Left Unity Report From The National Executive Committee - 10th June

 2010 The Tory/Liberal coalition have made it clear that they intend to make working people pay for the mess created by their friends in the banking industry and big business by launching an unprecedented assault on the public sector.

The NEC discussed how the union must respond to the cuts and the need to build the widest possible campaign in the trade union movement and communities to meet the challenges ahead. July’s NEC will discuss in full detail the union’s response to the cuts and specifically what is announced in the June 22nd Budget and how to implement motion A1 from Conference that sets out the PCS strategy.

The NEC, reflecting conference policy, opposes the propaganda barrage from all establishment politicians and the media that cuts are justified, unavoidable and there is no alternative. PCS will produce materials from reps and members laying out the case for an alternative to cuts including explaining that the “budget deficit” is not caused by “unaffordable” public spending; that tax justice, including dealing with the issues of tax avoidance, evasion and collection, expansion of much needed public services would go a long way to providing finance for our services; cutting jobs and services can only lead the economy back into recession; that expansion of public services and increased public ownership can not only help tackle the current economic problems but provide much needed improvement to the quality of life of the overwhelming majority in society; that the scale of privatisation envisaged by Cameron would represent a massive transfer of wealth and power from working people to the tiny minority in society who place profit before people and must be absolutely opposed; that public sector wages have been under constant attack for decades now and the majority of civil servants are low-paid and pay freezes will meant a real cut in wages and must be opposed.

The NEC opposes the idea that we should be “consulted” on what cuts should be made, a government publicity stunt intended to divide workers by inviting people to suggest that while their services and jobs be protected it would be legitimate to cut others. There are no “deserving” and “undeserving” public services, they are all important and to accept cuts should be made is to invite division that will make it all the more easy for the government to carry out its programme: if we do not fight together we will be attacked separately.

The NEC is calling for and organising activity on Budget Day on June 22nd, including lunchtime workplace meetings and rallies and helping to organise and support public sector demonstrations and meetings.

The NEC is prioritising the conference decision to call on the TUC to organise a major national demonstration in defence of the public services in autumn of this year in London, and to effectively and properly organise for it. President Janice Godrich will be raising this issue at the June meeting of the TUC General Council and PCS will be writing to the TUC and other unions setting out its support for this initiative.

The union will produce written material, leaflets and pamphlets to fully arm activists and members with the arguments as to why cuts are not just damaging but unnecessary – PCS will be in the very forefront of opposing the propaganda campaign from the government and media.

A National Group Liaison Committee will be held before the July NEC in order to get the fullest possible feedback from groups in order to allow the NEC to make the most comprehensive campaign plans possible.