Defend victimised union reps

Civil service union PCS activists rallied in London on 15 February against the politically motivated sacking of key union officers. The latest victims are Mark Hammond, PCS Home Office group president and Sue Kendal, Home Office PCS South and South East branch secretary.

The real reason for their sacking is that they were exceptionally effective at both recruiting and mobilising members. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka has accused the Home Office of trying to decapitate the union.

Speakers at the rally included Mark Hammond, Sam Buckley, sacked CSA Hastings PCS officer, and John McDonnell MP, chair of the PCS parliamentary group

Mark denounced the politically motivated cuts which are an attack on all working people. He urged everyone to mobilise their members to get Sue and Mark their jobs back and prove to the bosses that they are public servants and we are the public that they are accountable to.

John McDonnell pledged full support for their reinstatement and the reinstatement of the victimised reps at Hastings where five union officers have been sacked.

PCS Home Office secretary Paul O’Connor then led the rally across the road to an impromptu lobby of the Home Office where officials refused to accept the formal notice of PCS’s intention to ballot for action in support of Mark and Sue and against cuts.