Socialist Party members in the BLN
Socialist Party members in the PCS union, which organises civil service and outsourced government workers, played a major role in setting up the PCS Broad Left Network (BLN) in 2019 to help organise members to fight for their interests against the then ruling group in the union, the misnamed Left Unity (LU).
The BLN quickly established itself as the rank-and-file socialist group leading the fight in the union.
In 2023, the BLN formed a coalition with other left groups and individuals on an agreed programme for a fighting and democratic union to contest the PCS general secretary election. BLN chair and Socialist Party member Marion Lloyd came within 800 votes of winning.
In 2024, an agreed left slate of candidates achieved an outstanding victory, winning a 19-16 majority on the National Executive Committee (NEC). Since then, the NEC majority has been blocked at every turn by the president and general secretary, who are members of LU. They have ruled by presidential decrees, which need a two-thirds majority to overturn. So in effect, they are acting as if the vote of members to change the NEC means nothing.
Socialist Party members believe it is vital to continue to build the BLN as a force to give a lead within the union and the wider trade union movement, to take on Labour’s new austerity programme.
We also believe it is essential for BLN to continue the electoral coalition which had success in the last national elections, in order to have the best chance of extending that victory so that PCS can resist Starmer’s attacks.
The BLN conference on 18 January will be the launch pad for this year’s elections and the nominations made by branch AGMs.
The BLN conference will be in agreement on most questions, but there will be two areas of debate.
Be ready to fight
Firstly, there is the levy paid by PCS members to our union strike fund. The outgoing LU majority imposed the levy without any consultation with reps or members. When they lost the election they opportunistically argued for it to be stopped, thinking this would be popular with members.
The new left NEC majority said stopping the levy would be a mistake, but that there should be a review, with an immediate reduced rate for lower-paid members. Despite the NEC voting for this, the president has ruled to prevent it happening.
Socialist Party members agree with this position. Stopping the levy would give the wrong message to the government, that the union is not prepared to fight for decent pay and defend jobs. In addition to 2% cuts in the Autumn Budget, Labour has announced a further 10,000 job cuts. We are just about to start talks on 2025 pay. We need to build up our finances now in readiness for the struggles ahead.
Fighting socialist candidate needed for president
Secondly, there is the issue of who should be the alliance candidate for president. We believe it should be Marion Lloyd. In terms of unifying activists and preparing members for the battles to come, there is no one better placed. She has an outstanding record over many years in challenging the union bureaucracy and leading successful campaigns, and has played a leading role in battling the attempts of the general secretary and current president to block the elected NEC. Marion has huge respect and experience across the union.
