Tackling Division
Populism is on the rise
Many of us in PCS are wondering about how to tackle the far right, and worrying about the increasing division in society, and sometimes in our own workplaces.
As Reps we see first hand the impact low pay can have. PCS prides itself on being a member led union that stands up for members and the most vulnerable in society. To that end we've been thinking about how to respond when faced with peoples real concerns about their future.
We live in a society based on the notion that capitalism (a system where the majority work, earn wages and pay taxes) will redistribute wealth and create systems and institutions (the NHS, schools, H&S, provision of safe water, the army, policing etc.) so that we all can live comfortable, safe and healthy lives.
Inevitably some fair better under capitalism than others. Those who own the companies, the means of production, are the ones the fruit of the majority's labour goes to. So we see some people earning vast amounts of money. But, there is the hope that we can earn more by some stroke of fortune or ingenuity, setting up our own company, earning millions and join the elite.
That system requires the majority buy in to it. But what happens when the poorest start to face hardship? Such as those triggered by the cost of living crisis of 2007/8 where the failure of big banks almost broke western economies, and that no one was ever really held to account for. Well people start looking for who is to blame and for ways to alleviate their situation.
In the West that has taken shape in an increase in populism: a political ideology that divides society into two antagonistic camps, "the pure people" versus "the corrupt elite". Populism champions ordinary citizens against established, often liberal-democratic, institutions, claiming to represent the "general will". Populism is not inherently left or right, but rather an approach used to challenge established power.
In the UK we have seen political figures rise up promising an overhaul of the system in order to set things right and improve the lot of the “pure" people. Reform for example, or Trumpism in the USA. These movements promise change and offer up immigrants as the ones to blame, or, “the Left” elite for enabling woke nonsense that puts “pure" people’s rights to one side.
The problem is populists tend to use language associated with racism and violence, and tend to argue for reforms to curb current legal rights and freedoms - all of our freedoms. And, they tend to set people against each other based on ethnicity. This all leads to the us and them we currently see where ordinary people look at immigrants and want them out. This was visibly demonstrated in the Southport riot and the battle for St Lukes Bridge in the summer of 2024, which was then repeated across the country.
Some parties have said if they get into power they will slash wealth tax, privatise parts of the NHS, cut the size of Government, increase police presence, scrap net zero targets and stop the boats. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said these plans are highly ambitious and will require substantial cuts to public services, to our jobs. Services we already feel are at breaking point.
We do not have all the answers. But we do think you can make a start by challenging the wealthiest in society who do not pay their fair share of taxes. Because the root cause of the situation we are now in is the failure of capitalism to redistribute wealth more equally, and we worry about where the language of division is taking us.
Change starts with small steps. So if there is one thing you can do it's speak up. Make your voice heard whenever you see the language of division.
National Elections 2026
Down but not out! PCS Democrats want to say thank you for voting for our candidates in the national elections. Whilst not all Democrats candidates were elected to the National Exective Committee, along with the Left Unity colleagues who were, we are determined to hold the incoming NEC to account and stop them reversing the positive changes we have made over the last 12 months.
We achieved some big wins last year – not least a new Facility Time Framework that will pave the way for more flexibility for Reps, who can now use that to campaign and negotiate wins for our members. And PCS is on a sound financial footing, with membership on the increase.
The good news is that all PCS Democrat candidates who stood in Group elections were elected. That means we will continue to represent you – the members. We are not influenced by political dogma or political paymasters unlike other groupings in PCS. We value our political independence and that allows us to listen to members before deciding on policy.
The sad news is however that turnout was at an all time low. 2024 saw 14,382 members voting, which represented 8.6% of members. In this years elections that had fallen to 10,631 valid votes, representing 6.4% of members. 156 more votes each would have seen all our candiates elected to the NEC. So whilst other groupings may infer a resounding victory for their strategy over the national campaign, in fact, voter apathy is the problem we all must tackle in the next few months.
Traditional methods of reaching members by using leafelts around election time and occasional posts on social media no longer cut it. We would be intersted to hear your views about what else we can do.