PCS Left Unity updated members following the first NEC of the electoral year, with the news that a leading BLN member had stated “you can have the equality committees”, as they moved to take control of virtually every other sub-committee of the NEC. Their small majority on the national body of the union giving them the ability to exercise that control.

This came as no surprise to many Left Unity activists, that have heard similar statements made by leading members of that faction over the years, and who have clearly witnessed and called out the recent weaponising of the equality agenda, by the BLN, for factional gain.

It should therefore come as no surprise, that the latest sectarian manouvre of the BLN/IL/Coalition for Change, has been to reject the long standing NEC protocol of appointing NEC members to the TUC delegation in September. In changing this protocol, they have rejected two leading equality advocates that were elected to the NEC by PCS members, from the TUC delegation, without any attempt to justify their actions.

PCS TUC delegates

In addition to the six delegates elected by block vote ahead of this year’s Annual Conference, PCS also sends to the Trade Union Congress, the General Secretary and National President in rule, plus six elected NEC members.

For many years the six from the NEC has included the Assistant General Secretary (AGS), the four other senior officers (Deputy and Vice Presidents), and one NEC member.

The current national president, Martin Cavanagh, proposed that his practice continued as it has for many years, and recommended, that Angela Grant attend from the NEC on grounds of equality. This recommendation was supported by the only other non-coalition VP, a Democracy Alliance candidate elected as an NEC Vice President, by the members. 

Angela Grant is not only the new DWP President, DWP being the biggest group in our union, but as a black, disabled, woman activist, she is one of the union’s leading voices on equality.  Already removed from the Organising Committee, as both removals are unjustified, it is clear the coalition want to deny her the opportunity to speak on behalf of members.

Shamefully, the proposals put forward by the BLN Vice-President – and supported by both of their partners on the Senior Officers Committee – included six names from their new coalition, with no representative from either Left Unity or the PCS Democrats.

This sectarian move, made with no rationale or justification by the three members of the newly formed coalition, has not only denied a long standing NEC member with three protected characteristics, a place on the delegation without any justification, but also denied Jackie Green, now the longest serving Vice-President of PCS, a strong LGBT+ Woman and well recognised advocate, that has provided a safe space for women and the LGBT+ community, a place at this year’s congress.

It is true that the proposals made by BLN, also excluded their only VP, but there are two points to make here; first, based on that person’s historical criticism of the TUC, this was no great shock, and second, their not wanting to attend due to their disdain for the TUC, allowed their sectarian antics to appear less sectarian.

What is truly shocking though, and we believe it will be to both members and activists within our union, is that a coalition that has a voting majority of three on the NEC, is now so hell-bent on marginalising Left Unity and our Democracy Alliance comrades, that they are prepared to dismiss two leading champions of equality from representing our union at such an important event, and at such a critical time.

Change at what cost?

The so called Coalition for Change, made up of BLN, IL, and independents, had promised to change our union as part of their electoral pact.

What they didn’t say to members though, was the form that change would take.

Remember they have only had a small majority on the NEC for 29 days, and already they have created chaos.

Not content with effectively abandoning the focused national campaign on pay, pensions and job security, by voting down the NEC motion at conference in favour of one that changes the demands of the campaign, they have also voted down the organising strategy, that was designed to help the union grow and win for members, seen 65% of A-marked motions guillotined at this year’s conference by their actions, and now set their sites on destroying any chance of this year’s NEC working collaboratively.  Don’t forget, unity is not for them!

After trying to reduce the President’s powers, and attempting remove the two-thirds rule from Standing Orders at the first NEC, they further oversaw the loss of half of the agenda items at that meeting.  This latest rejection of equality-based principles in favour of sectarianism cannot be the “change” members thought they were voting for, this chaos, lack of unity and lack of concern toward equality needs, is not what members were promised.

If you agree with PCS Left Unity, that recreating a unified programme of action to challenge the new Government and win for our members is the right action to take, if equality is important to you, then please consider joining PCS Left Unity.

We will continue to seek to build unity within our union, and ensure our members interests are the priority in the year ahead, but to do so, it is clear we need more activists and members to put pressure on the new NEC majority, to work with all those elected to leadership positions within our union, and for them to focus on our members ‘ needs, not their desire to gag NEC members, and undermine and bring down the General Secretary and National President that have been chosen by the membership, to lead our union.

To find out more or join PCS Left Unity please visit our website at https://pcsleftunity.org

Members will have seen the previous Left Unity article (click here) reporting on the chaos created at PCS Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) by members of the newly aligned coalition ‘for change’ – a coalition of minorities, small numbers from the Broad Left Network (BLN, the Socialist Party front), the Independent Left (IL, the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty front) and the Alliance for Change (AfC) , that banded together, as it was the only way to scrape a win against Left Unity.  Using non-PCS members to leaflet outside offices while Left Unity reps were busy supporting members inside, using Socialist Party funds to oust Left Unity members from leadership.

Having secured a slim majority on the NEC standing for ”change” it’s worth noting that their Presidential candidate and a number of their elected NEC members want to turn the clock back to some of the failed tactics of the past when they were previously on the NEC.

Left Unity members on the NEC have always sought unity on the key issues affecting members and reps, putting any tactical differences we may have on occasion to one side and concentrating on unifying our members to take forward the PCS agenda determined by our Annual Delegate Conference. This included, as part of the national campaign, the innovative decision to use minimum levels of unpaid industrial action, with unprecedented levels of paid action supported by the levy, which saw us win a pay rise that was more than double the Civil Service pay remit, which was to be imposed at 2%, and forced the Tory Government to withdraw from their manifesto commitment to cut Civil Service compensation payments by 33%. The union for the first time ever, achieving a payment of £1500 for the previous year as a cost-of-living payment, from a rabid right wing Tory Government. 

Our members won that, and those gains are not insignificant no matter the claims of the coalition.

The same can be said of the successful dispute in National Museums Liverpool. It is our strategy of sustained, targeted paid action, and members’ bravery in supporting the action, that has won concessions from the employer which have now been accepted by members in a ballot.

The return of the Socialist Party into positions on the NEC has already seen threats of more ‘militant’ all out action added to their continued call for substantive levels of unpaid action.

In their desperation to beat back your elected Left Unity led NEC of 2023, this coalition gleefully caused so many delays in the conference proceedings that 65% of motions, motions written by branches to set PCS policy, were not heard. This was not due to, as has been claimed, the coalition pressing for democracy, but due to numerous speakers levelling a barrage of attacks and unfounded allegations at the outgoing NEC. Coalition acolytes calling on conference to vote for anything but the motions moved by the NEC, leaving PCS now without a unified national pay campaign, and without an organising strategy for the year ahead. Such petty and irresponsible behaviour belongs in the schoolyard, not on a conference platform, and not at the NEC.

Just as they jettisoned the motions at conference, the same behaviours to delay proceedings have already spilled over into the NEC where we have now seen items of importance on the agenda not debated. 

No Unity Required Here!

Back to square one with a stagnant campaign, as per the returned members of the Socialist Party’s record on the NEC, but a new move introduced was the argument against the NEC building unity.

It is expected that there will be debate amongst reps on committees, often robust and even heated at times, but once a consensus is reached members expect a degree of unity from their union leadership.  Do they not? Extremely concerning then to have heard the BLN state quite proudly that there is no expectation for a union to work in unity – crowing in their arrogance at winning a small majority on the NEC, the BLN now claim that ‘unity’ is the language of the outgoing NEC, unity has been ‘rejected’ by members, along with the national campaign strategy. 

Left Unity do not believe that this is the ‘change’ members voted for, members do not want to see a divided union, which is why every member of Left Unity has committed to fixing the divisions within PCS, no matter how difficult BLN seek to make it happen. It is clear to Left Unity that the BLN is actually out of touch with the membership and had they put their real intentions of ‘no unity’ and ‘higher levels of unpaid strike action’ into their election addresses, it would be a surprise if they won any seats at all, let alone a small majority.

Nor do Left Unity believe that members have rejected the national campaign that saw us win gains for the first time in decades. The BLN are as out of touch with PCS members as they are with the rules of the union and the protocols that allow meetings to progress.  Debate is good, and of course all’s fair in love and politics, but to put factional demands above the needs of our members is not acceptable, and to see the pantomime that began at ADC spill over into Tuesday’s NEC meeting was not at all entertaining, and extremely concerning for the future of our union.

Shocked.  Not Shocked.

Before the NEC was even underway, the National President was challenged via a point of order raised by the BLN – not for breaching the unions rules, but shock of all shocks, for beginning the meeting with the standing orders from the previous year, as happens at every meeting, at the beginning of every year.  Until the new standing orders are agreed by the new committee, as is the correct democratic process, the only option available is to begin with the rules that are already in place.  This point of order saw the elected President leave the Chair as his ruling was challenged.  The challenge was not upheld by two thirds of the Committee, so the President’s decision stood.  Pointless point of order, time wasted, but sectarian is what sectarian does, and that set the scene for the remainder of the meeting.

The new standing orders presented by the President were then challenged, not by amendments as would normally be the case if there was disagreement, but by a motion that called to ‘delete all’ of the President’s paper and replace it with a set of standing orders moved by the BLN.  Both were heard and neither reached the two thirds majority required to agree the new standing orders.  The meeting was left with no rules to work with, and the President was forced to adjourn. 

Serious matters to deal with, but such was the sectarianism on display that the need to ‘delete all’ took precedence over voting for the standing orders that – wait for it – in the main have been in place for decades, that were certainly in place whilst those attempting to ‘delete all’ were previously on the NEC.  Never before have they called to ‘delete all’ of the standing orders so why now?

This was no more than an opportunist attempt by a Party that has built a coalition from factions with minority numbers, to capitalise on their simple majority by removing the two thirds rule from the standing orders.  The two thirds rule is an important way of ensuring checks and balances, it is a constant across the Trade Union movement to ensure that no one faction can overtake the committee or put undemocratic practices in place.  But this coalition was making a clear attempt to remove the two thirds ruling to give their miniscule majority the right to override the President’s decisions, remove the powers of the elected president and put it into the hands of the committee that they believe they hold.  Not since the days of the old right-wing in CPSA and the early years of PCS has it been known that a PCS elected President, elected by members to make decisions on their behalf, should have their ability to preside removed by a faction.  A Party that tried and tried again to win the Presidency of PCS and the General Secretary position, that did not win those positions moving to undermine the authority and responsibility of the PCS National President and the General Secretary is not a left-wing strategy, it is a clear return to the behaviour and actions of the old right wing as they refused to acknowledge Mark Serwotka as the GS; the BLN now launching their own little coup to overthrow the elected PCS President at the very first opportunity.  So bitter are they that members have voted for Left Unity candidates to lead PCS, wanting to keep safe hands on the PCS helm.

The NEC reconvened, the vote was taken again, and all but three members of the coalition, their having caused chaos and already wasted two hours, agreed the President’s paper.

A Simple Majority Takes the NEC Committees

The President again moved his recommendations for the NEC sub committees and equality fora, and the BLN again rejected the paper using their tiny majority to continue their sectarian attacks.

In a move that has never been seen before, the National President was removed from the Organising and Education Committee, to be replaced by a candidate that only won a position on the NEC by three votes.  Not only was the national president replaced, but in yet a further sectarian attack, the DWP Group President was removed from the Organising and Education Committee, and not even replaced. They did not even hide their vitriol in this case.  Removing the National President and the President of the biggest Group in the union from one of the most important committees of the NEC, when it is imperative we build a strong union in the face of an incoming government, with no rhyme, reason, or explanation, just because they want to, is tantamount to a small child taking their toys back.

Probably the most interesting statement of all in the move to take the committees was that they are “not bothered” about equality.” The Socialist Party have long said they ‘don’t do equality’, cementing Left Unity’s argument that they only shout about it at conferences to win the votes that they would otherwise, never win.  The change members are now seeing is no equality, no unity, and the BLN using bureaucracy to give the socialist Party power over PCS members. 

This is what Left Unity have been working to defend PCS members from. The statement that every vote will count, has never been more clearly evidenced. 

Faction by faction, Left Unity still holds the majority number on the NEC; the BLN, the Independent Left, and the Alliance for Change would be nowhere near the NEC if they had stood alone.  They have had to hold their noses and join together, with their opposing policies, just to win a small majority.  Bit embarrassing really but Left Unity would argue, this is an extremely serious concern for our members for decisions made in the year ahead; and why it is important that the union holds onto the two thirds rule.

The NEC continued, the BLN tried to impose a general election strategy that would force branches to support candidates who “support at least some PCS policies” regardless of whether the members agree, or if they are from the Far Right; they sought to allow NEC members to attend any union meetings, wherever they like, merely advising the President to enable their expenses claims, then a BLN member moving to stifle debate, moving a motion of order to stop elected members of the NEC speaking in a debate. This call came after the coalition speakers had been called in and three Left Unity members were waiting to speak. This blatant sectarianism has not been seen or heard of at an NEC for decades.  Attempting to gag the opposition, afraid of a bit of a challenge, that’s democracy in the world of the coalition.

They flexed their muscles throughout the meeting, drunk on the power brought to them by their miniscule majority, they again filibustered the important work that was on the agenda, calling for standing orders to be suspended so the meeting could run over time.  Again, having been told by the president that NEC members had meetings to attend so the meeting would not be quorate, they pressed to continue.  At what price democracy?

Shocked?  Not shocked. This is a clear example of how the Socialist Party works, how the Independent Left, as evidenced by the lack of reporting on that faction, despite receiving the highest votes, are the poor relations within the coalition, and how the Alliance for Change representative is no more than a hand to be raised to vote for the Socialist Party.

Members should be aware that your vote counts.  Vote for unity.  Vote for representatives that will work together and support each other, vote for those that are willing to work with other factions for the betterment of our union, that will make the right decisions when push comes to shove.

Conference delegates have already commended our National President on his fair hand and balanced judgement at ADC. Members know that under his leadership the democracy of PCS is in safe hands, no matter the spin coming from the BLN.

Please consider joining Left Unity to ensure we keep PCS on an even keel.  But more importantly, if you want a union that is not tied to any outside organisation, that works for you as a PCS member, be sure, next time the call comes, that you vote Left Unity! 

PCS Annual Delegate Conference (ADC) was held in Brighton last week.

During conference we heard that Sunak had called a General Election on 4th July. This is welcome news and we were all cheered by the prospect of the end of the Tories. Hopefully this is the end of a regime which has systematically attacked working class people. There is, of course, still some concern as to whether we will actually get a change in Government and even greater concern as to whether much would actually change under Starmer.

Rwanda

By the end of conference we heard that there will be no refugees forced to board flights to Rwanda this side of the election. This is a major victory for PCS, Care for Calais, Stand Up To Racism and all the other campaigners we have worked with to resist the Tories’ brutal racism. PCS is recognised across the trade union movement for the work we have done combatting the push back policy and Rwanda deportation plan. The Left Unity-led NEC is proud of the work we have done in campaigning to stop the inhumane treatment and risk posed by the Tories immigration policies.

Several motions to conference committed the union to continue to fight against racism.

Palestine

Another key issue on which our union has given a lead in the trade union movement is support for Gaza and condemnation of the Israeli massacre. The Left Unity led NEC was among the first to issue a statement to members following the escalation of the conflict in October, condemning the violence, and calling for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful political solution to the crisis. 

At conference the NEC moved the lead motion on Gaza, one of several passed, highlighting the continued work the union is doing, supporting the student protests and, importantly, standing alongside our colleagues who work in areas which have contact with Israel. The union is looking into taking a similar stand as we have with Rwanda, supporting members who refuse to do work that could find them accused of war crimes.

Some delegates expressed disappointment that one leading IL member, sought to deflect the debate away from both the genocide in Palestine and the work of our union, by bringing anti-semitism into their contribution at ADC.

We absolutely reject the view expressed by the delegate that the position of PCS or any of the organisations we support and are affiliated to,  represent anti-semitic views, which is in fact the position promoted by some of the most hostile and right wing politicians and sections of the media. As there had been no opposition the LU NEC speaker did not have a right of reply to highlight these points, or confirm that PCS remains committed to carrying out the terms of the motion and support for the NEC’s October statement.

Delegates, including many from Left Unity, had already attend the fringe event for Palestine earlier in the week, and before the final morning of ADC, delegates gathered for a photo opportunity behind the Palestinian flag to show our solidarity with the people of Palestine. This has been shared widely.

Unfortunate developments on the conference floor

Unfortunately there were a number of setbacks for the union at conference, setbacks that the Broad Left Network, Independent Left and the Alliance for Change, considered to be victories.

We recognise that some delegates voted against the NEC and Left Unity position at times, having legitimate alternative views, however, unintentionally they found themselves supporting motions moved by organisations with a wrecking agenda.

National Campaign undermined

The National Campaign ballot saw a number of major groups unable to reach the Tory imposed 50% threshold. Despite this 62 groups representing over 19,000 members beat the threshold and have a mandate to take strike action.

The NEC emergency motion proposed to begin to discuss with these groups the leverage that existed for potential strike action and continue to build across the union our organisational and campaigning strength, leaving it for the incoming NEC to decide the detail.

Two other emergency motions, from our opponents, were moved in opposition to the NEC proposals. In different ways both proposed that the demands of the national campaign be amended. Both seeking to bring in more national, as well adding group specific demands.

LU members on the NEC, and on the conference floor, explained that this proposal would have the immediate effect of ending the strike mandate that exists for 19,000 members. Making conference aware that the union cannot lawfully amend the demands that created the trade dispute with those 60-plus employers and keep the existing mandate.

Sadly our opponents were so desperate to defeat the outgoing NEC on the conference floor, a number of delegates actually stated from the rostrum you should support either of the other conflicting motions just to defeat the NEC. This tactic to undermine the existing mandate, and the motion that was carried with the support of others, has effectively ended the campaign members have supported in successive ballots.

This has already caused outrage in some areas, with DfT reps being contacted by members who want to use their live mandate to continue their action, instead of being forced to stop.

Organising Strategy

Opponents of Left Unity, mainly from BLN and the Alliance for Change, decided to vote down the national organising strategy. This is a thorough piece of work that considered the strength of branches, proposed work to build their strength further, looked at communications techniques in the world of hybrid working, started work on “big bargaining”, and much more.

The strategy was criticised for having low expectations and being unable to deliver the organisation that we need. So instead of voting for the strategy and allowing the incoming NEC to develop and build on it, by a small majority conference voted down the NEC proposal and expressed support for a motion which commits the union to planning a new organising strategy for the next conference in 2025, though this motion didn’t get heard.

This means that the incoming NEC has no organising strategy, a baffling development. We struggle to understand how having no organising strategy is better than having one which has already increased our membership and can be improved upon. Sadly the BLN / IL / AfC delegates preferred the cheap thrill of defeating the outgoing NEC over the needs of our union and its members.

NEC meetings

Following the recent NEC elections the BLN / IL / AfC have a small majority, although Left Unity members make up the single biggest group.

The BLN / IL / AfC coalition will now have to decide how they implement a policy which they proposed, which effectively ends the existing mandate, preventing the groups with a live ballot from taking any action. They also have to try to work out how they build the union with no organising strategy to guide the full-time staff of the union.

We know that over a number of issues they are already divided. At the NEC after the ballot result the IL wanted to reballot as soon as possible, whereas the BLN have wanted to delay the ballot for some time. These tensions will no doubt come to the surface in the coming NEC meetings.

Left Unity NEC members will provide the steady hand needed in the stormy waters created by the Alliance of Chaos.

We will continue to attempt to build the National Strategy, and strengthen our union over the coming months, focusing our attention on defeating the policies of this rotten Tory government. Despite the problems the new alliance will generate, we are clear who the real enemy of our members is.

Join PCS Left Unity

Many delegates were shocked by the behaviour of the BLN / IL and their new coalition, watching them prioritise defeating the NEC on the floor of conference over the serious business of building the union.

At the LU rally on the Wednesday evening over 80 delegates gathered to hear Alex Gordon, RMT President; Martin Cavanagh, PCS President and Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary speaking about the coming general election, building the union and building the left in the union. A number of people reacted to the experience of the conference by joining Left Unity.

We will continue to campaign on the issues that matter to PCS members both within the workplace and on the wider social issues that impact us all. If you agree with us, please join PCS Left Unity.

Please join PCS Left Unity for a fighting, democratic trade union.

DWP Left Unity in PCS are sending solidarity to GMB security guards who work for G4S. 

They are on strike on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th May.

They have been on low pay for years and during the pandemic they did not get paid by G4S for the first 3 days they had covid.

This demonstrates some of G4S working practices.  This is why we are.not surprised that they are looking for agency volunteers to try to sabotage the strike.  As well as being immoral it is illegal and would not make our offices safe.  Doing security in a nightclub or concert is not the same as being a security guard in a DWP office.

Security guards in our offices work with our safety reps and office managers to keep our offices safe.  They are a valuable safety control measure as well as maintaining office security.  We value them and recognise making minimal changes to an office does not make them safe.  If there are no guards the office should close.

This is their first strike and we hope that all their members join the action and that the message gets out there that guards who aren’t members can join up to and including the day of the strike.

The department have said they will look sympathetically on staff that don’t want to cross the picket line which is something we welcome.  Safety reps will be doing all they can to keep our offices safe whilst fully supporting this necessary action

More information https://www.gmb.org.uk/private-sector/security-services/g4s-dwp-noticeboard

PCS Left Unity presidential candidate Martin Cavanagh spent time on the Heathrow picket line today (Tuesday, 30th April) supporting members in Border Force on strike about imposed rosters by the Home Office.

Martin says…

The way the Border Force are treating these workers is a disgrace.

Hundreds of our members have had revised rosters imposed upon them, with no meaningful consultation, and which severely restricts their work-life balance. These members have over a thousand years of experience between them and have given years of loyal service. Many of them have regularly missed important family occasions such as weddings, and even holidays, to work their previous shifts. Their thanks for outstanding service and commitment, is the employer forcing new rosters upon them which are seriously detrimental, with no flexibility.

The new rosters can impose up to a 50 hour week on our members, and particularly disadvantage those with caring responsibilities, health issues, or disabilities.

It is outrageous. A number of members have been forced to leave their jobs as a result, with over 1100 years of experience and service being lost. That is irreplaceable.

Members have understandably decided enough is enough and delivered a brilliant strike ballot result and are now taking an initial four days of strike action this week (29th April – 2nd May).

Our leadership will continue to support these workers in their fight for fairer rosters and an end to this treatment, which is effectively “fire and rehire.” Our members have earned the right to be treated with dignity and respect, not such callous disregard

Our members understand how important it is to deliver a mandate in strike ballots, and all members, in every employer group, should take inspiration from these members at Heathrow, and those in National Museums Liverpool, and the Pensions Regulator, to deliver another huge vote in the national campaign ballot for better pay, pensions justice, and job security.

2023 saw PCS members take 3 days of national action and hundreds of days of targeted action. As a result we gained a significantly improved pay award and a £1,500 cost of living payment.

These gains were the direct result of the Democracy Alliance led NEC strategy of national and targeted action paid for by a membership levy.

As a result of the improved pay offer members voted to pause the industrial action, but your NEC always expected that this would be a temporary situation. Despite some progress in talks with the Cabinet Office it is clear that we need to increase the pressure, and so we have launched an industrial action ballot which closes in May.

In the coming year we need to make sure we continue to deliver a clear and coherent strategy across the union and so we are asking you to vote for the Democracy Alliance candidates.

Other achievements in the last year include

· Guaranteed no cuts to the compensation scheme

· Reconstituting the Young Members Network

· Constituting devolved nation executives in Scotland and Wales

· Legal action against pushbacks and the Rwanda scheme

The last year has demonstrated PCS at its best and most vibrant; but the job is not finished. Our candidates are committed to continuing to –

· Increasing membership

· Recruiting and training a new layer of activists

· Fighting the scourge of low pay

· Continuing and extending the use of effective, targeted and sustained action

If you would like Democracy Alliance election material for use in your branch you can download it here

or email pcsleftunity@gmail.com

As PCS’s representative on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Women’s Committee, and heading into International Women’s Day (IWD,) I was proud to represent PCS at ICTU’s Women’s conference. Looking at the events of the last few weeks, I’ve considered what this means for me and for others and the progress we’ve made since IWD was first suggested in 1910.

The conference in an important marker in the trade union movement’s calendar. It represents a fantastic opportunity to stand in solidarity with our sister unions over issues that are present in the workplace, the trade union movement and wide society, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and violence. Although saddened these issues are still on the agenda, I was inspired to see so many women attending the conference, incredible women, tirelessly working to make things better, for themselves, their colleagues, and future generations.

The conference looks to bring women to the heart of policy making bring their experience to the fore. It reinforces that women in a trade union make real difference standing up to injustice and giving a voice to many who cannot speak for themselves. With more and more women in the workplace and the trade union movement than ever before, women have a right to expect more. They deserve a trade union movement that recognises their experience, their value, their contribution. I was proud to show PCSs commitment to supporting women who have and will continue to achieve so much as we move forward, not just for themselves but for all.

The wider theme of the conference was something we all can appreciate, ‘valuing care in all its forms’. Being a carer is something that impacts us all at some point in our life, from childcare to caring for a loved one or partner and caring for elderly parents. As a carer for my daughter on the autism spectrum and for 2 elderly disabled parents this is something close to my heart.

Sometimes becoming a carer is something that happens suddenly, after an accident or health scare, circumstances that offers us little time to prepare for the immense changes that being a carer makes to our lives. Sometimes being a carer is a gradual transition as our commitment to caring become more as a loved one’s health declines or they age. Either way, becoming a carer is a huge commitment that impacts every aspect of someone’s life, impacting social activity, family relationships, mental health, and work life. A change that is often not recognised, an impact that goes unnoticed, and a role that is undervalued.

The majority of carers are women. Carers are often forced out of the workplace, resigning women to becoming a hidden voice in society, something that we as a trade union movement have long campaigned against. As a trade union moment, we cannot stand by and watch as women are forced back into the home. Therefore, I was inspired to see the trade union movement as a whole embrace this issue as a priority.

The ICTU conference and IWD celebration is not only an opportunity to remember the struggles that women have faced and recognise how far we have come, but also an opportunity to identify current issues and how we will overcome these for future generations.  As the fight for equality continues its important that as a trade union movement we continue to fight for equal pay, equal work and equal opportunity.  We will continue to challenge inequality in the workplace and society, and a movement we will challenge inequality in our workplaces.

The old adage remains the true, together we are stronger and together we will make a change.

Cathy Darcan.

Cathy is standing for the NEC as a part of the Democracy Alliance https://pcsleftunity.org/2024/01/25/left-unity-recommendations-for-nec-candidates/

A personal message from Martin Cavanagh – Acting National President

Last year when the LU-led NEC recommended pausing industrial action as part of our national campaign on pay, pensions justice and job security, we did so with a promise to PCS members.

The promise that we would re-ballot our members for further strike action if sufficient progress wasn’t made in talks at both Cabinet Office and delegated levels. The recommendation was overwhelmingly supported by PCS members with over a 90% yes vote on a 47% turnout in last summers consultative ballot.

The NEC decision of the 7th March to move to a ballot of all UK and Welsh Government members on updated demands delivers on that promise to members.

While progress has been made in talks, and for the first time since the imposition of delegated pay in the early 90’s, there is an acknowledgement that the current pay system doesn’t work, that doesn’t deliver the pay rise our members need right now.

As a result I believe the NEC was absolutely right to call a ballot of members starting today (Monday 18th March).

Not a ballot for ballots sake

Unlike our opponents, who opposed the pause of action last year and now argue we are balloting too soon, the LU-led leadership is clear that when we ballot and subsequently strike, we should do so for maximum effect.

The truth is the anti-union threshold is aimed at making it more difficult to take strike action. We also know from past experience, whenever we ballot, against the backdrop of the 50% threshold, it is always a challenge to meet that target. In that context there is no ideal time to ballot.

However, members should be able to trust that their union will only ballot when it’s necessary and at the optimum time to do so. LU are clear now is the optimum time.

We aren’t simply balloting for ballot’s sake. It is crucial to our strategy of maximising leverage on the government, that we do so with a clear intent, that being the upcoming Treasury remit.

Every year the Treasury issues it’s remit guidance to government departments, which acts as the framework for delegated talks. The LU-led PCS leadership is clear that we need to up the pressure on government ahead of that remit being published, and to try and get it increased before delegated talks are underway.

That was successful last year, when we knew 2% was the intended remit, but our strike action at the end of 2022 and early in 2023, forced the government to more than double that to 4.5%.

Balloting now and getting a huge mandate across the UK and Welsh Civil Service can act as a similar catalyst.

It is also why we were right to reject calls to push the ballot timetable back to later in the year. Initially those calls from opponents of LU were to push it to the summer, showing a lack of confidence in members and activists. More recently the calls were to move it to April, to give us more time to be ready for the ballot, ignoring that the NEC have been asking branches to get ballot ready since late last year, and that we would miss any opportunity of influencing the remit for 2024/25.

Let’s deliver even bigger than before

Between now and the 13th May it is critical we leave no stone unturned in driving out the vote in the statutory ballot.

We showed last year that action can deliver concessions from this government, and whilst they weren’t enough to settle our dispute, members can and should be confident their actions can win more.

In a General Election year, we now have the opportunity to remind the current government, as well as laying down a marker for the next one, that we are ready, willing, and able to fight for the pay we deserve, for pensions justice and a refund of what is rightfully ours, and for long-term job security.

Give the LU-leadership of PCS the mandate we need, and we will again lead you into action, that will maximise the impact on government and minimise the financial cost to you and your families.

VOTE YES!

Martin Cavanagh

Acting National President

(on behalf of PCS Left Unity)