Civil servants' union May Day strike

PCS on strike in February 2007, photo Paul Mattsson

PCS MEMBERS will be striking again on 1 May. This is part of a national strategy to defend not only our jobs, pay and pensions but also the vital services we provide for the public.

Marion Lloyd, PCS national executive, (personal capacity)

It is absolutely key now that as many members as possible come out on strike. Non-members should join the union in order to further strengthen us. Our demands can be easily and quickly settled if there was a will from the government.

Industrial action, together with the political and media campaigning we have done, has already brought success for PCS members, in terms of avoiding any compulsory redundancies up until Christmas 2006. It is significant that since 31 January, no further compulsory redundancies have been announced. Our action forced the government to take off the table the introduction of unpaid sick leave for civil servants and it has also protected our pension and sick leave entitlements.

After 1 May it will be key to link up with other public-sector unions, to build on what we've already achieved in this regard. The government attacks will not only affect civil servants but workers across the public sector. That was made crystal clear when Gordon Brown announced his 2% pay cap for public-sector workers. We welcome the decision of the NUT teachers' union to ballot for strike action over pay as well as the conference decision of UNISON health workers to reject the government's derisory pay offer and to campaign for strike action.

Members should support the 1 May action and also work tirelessly to build links with other public-sector unions so that we can roll back the government's attacks.

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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.
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