National Dispute Update Feb 2007

On 31st January members showed their anger with their employers over a whole range of issues and failed promises. Even the Cabinet Office accepts that more members were out on strike than in November 2004.

PCS Democrats supported the decisions reached by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to ballot members on a campaign of action designed to bring about a negotiated settlement to our dispute. It is easy to carp and be critical from the sidelines like some activists from the left and right of PCS. But leading PCS is also about making difficult decisions. Unlike some of our opponents, PCS Democrats and our partners in the Democracy Alliance, Left Unity, were not afraid to begin the major campaign we started on 31st January. We did not embark on this route lightly or without consulting you fully. We know only too well that members do not want to lose a day’s pay without good reason.

But equally, PCS Democrats do not believe that PCS could stand by and do nothing while jobs were lost, pay increases for 2006 were not being concluded and some members were faced with redundancy notices. PCS Democrats believe that the level of membership support showed the NEC had got it right when deciding to ballot you and embark on this stage of our campaign to protect jobs, pay, services and pensions.

PCS Democrats also recognise that not every area of PCS was able to demonstrate the same level of support and that we must provide more help to those Branches from PCS HQ and Regional Offices. We need honest assessments of what went well and what went less well. There should be no blame culture in PCS. We win together or lose together!

Now is the time to keep up momentum of the campaign and show members that their sacrifice on 31st was worthwhile. First and foremost, PCS is a strong, negotiating union. This has been clearly demonstrated in the successes we have achieved on Pensions, sick pay and equal pay. But it is also right that members need to be kept well informed about further progress.

The negotiating aims of the campaign are to achieve:
 no compulsory redundancies;
 no compulsory relocations;
 fair national pay and decent pay rises; and
 protection from privatisation and outsourcing.

This iswhat all many employers are already doing. Why can’t the Civil Service and NDPBs? Whilst protecting members who want to stay in the Civil and Public Service, PCS Democrats will not be afraid to argue for and negotiate the best possible deals for those who want to leave the service. These are not contrary positions. This is about what good trade unions do for their members.

PCS Democrats cannot understand what prevents our employer demonstrating best practice on good industrial relations and sitting down seriously with us to talk about these issues. Even British Airways, no great friend of the labour movement, managed to come to a negotiated settlement with its trade unions earlier this year.
PCS Democrats NEC members will argue for regular membership circulars on the campaign and that you receive up to date reports on any progress in negotiations. PCS Democrats want to ensure also that the campaign is focused and not blurred. Special circulars on the main campaign themes and updates about them should be produced eg Pay one week, Jobs the next.

PCS Democrats support initiatives such as the TUC’s “Work Your Proper Hours Day” on 23rd February and Workers Memorial Day on the 28th April. Branches and their members should get behind this activity. This is especially important in Departmental Head Office areas where unpaid overtime working is rife. Branches should also think innovatively about what they can do to advance the campaign and involve their members by linking local issues into the wider national campaign.

PCS Democrats want members to be consulted as much as practicably possible at key stages of the campaign. It is vital to maintain collective support of members. PCS Democrats support using our political fund to ask questions of candidates in, for example, the local elections in England, Assembly elections in Wales and Parliament elections in Scotland. It is right that members know where they stand on issues crucial to members. PCS Democrats recognise that this will need careful and sensitive handling by the NEC to demonstrate PCS’s political impartiality and independence. This is not about telling members who to vote for; rather it is about highlighting PCS issues in the minds of those standing for election.

PCS Democrats know that delivering further national action may well be necessary. But we need to work towards this when it can best be delivered across the whole of PCS - and only if we have made no progress in negotiations. We want the NEC to fulfil its promise to consult members and branches on the next stages of the campaign. The NEC should make a proposal about timing of any further national action, if no progress is made in negotiations.

PCS Democrats believe that further national action must be sufficiently forward to build up membership support, allow time for negotiations and bring pressure on the Government. 1st May could meet these ends. However, the consultation with branches should include a full range of options to inform discussion.

Conclusion:
PCS Democrats will constructively but critically support the strategy that has been set out for the national campaign. But it will be vital to bring all the sections of our Union with us not just the larger departments.

PCS Democrats do not want to prevent debate and differences of opinion across the union. This is what helps good decision making. But we will challenge the kind of negative political opportunism and posturing which strengthens the hand of those who wish to see us fail and endangers members’ jobs and pay.

Working with our Democracy Alliance partners, Left Unity, PCS Democrats will work hard to deliver the policies and campaigns agreed by members.