The Annual Delegate Conference of the public sector union PCS took place on 20-22 May in Brighton against the background of the worst global recession for a generation and an unprecedented political crisis at Westminster.

The parliamentary expenses scandal continues to unfold and, as we write, there is a very real threat of BNP racists winning seats in the European Parliament. The anti-public sector onslaught continues with civil servants in the firing line against mass job losses in the private sector. This was reflected at conference in the motions and debates heard which were the most overtly political for many a year - and the Socialist Appeal magazine selling like hot-cakes as people search for answers to the crisis.

Being a union member and becoming active in your union has never been more important and Conference - elected by the membership - sets the campaigning and organising agenda for the union in the coming year. This includes the way forward on jobs, pay and public services, equality, pensions, health, safety and welfare, international issues and the structure and rules of the union.

'Lack of progress'

Amongst these was an emergency motion on pay moved by the national executive committee. The motion set out the position that PCS now finds itself in across the civil service and linked bodies. It noted the delay from government in publishing the Pay Remit, its inflexibility and the refusal of departments to convert cash from efficiencies into members' pay packets in respect of the 'agreement' reached on the back of aborted industrial action at the end of last year. The motion, which was carried overwhelmingly, went on to reaffirm PCS' position on pay, which included a 6 % pay claim and committed the union to widespread consultation with members. Representatives will discuss the way forward with members in the coming weeks and months. Ultimately PCS members will decide what and how much action they are willing to take. The union must provide a clear lead, building confidence in members' abilities to fight back and win. This includes working with other unions which strengthen our case.

Socialist Appeal supports the left-led leadership and we supported this motion but in a leaflet, advertising our fringe meeting, handed out to delegates, we explained that while we believe the NEC was right to suspend the national pay strike last year to enter into negotiations with the employer, the talks did not achieve enough. We opposed the NEC’s decision to call off the strikes, following the 'agreement ' reached with the government. We believe that our position has been vindicated. Clearly the agreement is not worth anything and this is now being demonstrated. Pay negotiators are finding that there is no extra money on the table - which was the main plank in the agreement. This was not just the power of hindsight as the General Secretary mentioned in his speech but was on the basis of our analysis at the time (See previous article here ).

We should not pay for this crisis

Progressive

PCS conference reaffirmed its progressive nature as a union by passing motions against oppression of the Palestinians by the Israeli state and the use of 'rendition' to deport asylum seekers. Conference also agreed to back the United Campaign Against Police Violence. This followed the tragic death of Ian Tomlinson at the hands of police at the G20 protests in London in April. Conference heard how there was a wealth of evidence that the police force had employed unwarranted aggression and tactics against peaceful protesters (See previous article here )

Fighting traditions

Conference also pledged its report to Rob Williams who had been unfairly sacked for trade union activities at the Linamar (previously Ford then Visteon) car plant in Swansea. This sparked an unofficial walkout of his workmates. Rob had been a vociferous campaigner for former colleagues in the Visteon car-plants Rob visited the conference and received a standing ovation from delegates.

A good school for all

I called for PCS to affiliate to the Anti-Academies Alliance in the affiliations debate on behalf of my branch. There is concern in the trade union movement and amongst parents and teachers that the involvement of business people in state schools is undermining democratic control over the curriculum, driving down pay terms and conditions for staff and may end up costing more. There have been a number of strikes by teachers. In my speech I referred to a strike at two schools that week in Essex over terms and conditions.

General Secretary

Independence

Conference sought to take PCS into uncharted territory in light of it's historically 'apolitical' stance when, while reaffirming that PCS would not be seeking affiliation to any political party, a motion was passed committing the union to a widespread consultation on the question of supporting 'trade union candidates' and 'PCS candidates' in elections. It was made clear that any proposals coming out of the consultation would be put to the members in a ballot. There has never been a more important time for trade unionists and workers in general to discuss, debate and fight for political representation. The question is where will the debate lead and what can we achieve? 

It is obvious that there is immense disappointment from the millions of Labour voters who have stayed at home during the elections since the Labour landslide in 1997. And there is immense frustration amongst the active layers of the working class who face a daily battle against job cuts, privatisation and the wage erosion of pay and terms and conditions. Many are correctly drawing the conclusions that it is the system that is at fault and that the bosses are to blame. Most are rightly angry at the Labour government who have presided over more privatisations than the Thatcher and Major governments combined.

General election

With a historically low level of trade union action (indeed PCS has taken more official strike action in recent years than any other union) trade union leaderships have in the main been rendered complicit in the New Labour agenda. The Tories, the ruling class's natural party of government, has been able to rebuild and regroup. From a position where bourgeois commentators had questioned whether they could ever recover they now look as though they will come to power in the coming General Election.

Socialist Appeal believes that though this may be likely it will be largely due to abstentions across the working class - rather than the Tories winning it will be Labour who lose, as a result of the right-wing policies the government it has slavishly followed since 1997.  History shows that it is inevitable that at some point the working class having been defeated on the political plane will turn towards the industrial front. We will resort to industrial action on a scale that directly challenges the political establishment. The election of a Tory government makes this all the more likely. And such a movement will without a doubt be reflected in the Labour Party. Trade unionists and Marxists cannot afford to stand on the outside.

However, if it is decided to stand PCS supported candidates in elections this will not prove to be the way forward. What is needed is for the trade union movement alongside rank and file members to build a movement to take control of the Labour Party and commit it to socialist policies in the interests of ordinary people. Such a programme would not only win back for Labour the millions of lost votes but would restore the faith of public sector workers in a Labour government. PCS should play their part in this struggle.

'A New Politics'

John McDonnell MP, Chair of PCS Parliamentary Group and President of Hands Off Venezuela, was introduced to conference by Mark Serwotka as the most "outstanding parliamentarian of a generation." John has been an unstinting supporter of the trade unions and not least PCS, raising questions on Parliament on our behalf, standing on our picket lines and speaking out against the sleaze and corruption of those that surround him in the House.John said the political crisis caused by the expenses scandal and the economic crisis were "two sides of the same corrupt system." He said people were angry but that we need to channel that anger into demanding changes.