The Socialist 14 June 2003

New Labour Isn't Working

Fighting For A Living Wage

Euro debate - independent workers' struggle needed

Iraq: Occupiers, Privatisers And Exploiters

France - millions keep up strike movement

Drop All Charges Against Day X Detainees

Tony Woodley Speaks To The Socialist

Unison And The Political Fund

Left Make Gains On Unison Executive

PCS Elections - Big Opportunities For The Left

Manchester: Electricians Fight De-Skilling

Dick Turpin rides again

Blair's Lies Sow Divisions At The Top

Bush's plan for an Israeli/Palestinian conflict settlement comes unstuck

Austria Over One Million Strike Against Pension Cuts

Iran 1978-79: A Revolution Stolen From The Working Class

Previous issues, etc

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PCS Elections - Big Opportunities For The Left

THE CIVIL service union PCS national executive (NEC) elections, which run from 6 June to 4 July are as important as any election in the history of the union.

The Socialist Party is part of a 'democratic front' standing against the right-wing 'moderates' who have a majority of the NEC at the moment.

It was this extreme right-wing group who attempted to block the election of Mark Serwotka, when he was democratically elected general secretary and tried to remove powers from Janice Godrich, the elected president of the union.

The 'moderates' have well-documented links to shadowy state organisations, both nationally and internationally and their defeat in the election will sweep aside a massive stain on the British trade union movement.

Their attempts to block the democratic decisions of the membership cost the union over £400,000 in legal and associated costs.

They have shown no interest in defending or advancing the interests of PCS members, some of whom earn only just above the level of the minimum wage and have to claim state benefits to get by.

The union has been involved in some titanic battles over the past few years, not least the safety screens issue that involved 60,000 members on intermittent national and local strikes lasting over 12 months.

It was the Left-led sections of the union that led these strikes often in the face of sabotage by the right-wing NEC. Socialist Party members have a proud record of leading sections of the union and if the left win, will continue to play a decisive part in the leadership.