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PCS Elections - Big Opportunities For The Left

THE CIVIL service union PCS national executive (NEC) elections, which run from 6 June to 4 July are as important as any election in the history of the union.

The Socialist Party is part of a 'democratic front' standing against the right-wing 'moderates' who have a majority of the NEC at the moment.

It was this extreme right-wing group who attempted to block the election of Mark Serwotka, when he was democratically elected general secretary and tried to remove powers from Janice Godrich, the elected president of the union.

The 'moderates' have well-documented links to shadowy state organisations, both nationally and internationally and their defeat in the election will sweep aside a massive stain on the British trade union movement.

Their attempts to block the democratic decisions of the membership cost the union over £400,000 in legal and associated costs.

They have shown no interest in defending or advancing the interests of PCS members, some of whom earn only just above the level of the minimum wage and have to claim state benefits to get by.

The union has been involved in some titanic battles over the past few years, not least the safety screens issue that involved 60,000 members on intermittent national and local strikes lasting over 12 months.

It was the Left-led sections of the union that led these strikes often in the face of sabotage by the right-wing NEC. Socialist Party members have a proud record of leading sections of the union and if the left win, will continue to play a decisive part in the leadership.

Socialist Party leaflets are available from the Socialist Party office. See also www.voteleftunity.org.uk and www.pcsdemocrats.org.uk

Socialist Party members standing are:

Janice Godrich president and NEC. NEC candidates: Mark Baker, Chris Baugh, Marion Lloyd, John McInally, Rob Williams and Danny Williamson.

Manchester: Electricians Fight De-Skilling

ELECTRICIANS WORKING at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, a major prestige project for the city council, started to take strike action a few days ago.

Christian Bunke, Manchester Socialist Party

Steve, the local shop steward, has just been made redundant. He stood up for a fellow worker also fired by the management. "We want the right to be consulted. We want to stop unskilled workers doing electrical work, in contravention of national health and safety legislation and our national agreement."

Their employer, DAF Electrical, refuses to negotiate with the TGWU, the union electricians are organised in. They increasingly use unskilled workers to do skilled electricians' jobs, for as little as half the skilled rate, despite skilled electricians being the cheapest in the European Union.

It puts workers at risk, skilled and unskilled alike and the company does not even pay wages on time.

But the resolve of the trade unionists has been strengthened, says Steve: "The support from the Manchester public and from fellow trade unionists has been overwhelming, I've even got cheques coming in from other electricians.

"Whole branches are getting involved, from ours as well as other unions. We had a donation this morning from the PCS. This is happening all over Britain, not just this site. The resolve amongst younger trade unionists has been great, we will broaden the campaign out to other workplaces."

Manchester Socialist Party also gives full support to this campaign. For information about how to make donations contact: 07813 456 831.

Dick Turpin rides again

"AT LEAST Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed the drivers" reads the strike placard at South Yorkshire First's main Sheffield bus garage.

Alistair Tice

Over 1,500 bus drivers, all transport union, TGWU members, went on strike for three days last week for better pay and conditions. They will strike again on 17,18 and 19 June. A 1,050-70 vote rejected a revised, supposedly improved, offer - mainly because of the strings which would mean drivers paying for their own pay rises.

This comes after years of the company tightening the screw on drivers' conditions. 42 drivers left the job last month alone. "Would you be abused, threatened and gobbed at for £5.36 an hour?" one driver asked.

It's not like the company can't afford it. Last year South Yorkshire First made around £10 million profit, about a quarter of First Group's total profit. Their offer amounts to about £1 million. "So where's the other £9.1 million going?" another driver asked. The answer is fat cat pay increases.

The First chairman's salary has gone up 59%. Another director gets £510,000 a year and was given £18,000 for a Range Rover. "His car cost twice as much as I earn a year" one driver said.

This same director's pension is worth £2.85 million, yet First workers have had to pay extra to maintain their pensions.

The strike is 100% solid. One striker walks five miles to the picket line every morning (no buses). With the strikes set to run into a second week, the mood is determined to win the £6-an hour claim for starter-drivers (currently £5.36), rising to £7 after two years (currently £6.49 after four years.)

• Messages of support and donations to: Martin Mayer, TGWU, 2 Riverside Court, Meadowhall Road, Sheffield 9. 0114 256 2600