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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/19560
Posted on 23 October 2014 at 17:30 GMT
Labour and trade union movement news
Mark Serwotka re-elected for fourth term
From a PCS press release:
Mark Serwotka has been re-elected unopposed for a fourth term as general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union.
No other candidate was nominated by any of the union's branches by the deadline of 5pm today (23), so there will be no membership ballot.
A well-known figure in the union movement and in the media, Mark has been one of the most vocal and consistent opponents of spending cuts imposed by Labour and Tory governments.
From Aberdare in south Wales, Mark started work at 16 as a clerical officer in what was then the DHSS, and worked in the benefits service for 21 years, including seven as a part-time worker to enable him to look after his children.
Rare among general secretaries, he was first elected to the post directly from the shop-floor in 2000. He was re-elected in 2005 and 2009, and will now serve for another five years.
PCS national president Janice Godrich said: "I'm delighted that Mark has been elected unopposed. It is a clear endorsement from members that he has the confidence and full support from our union.
"I have worked alongside Mark for more than a decade and his commitment and dedication to PCS members is unequalled. I look forward to continuing to work with him and tackling the difficult issues we face."
Mark said: "It is an absolute honour to have been re-elected and I look forward to working with our members and others to continue fighting this government's cruel, damaging and unnecessary obsession with austerity.
"Despite ministers' attempts to undermine us, PCS remains as vibrant and strong as ever and I am proud to be part of a union that opposes their savage cuts to living standards and our welfare state."
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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