Graham Taylor NEC Election Address 2007

In 1997, civil servants applauded Gordon Brown into the Treasury building where I work. It wouldn't happen today. That's because the Government has made a cynical political calculation. The public either don't like what we do (collecting taxes, introducing ID cards) - or they don't care about those who depend on us (from benefit claimants to rough sleepers). So if public spending is tight, who's easier to hit than our members?

But that's not all. Technology means ever more transactions can be done by phone or over the web. We can't oppose easier access just to keep ourselves in jobs (although we can and should highlight the impact on the "digitally excluded").

So your NEC faces a dilemma - campaigning largely on our own (the Senior Civil Service, 30% bigger than 1997 with some Permanent Secretaries earning more than the Prime Minister, are looking after themselves) against changes many people see as inevitable.

So as a mainstream Labour supporter of PCS Democrats - www.pcsdemocrats.org.uk - I'm glad the fringes of Left Unity have at last broken away and are standing against us in their true kamikaze colours. If the miners couldn't bring down the Government, we're hardly going to.

But nor can I accept critics on the right of PCS who claim we're not interested in working constructively with the Government. It takes two to make a partnership - and we can't just roll over while members fear for their future and a loyal and experienced workforce is displaced by contractors and casuals.

The reality is despite the cuts, PCS remains a strong and growing Union. We have prevented all but a handful of redundancies - compared with hundreds of manufacturing jobs lost every week - and made sure those who leave go on civilised terms. We're winning the argument about the millions wasted on consultants and starting a proper debate about the public services of the future.
I look forward to engaging Gordon in that debate. But if we want him to listen, we need to keep up the pressure by re-electing the current Democracy Alliance NEC.

Vote for:

President – Godrich
Vice Presidents – Bean, Bond, Kelly, Morris
NEC – Albert, Baker, Brown A, Brown P, Chorlton, Comer, Conway, Dennis, Dunn, Ferguson, Gedling, Holbourne, Jamieson, John, License, Lloyd, McFadden, McHugh, McInally, Morrison, Reid, Richards, Steeples, Taylor, Wesley, Williams P, Williams R, Williamson, Winder, Yesildalli.