SUPPORT THE
ACTION
Left Unity is the Socialist Group in PCS. Along with our
colleagues in the PCS democrats we form the current majority on the unions
National Executive Committee, known as the Democracy Alliance.
Since 2002 we have worked hard to ensure that PCS is a
fighting, campaigning democratic union.
We believe in involving members and representatives as fully
as possible in the decision making process of the PCS and stand by our record of
implementing the democratic decisions of members.
Because of this over 40,000 new members have joined PCS during
this period.
We have forced concessions from the government
including the withdrawal of the threat of unpaid sick leave,
agreements to help protect staff that are declared surplus and
guarantee the right of existing civil servants to retire on their
full pension at 60.
However, the governments "efficiency "agenda continues and
whilst we have tried hard to resolve our problems through
negotiations, this is not always possible and the NEC needs to ask
members to take action to supplement negotiations
The key demands of the campaign, which are reasonable and
achievable, are:
- No compulsory redundancies.
- No compulsory relocations.
- No more outsourcing without negotiations and agreement.
- A decent pension scheme for new entrants.
- Adequate resources and decent working conditions.
- A fair national pay system.
Left Unity is determined to work with members to
achieve our demands, including national strike action, work to
rules, group action, political campaigning and above fully
involving activists in the decision making process via Branch,
Regional and National meetings. We must all now unite and show
we are serious about defending our jobs, conditions and pubic
services. The NEC have proposed a serious ongoing campaign should
that be necessary but we urge the employer to sit down and talk to
PCS to resolve these issues.
The jobs cuts announced by Gordon Brown in 2004,
followed by more recent announcements, continue to bite. It is not
just PCS members affected, but the public services we provide. For
example, office closures leave the most vulnerable in society
having to travel further to receive services, often of a poorer
standard because there is less staff to deal with them.
As Socialists we recognise that the attacks on
the civil service are politically motivated and are not about
so called efficiency savings we further recognise that these
attacks do not just affect our members but society as a whole. We
also realise that privatisation is not about benefiting public
services but about increasing the profits of those businesses that
take on the work. Over £1.3 billion has been wasted on
consultants or thrown at the private sector with HMRCs own
statistics showing that they spent £106 million to save
£105 million, most of this on consultants!
That's money that could be better invested in
achieving the demands that the NEC have set and providing more
hospitals, doctors, nurses and teachers. No matter what the
government say "actions speak louder than words" and their actions
are private sector good public sector bad. PCS will continue to
work with all other unions, community groups, and all those
committed to defending our public services. As socialists, we stand
for an independent and democratic union that puts up a determined
fight for its members and a union that participates in the wider
struggle for political and social change for working
people.
If you share this aim please consider joining us
and help us continue to build a strong, campaigning, united
union.
For
a Fighting Union - Join Left Unity
The
Socialist Group in PCS
Click here for a membership
application & Standing Order mandate
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