ADC 2006

Conference Motions

Pay: PCSD supports A31 and opposes A32. The latter motion will prevent groups from submitting pay claims and will not be acceptable to the membership. Support EM3 on pay progression. Remit or Oppose A33 on Performance Pay which is too prescriptive. Oppose A34 which is unrealistic and we need to get all Departments to 30 days before we try to extend further. Remit or Oppose A35 which will divide the membership and bring Regional Pay.

Rules: Reject A37 & A38 which try to amend the provisions of PR2 of membership ballots on policy issues.

Social & Economic: Support A49 & A50 – important climate change motions. Oppose A51. Polar bears live in the Arctic! Remit or Oppose A57 which proposes removing troops unilaterally from Northern Ireland.

Pensions: Support A86. Support EM7 not A87 in the general debate on Pensions. EM7 provides a far wider range of options on consulting members about any new civil service pension scheme.

Health & Safety: Support A106 – campaigning for a new criminal offence of assaulting public sector workers. In the general debate on smoking oppose A107 which ignores legal position in Scotland and support A108.

PCS Organisation: Support A119 which welcomes political fund but reaffirms our position of not funding political parties.

PCS Services: Support A146 condemning victimisation of union reps. Oppose A148 & A573 on services to members who cross picket lines. This is a complex issue which needs serious consideration. Both motions are too simplistic and unworkable as set out.

International: Support A163 which is long overdue and begins to set out a framework for PCS’s international work. Reject A444 on PSI which is patronising and pre-empts the results of talks on a new federation.

End of Conference Feedback

PCSD congratulates delegates in rejecting the indulgent politics of Socialist Caucus on pay – they didn’t want bargaining unit pay claims; on pensions – they wanted to throw out the hard fought deal; on jobs – they wanted to forget members; concerns and strike now. PCSD counted almost as many speakers for their motions as those voting for them!

Group Issues:
PCSD remain concerned about the turnout in Group elections. Members are turned off by the way some factions at Group level have used leaflets and election addresses to denigrate their opponents. The only one to gain from this is our employer.
DCA - Left Unity (LU), with the tacit support of PCSD, have gained a majority on the GEC. Now LU has a chance to put into effect policies they have espoused at Conference. PCSD will watch with interest.
HMRC - LU now controls the GEC. They now need to show that they are not just “oppositionalists” and that they can unite all the membership and lead the fight against job cuts, LEAN and office closures. They must not just react to management provocation but set out a clear strategy for the coming year.
DWP – The LU led GEC may be on the point of delivering a deal on jobs, rights and services. PCSD welcome the new negotiations. Equally, we recognise that if the talks fail members will need to be fully consulted before further industrial action is agreed.

Policies not Personalities:
PCS Democrats (PCSD) believe that the success of the Democracy Alliance over the last two years has been about delivering a national leadership from across the political groupings. PCSD will work for members to achieve PCS policy aims. We will continue to act as a crucial partner in the Alliance over the coming year.

PCSD is the second biggest grouping on the NEC. PCSD will work to deliver policies agreed by members. PCSD will base our decision making on the key issues of pay; jobs; and pensions on the principles we have set out on the reverse of this leaflet.
We recognise that members want a strong leadership who will negotiate, and campaign on their behalf but ultimately a leadership that is not afraid to challenge our employers with all the means at our disposal.

We reject the childish name calling politics of some elements of the left and right in this Union. PCSD stands for grown up politics that recognises no one faction has all the correct solutions.
We wish you a safe journey home.