Steve Comer Election Address 2007

If our union is to succeed in defending your job, and your terms and conditions of employment, it must have a leadership that is committed to firm negotiations with the employer. This National Executive has that commitment, and I’m proud to be standing for re-election. I am a member of PCS Democrats: (www.pcsdemocrats.org.uk), which is based on the principles of democracy and accountability. As such I’m also part of the Democracy Alliance coalition, and see value in bringing together a broad based leadership for PCS to represent you.

Jobs, pay and privatisation
Last autumn I met some of the first of our members to be issued with redundancy notices following the government’s job cuts. What angered them – and me - most was that there were jobs in the locality where they could have been re-deployed, yet the employer refused to use this solution.

Events like this led the NEC to ballot on industrial action. Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, none of us can afford to lose pay, but sometimes we have to demonstrate the strength of our feeling to the employer. PCS could not stand by and do nothing while jobs were lost, pay increases for 2006 were not being concluded, and members were being faced with redundancy notices.

Negotiations now!
We seek an end to our dispute with a fair, negotiated settlement, to include:
 guarantees on no compulsory redundancies;
 proper pay progression;
 an end to unfair pay systems;
 decent pay rises which at least match the cost of living;
 protection for members faced with privatisation and outsourcing.
Many good employers are already doing this and more, why not ours?

Our opponents in these elections offer no viable alternative. The misnamed “4 the members”, and “moderates” cannot say how they would make progress with the employer in negotiations. The ‘independent left’ group are cynical opportunists peddling illusions of instant revolution.

Over the last 4 years PCS increased its membership, strengthened its organisation, and is financially sound. Lets build on that strength and look to the future. Please vote for the Democracy Alliance candidates:

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.