PCS youth conference success

THE YOUTH Forum of the civil service union PCS, held on 14/15
January, was the first national conference of the PCS Young Members’
Network. It was very successful with about 100 young delegates attending
from across the country.

Sarah Mayo

These young trade unionists were enthusiastic and determined to build
their union and campaign on many issues facing young people. The success
of this conference owes much to the commitment and the determination of
the PCS National Executive Committee (NEC) to transform PCS into a
campaigning, organising union that takes its young members seriously.

The Young Members’ Network has so far had a loose, informal structure
in order to encourage young members new to union organisation to get
involved and take on positions within the union. This was reflected in
the conference structure, which was not a formal, motions-based event.

One of the main purposes of the conference was to develop a PCS Youth
Charter to give the young members a campaigning programme.

We had a number of panel discussions interspersed with four different
workshops. These covered issues like pay, pensions, union structures and
social justice, including women and anti-racism. The Youth Charter, as
amended by the workshops, was discussed and agreed by the delegates. It
will go to the NEC to be ratified and will be voted on at the PCS
national conference.

Ben Robinson, an organiser for International Socialist Resistance (ISR),
was a guest speaker for the Know Your Rights at Work campaign, which is
co-ordinated by ISR nationally.

The Know Your Rights campaign organise ‘end low pay’ stalls with
petitions, placards, leaflets and lively displays including a ‘name and
shame’ board listing the employers that pay below the minimum wage.

We held a successful ISR fringe meeting which was extremely positive.
We also widely publicised the ISR national conference on 4 March.

ISR members and supporters initiated a debate on the need for the PCS
youth section to establish democratic structures, including the election
of the convenors and a national chair. We think this is vital if the
Young Members’ section is to become an effective and accountable part of
PCS’s overall democratic structures. The conference had an advisory vote
and overwhelmingly supported the election of a national chair and the
establishment of democratic structures.

The Forum was a tremendous success and should be an inspiration for
all young trade unionists on what can be achieved with a determined,
campaigning union like PCS.