Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1122/32080
From The Socialist newspaper, 24 February 2021
HMRC: Divisive pay deal leads to expulsions
An HMRC worker
PCS members in the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are voting on a pay deal. The deal is for a 13% pay increase over three years, but if agreed would put all staff onto a new contract with a significant worsening of conditions for many members.
The proposed pay deal has created divisions on the left in the HMRC group. This has led to the expulsion of left activists, including Socialist Party members, from Left Unity - the current leadership group within PCS. These activists oppose the pay deal, are campaigning against it in the ballot and, together with other reps, are contesting PCS national and group executive elections as Broad Left Network (BLN) candidates: the BLN is a rank-and-file socialist group within the union.
The expulsions from Left Unity are claimed to be for the decision to oppose/not recommend Left Unity candidates. But the political and hypocritical nature of the expulsions is clear.
A number of the people behind this decision refused to recommend and campaign for Chris Baugh, the Left Unity candidate in the assistant general secretary election. As a consequence he lost. No action was taken against these people, which included the Left Unity chairperson.
The national leadership of Left Unity backed the pay deal in HMRC and at group level made no recommendation. This divisive deal, which means a significant worsening of conditions for a large number of members, was negotiated in conditions of secrecy. It is being balloted on without the full details and impact of the deal being made known to members.
Those in HMRC standing as Broad Left Network election candidates are opposed to this divisive, strings-attached pay deal and to the imposition of the new contracts on members whether they like it or not. They are opposed to the secrecy surrounding the negotiations resulting in the deal. They are opposed to a ballot which misrepresents and keeps vital information from members. Opposition to the deal is the basis of their decision to stand for election as Broad Left Network candidates.
The proposed HMRC deal, if accepted, will strike a huge blow against the union's national campaign for a decent no-strings pay increase for all PCS members.
This was already damaged by the Left Unity leadership's handling of the 2020 pay campaign, which parked the union's agreed 10% pay claim as a gesture towards national unity with the Tory government. This gesture was thrown back in their face by the Tories, leading to the abandonment of the pay campaign and to an emboldened government announcing a further pay freeze.
PCS national elections are underway with nominations to be agreed at branch annual general meetings taking place now until 11 March. The Broad Left Network candidates are listed below.
PCS Broad Left Network election candidates - vote for the following
- President: Lloyd Marion: (BEIS)
- Vice-presidents: Brittle Fiona: (Scot Gov), Brown Sarah: (Met Police), Semple Dave: (DWP)
- National Executive Committee:
- Bartlett Dave: MOJ
- Borland Rebecca: Home Office
- Brittle Fiona: Scot Gov
- Brown Alex: Health
- Brown Sarah: Met Police
- Denman Kevin Met Police
- Dennis Alan DSG
- Foxton Gill: DfE
- Francis Sue BEIS
- Guinnane Paul: DfE
- Heemskerk Rachel: DWP
- Lloyd Marion: BEIS
- Lowry Tom: DWP
- Parker Nick BEIS
- Rees Dave DWP
- Ritchie Rob: Met Police
- Semple Dave DWP
- Suter Paul DWP
- Tweedale Saorsa-Amatheia DWP
- Williams Katrine DWP
- Worswick Craig: DWP
- Young Colin DfE
- Bridges Andi: HMRC
- Davies Jaime: HMRC
- Doyle Nick: HMRC
- McDougall Rachelle: HMRC
- Rosser Jon-Paul: HMRC
- Young Bobby: HMRC
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In The Socialist 24 February 2021:
Covid
Where's the road map to jobs and wages Boris?
Johnson's 'road map' for schools: Act together to protect safety
Vaccine algorithm can't solve capitalist inequality
Garment workers and Covid: Dying for less than minimum wage
What we think
Starmer's speech a return to New Labour
News
Uber drivers win case - they are workers
Social care: End privatisation and let workers decide how it's run
Lessons from history
How militant trade unionism defeated the 1971 Industrial Relations Act
Workplace news
Usdaw elections - right makes gains but Broad Left builds
HMRC: Divisive pay deal leads to expulsions
Hinkley Point electricians fight 'deskilling'
"I'm here to fight for the future education of children in Hackney"
London bus dispute against low pay, pay cuts and longer hours
GMB members continue fight against 'fire and rehire' in British Gas
Scunthorpe steelworks scaffolders: Fifth week of action
TUSC
Liverpool Unite branch supports 'no cuts' budget strategy
Scottish TUSC election campaign launch
Keep the fighting fund rushing in for a TUSC stand in May
Campaigns news
W. Sussex children's centres on the chopping block
Coventry success building subscriptions
Socialist Students conference - postering
Save John Carroll Leisure Centre
Getting the Socialist out in lockdown
LGBT+ history month
Pride flag is about unity in struggle
International news
Nigeria: Abbey Trotsky on trial for assisting workers' struggle
Facebook v Australian government: nationalise the bosses' media!
Readers' opinion
Tories admit guilt for asylum seeker neglect
Tories target universities in free speech shakedown
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