PCS
Meetings have taken place in several trade unions following on from a 1,000-strong ‘Trade unionists for a new party’ meeting hosted by former Labour MP Dave Nellist on 21 July. We carry here an extract from the report of the meeting of PCS members. The full reports of this and the other meetings, and the full motion text, can be read here: ‘Trade unionists discuss how their unions can fight for political representation’ at socialistparty.org.uk
Around 50 members, reps and activists attended a meeting for Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members interested in Your Party on Tuesday 9 September.
Former union Vice President Dave Semple chaired the meeting, which was addressed by current National Executive Committee (NEC) member Fiona Brittle, as well as receiving a specially recorded message from Jeremy Corbyn.
Key themes included the need for a workers’ party, with a basis in the trade unions, and the need for an active anti-austerity, pro-worker, socialist political strategy on the part of PCS.
The union’s political fund, which under the law must be renewed by membership ballot every ten years, goes to ballot in October this year, with little done by the current union leadership to explain its importance to members.
PCS policy, agreed by the union’s delegate conference, is that the union can stand and support candidates who back the union’s campaigning programme. PCS has never stood a candidate, occasionally supporting Labour candidates, including some who have voted for cuts that harmed our members.
Attendees also raised the need for a more vigorous anti-war, anti-racist strategy on the basis of current union policy: Pay, jobs and homes, not racism.
The question of whether to call for an electoral pact with the Greens was raised. One person explained how he’d both signed up to ‘Your Party’ and was a member of the Greens who’d voted for Polanski. Others pointed out that wherever Greens have been in government, they have voted for cuts. It was also pointed out that Polanski was elected with just over 20,000 votes, which was dwarfed by the potential support for Your Party.
The earnest view was for a democratic party that would not abandon workers, the way Labour has. How to achieve that is why the discussion on the structure of a new party is also important.
Some support for ‘One Member One Vote’ was voiced. Fiona and other Socialist Party members in attendance put forward the need for a federal structure. Dave Warren from Swansea pointed out how, in the union, branches elect delegates to represent them at the next level of the union. The trade union movement had to fight for the same approach in a new workers’ party.
The meeting concluded with agreement to produce materials for the forthcoming PCS political fund ballot, and to meet again after the next PCS NEC meeting, to hear a report on a motion to the NEC on political strategy that has been proposed by Fiona Brittle and Marion Lloyd. In the meantime, it was agreed to use the NEC motion as a model for branches to put to the NEC urging it to act.
Extracts from the motion to the NEC, to be used as a model in PCS branches
This NEC notes:
1) The 2012 78.9% decision, by a membership ballot of our union, to “stand or support candidates in national elections that would help to defend members’ jobs, pay, pensions and public services”
This NEC agrees to:
1) Report back to the next NEC how every member of our parliamentary group voted on the disability benefit cuts, and on whether they supported the Early Day Motions over the dismissal of our reps at Benton Park View, with a view to reconstituting our parliamentary group based on those MPs who support PCS policies
2) Invite Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana to meet with the NEC to discuss how a new workers’ party could be founded that included PCS demands in its programme and with democratic structures – with representation for supporting trade union organisations
3) To contact the Unite EC, the UCU NEC, and the executives of other relevant trade unions, to propose a joint meeting to discuss the issue
Wales trade union conference on political representation
Trades councils across Wales have agreed to call a conference to discuss the crisis in political representation for the trade union movement.
Driven by issues such as the Labour government’s attacks on disability benefits and response to the massacres in Gaza, trade unionists in Wales say they are also angry at the “anti-union behaviour of some Labour-run councils” – especially in Birmingham against the bin workers – and the “unacceptable response to our concerns from local Labour MPs”.
There is concern that the main beneficiary of this alienation from the Labour Party is Reform, “hiding its anti-trade union, right-wing economic agenda”.
Trade union branches, regional and national bodies are invited to endorse this event to open up a discussion. As a number of unions are affiliated to the Labour Party, representatives of the Labour Party and Labour members of the Welsh Senedd have been invited, but trade unionists are encouraged to express their views, including recommending support for other parties if they wish.
The trades council organisers say: “We think we need a full and free discussion on the way forward for our movement. We do not believe we can hide away from political involvement but need to discuss how we can best engage with the political process to advance the struggle against austerity and pro-big business policies.”
Wales trade union conference on the crisis of political representation
Saturday 18 October 11am-3pm
Holiday Inn, Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 1XD
Endorsed by:
Cardiff Trades Union Council, Swansea Trades Union Council, Newport Trades Union Council, Caerphilly Trades Union Council, BFAWU, Cardiff Council Unite branch, Cardiff Rail RMT branch, GMB Wales Ambulance Service branch, Cardiff General Unite branch Unite community Cardiff and Area, PCS ARMs branch, Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru
