Workplace news in brief


PCS elections

The elections for the leadership of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will start soon, with nominations closing on 6 March. The election will run from 8 April to 8 May.

Socialist Party members in PCS are part of Left Unity, which is standing candidates with the PCS Democrats – as the Democracy Alliance.

Socialist Party members who are standing include Chris Baugh for Assistant General Secretary, Janice Godrich for President and John McInally for Vice-President.

The union’s Democracy Alliance-led leadership has a proven track record of fighting the Con-Dems’ austerity attacks by fighting for jobs, services and working conditions.

PCS branches are being asked to nominate Democracy Alliance candidates – a full list is available on leftunity.org.uk


Tax strike

Senior officers working in HMRC are due to strike on 14 February. The members of the Association of Revenue and Customs, part of the FDA, have voted to strike over a new performance management system and changes to their terms and conditions. Nearly 60% of those balloted voted to strike.


Unison Black Members

At the Unison Black Members conference last month, general secretary Dave Prentis disappointingly concluded that the way to stop the cuts was to campaign for a Labour victory.

But while Unison works with Labour to ‘manage’ the cuts our members are becoming fewer and working harder for less.

Surely, we would be in a stronger position if we begin the fightback now to defend our jobs, pay, conditions and the services we provide, and prepare our members for action?

A conference delegate