and density within the group? To this end we considered holding events in different regions but were mindful of the costs involved. With this in mind we approached the Union Learning co-ordinator to check whether our ideas were feasible and got the go ahead. We held our first event in London as it is one of our most diverse areas followed by Birmingham where the second event is planned for 26 February – details here.

The London event attracted several members who are not active and attendees were given an update on the national campaign by our President, Fran Heathcote, and a presentation on organising with information about the advocate role.

They also did a session on creative writing, this was a learning event after all, with the exception of the Group Equality Officer, Regional Equality Officer and I who had some minor creative differences (they are divas!), about dark and stormy nights and gentle breezes.

There was a general discussion about how we challenge the rise in hate crimes and attacks on the working class as a unit: a whole; what could we do as a union and what they could do themselves. It was a lively debate, rather impassioned at times, which is a good thing as it shows the hatches aren’t down; the periscope isn’t up: We are not peeping out from the ‘sunken place’.

We are planning more events, open to members and non-members, and our aim is to tailor these events to the demographic of the region. Using PCS Learning as a way of empowering our members and engaging them with our campaigns is a key part of our agenda.

Our members from diverse communities and backgrounds are readying ourselves for the fight and PCS Left Unity will stand with them side by side.

Annette Rochester – Left Unity NEC member and DWP group vice President

Further anti racism work:

• New PCS workshop helps reps challenge racism and intolerance
• PCS will have a delegation at the Stand Up To Racism Trade Union Conference on 8th February. PCS President Fran Heathcote will be speaking and individuals can sign up to attend.

Annette is one of the Democracy Alliance NEC candidates

In my role as co-founder and National Chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK, I have been co-ordinating regular solidarity and humanitarian aid distributions including convoys since 2015 to people who are refugees in Northern France together with NEC member Hector Wesley who is also a BARAC officer. We specialise in addressing cultural and religious needs and also focus on urgent emergency supplies which change all the time.

We work closely with three charities in France, L’auberge des Migrants, Refugee Community Kitchen and Help Refugees.

We organise fundraising initiatives in order to purchase food, clothes, camping equipment, toiletries, blankets and other emergency supplies and essential items and we are grateful to PCS and TUC Race Relations Committee in supporting us in this work and to PCS members who have purchased tickets for our Black Members Social at ADC in 2018 and 2019, the proceeds of which went to our aid work.

There is still a great need for support as people are living on the roadside in places like Calais and Dunkirk, without shelter or access to adequate regular water and sanitation. The winter months are of course the worst having to survive outside.

Those who find themselves stranded in France are mostly trying to be reunited with family, friends and community in the UK. The vast majority of people are young men including children in their teens who are alone without parents or other adult family members and should be protected as children. They are people who are fleeing persecution, poverty, conflict and climate change, sometimes a combination.

Here are some key ways to help support our humanitarian aid and solidarity work with refugees in France:
1. Donate to the BARAC UK Humanitarian Appeal by visiting the GoFundMe page here:
https://www.gofundme.com/nvbvy8qc. Alternatively send a cheque made payable to ‘BARAC
UK’ with the form below to: Zita Holbourne, BARAC National Chair, PCS National Vice
President, PCS HQ, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN.
2. Drop off essential items to our distribution point at PCS HQ. Please address items (see list of items needed below) to: Zita Holbourne, PCS NEC, C/O Harvey Jacob (for Calais), PCS HQ, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN.
3. Sponsor transport & travel.
4. Join a BARAC distribution by bringing a vehicle full of aid.
5. Organise a fundraising initiative in your branch or group.

Contact Zita Holbourne, BARAC Co Chair by email:
Barac.info@gmail.com or zita@pcs.org.uk

Zita Holbourne, National Vice President PCS

Zita is standing as Vice President for the Democracy Alliance 2020

On Saturday thousands of people marched around the country in protest at Trump’ attack on Iran and the threat of war.

PCS members participated in a number of events.

PCS President Fran Heathcote spoke at the protest in Newcastle. She said:

“I am bringing solidarity greetings from my union, PCS

I want to take a minute to thanks Tony and the organisers, thank them on behalf of trade unions for their dedication and for organising this and so many other successful events in the north east at short notice (most of them have a day job as well, sterling effort)

The assassination of Iranian general Quassem Soleimani on 3 January was a reckless, irresponsible and probably illegal act…….

It is part of a dangerous macho game played by Donald Trump and his followers, much more about macho posturing and prestige than genuine defensive action

And was also designed to garner patriotic support for his Presidency and direct attention away from his own impeachment

There is no evidence as Donald Trump suggests that Soleimani and Iran were planning an attack on the United States,  or on.four US embassies, including the one in Baghdad.

His justification for the attack has alarming similarities to the arguments used to justify war in Iraq – Saddam Hussain’s so-called weapons of mass destruction – that turned out to be a lie and led to a conflict which claimed the lives of over a million Iraqis, thousands of US and UK troops and fed the growth of the Islamic State

President Trump appears to be acting unilaterally in escalating tension in the middle east, with little consultation with his own government or western so-called allies

Importantly, there was no consultation prior to the assassination on 3 January with his new key ally Boris Johnson, which tells you all you need to know about the ongoing partnership between Britain and the United States after Brexit

All the attack has succeeded in doing is uniting millions in Iraq and Iran against the US and it’s allies

Comrades, I believe that trade unionists and the labour movement have a responsibility to oppose any further imperialist interventions in the Middle East

There has never been any evidence that war does anything other than destabilise the region

Making it more dangerous for millions of innocent children, men and women who pay for these war games with their lives

We must re-state our opposition to western intervention in Iran and the Middle East, and call for an end to US aggression and a de-escalation of the threat of further war

We must continue to put pressure on our own government, with rallies like this up and down the country, to state clearly that there will be no support from the UK for any further irresponsible acts of war in Iran, in Iraq or elsewhere

Once again, solidarity to all involved today.”

Austin Harney spoke for the NEC at the London demonstration:

“On behalf of PCS, I would like to send greetings of solidarity to all the people of Iran and to condemn the US threat of military invasion on one of the most important countries in the Middle East.

Recently, last year, PCS has, always, supported the Trade Union strikes for better wages and the women’s struggle for liberation in Iran. We will continue to support the Iranian people’s efforts for a better way of life in Iran under their current government.

But we will not tolerate the American government’s intention to interfere in Iran and impose their perception of “regime change” under Donald Trump! Previously, the United States adopted this policy of “regime change” under George W. Bush on the people of Iraq and plunged this country into turmoil.

By continuing to rise up on the streets with demonstrations, we will not allow the United States to impose “regime change” on the people of Iran! Previously, millions of us demonstrated on the streets in Britain and America, and we were pivotal in pressuring the American government to withdraw its troops from Vietnam in 1973!

Let us continue to organise these demonstrations and force the United States to pull out of the Middle East, once and for all! Solidarity!”