PCS action continues

THE ONE-DAY PCS strike on 31 January has been followed up by a two-week overtime ban. Further action is planned to keep up the pressure on the government.

Dave Lunn, chair, Birkenhead (Rosebrae) Land Registry branch, personal capacity

The action has been called as a result of this New Labour government's plans to axe 100,000 jobs, peg pay back to 2% and to decimate the vital public services that PCS trade union members provide to the public.

At my branch, over 94% of members stayed away from work on 31 January and over 98% of members have observed the overtime ban. This is sending a very clear message to Land Registry management and the government that enough is enough.

What has been particularly heartening has been the number of ordinary union members who have joined activists on the picket lines. These members understand that now is the time to stand and fight in defence of our futures.

The socialist leadership of PCS should be commended for their bold leadership in this campaign. Members have been consulted and engaged in how the action will develop and this will continue to be the case.

As this government's policies start to bite, members are starting to see through new Labour's spin. But they have no illusions in any of the other main parties, all of which were involved in a bidding war at the last election over how many civil service jobs they could cut.

In many cases, this has left PCS members with no one to vote for. These members are starting to come to the conclusion that a new party is needed to represent working-class people. The Campaign for a New Workers' Party offers PCS members and workers in general the best opportunity of making such a party a reality.

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