Socialist Party members and other lefts on the Unison executive have challenged the union’s leadership over aiding the government’s attacks on the PCS civil servants’ union.
The government’s tactics to weaken the PCS include slashing facility time and ending the check-off system of collecting union membership subs. But the government has also granted Unison bargaining rights in the civil service without the consent of PCS and other unions in the National Trade Union Council, contrary to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two unions in 2010. In response, the PCS has complained to the TUC.
In recent weeks Unison leaders have endorsed government proposals to significantly water down protection to workers facing redundancy – protection that was won through PCS strike action.
At the February Unison executive meeting, Socialist Party members questioned Unison’s actions and called for open solidarity with PCS. The unprecedented attacks PCS is facing could easily come next to Unison. The Tories won’t just stop at attacking socialist-led unions like the PCS.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis denied that the union had done anything wrong and attacked the PCS union over the issue. But Socialist Party members and others in Unison will continue to challenge the actions of the Unison leaders and look to build the necessary solidarity with the PCS.
Read PCS national vice-president John McInally’s article about the attacks on the civil servants’ union and the role of Unison at www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/20080
